Stunning time-lapse video shows starry sky without light

Stunning time-lapse video shows starry sky without light

A US-based amateur astrophotographer has created a stunning time-lapse video showing the effects of light pollution on the night skies.

Sriram Murali shot the video hoping to raise awareness of how far the beauty of the night skies is obscured by light emanating from urban areas.

The video, entitled "Lost in Light", was filmed in various locations in California and Oregon between May and August this year and has received almost a quarter of a million views since it was posted on Vimeo about a month ago.

Lost in Light from Sriram Murali on Vimeo.

Astronomy enthusiast Murali edited together the time-lapse footage based on the degree of light pollution at each location, from the highest to the lowest level. The final images in the sequence show spectacular skies with thousands of shining stars and even the Milky Way.

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The levels of light pollution are categorised according to the Bortle scale, which measures the night sky's brightness from Class 9 inner-city skies, to Class 1, which represents the darkest skies.

Murali has been interested in astronomy since 2009 and has been using photography as a tool to capture his passion.

See also: Shooting the stars in New Zealand's Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve

He said he saw the starriest sky when he and his wife were camping at the Eureka Dunes in Death Valley National Park in California. The Milky Way over the sand was so bright that he was able to walk around at night without the need for any lights.

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