My family and I are backyard astronomers, so we always plan on watching major meteor showers. The last meteor shower we tried to watch, the sky was perfectly clear, but it was very hard to see anything due to all the light pollution.

Most culprits of nearby light pollution were backyard lights and even kitchen lights that had no reason to be left on. I understand that many are concerned about safety, but sometimes lights left on in certain rooms can attract the wrong sort as it makes the entire room and its contents very visible. It's safer and more economical to purchase motion sensors and night lights - as well as better curtains.

If you're coming and going day and night, please don't leave your outside light on all the time just because it's convenient. Instead, try springing for a cheap timer or a more “dark sky-friendly” light.

Light pollution adversely affects wildlife and human health. Have you ever tried sleeping at night while a light blares right through your blinds? Or if you're trying to view the night sky or nocturnal wildlife, do you want extra light to block out the Milky Way or scare everything away?

The Geminids, according to Space.com, will peak on Dec. 14. The best time to watch is around 5 a.m. when the constellation Gemini is high in the western sky. Please, I ask of you, try to make it a habit of cutting the light pollution your property emits, and maybe we can all enjoy some awesome fireballs.

Valerie A. Smith

Auburn