Even if you live in an urban area, try to find a location that offers you as wide a view of the sky as possible, free from obstructions such as tall buildings.

Of course, there is still the problem of light pollution from excessive or misdirected outdoor lighting. Sadly, in many large metropolitan areas, it is becoming increasingly difficult to trace out even a simple star pattern like the Big Dipper. So, city dwellers might want to improve their chances by traveling to a darker location. You might only have to travel 15 or 20 minutes . . . or perhaps as much as an hour or two.

If you live in a suburban or rural location, you'll still want to find as dark a spot as possible, away from bright lights. Even turning off the back porch light can help. Using a building to block someone else's bright lights can be effective, too.

If you're interested in how you can take steps to reduce extra nighttime lighting in your own town and backyard, you might consider joining the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). Founded in 1988, IDA gathers and disseminates light-pollution information and solutions. Indeed, it has played a pivotal role in turning the tide in the war against light pollution.