“Can YOU see the STARS?” Ha?!?

@Shavkat (140157)

Philippines

March 26, 2018 9:06am CST

Before I end my day, I wanted to share a discussion with my online student. We are having a so-called “free talk class.” The discussion is smoothly delivered by him. In the middle of the class, he struck me an unexpected question, “Can you see the stars in your place?” I was quite puzzled and asked if he's serious about the question. Well, he is really waiting for my reply. I said, “Yes, I can see the stars at night.” Then, he said, “You are lucky. I am dreaming to see them again.” Whoa! That seems new to my ears and asked him, “Why did he say that?” According to him, it has been a long time that he can’t see the stars in Shanghai, China. The culprit of his claim, it is because of the haze that made the sky at night unclear and despite the lights coming from the city’s skyscrapers. It was an intense discussion and cannot believe at first. He sounds so desperate to see the stars. “Can you still see the stars at night?” “Is haze affecting your place?” Image Credit: pixabay.com

19 people like this

21 responses

@amadeo (111938)

• United States

26 Mar 18

yes I can see them very clearly.

2 people like this

@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

26 Mar 18

You are lucky, my friend. I never thought that air pollution is quite alarming in China.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

@amadeo Same here in my place. I felt bad for some who lost the usual things that they can see in their lives before.

@amadeo (111938)

• United States

26 Mar 18

@Shavkat that is so sad to hear.We do not have big air pollution

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@rheicel (7065)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

Yes, mostly I see stars at night and I love seeing it in the sky shining. That's kind of surreal that not every country wouldn't be able to see stars at night I thought everyone can see it.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

That's what I also thought. I was also surprised that he asked me such question. We can also consider it as a wake-up call to save the Earth.

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@rheicel (7065)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

@Shavkat Do you think it's about Global Warming?

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

@rheicel I personally think that it is also associated. I had worked before in China. Summer season is so hot a few years back. Now, I am sure it is hotter than the old days.

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@ElicBxn (63664)

• United States

14 Apr 18

I can see them, not too much lately, its been a very overcast spring so far. I used to have a telescope when I was a teen. My favorite star cluster is... are... The Pleiades. Hmmm, a single star cluster or seven stars that make it up, is that singular or plural?

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@ElicBxn (63664)

• United States

15 Apr 18

@Shavkat Thanks! I was having a bad "duh" day.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

15 Apr 18

@ElicBxn I am sorry to hear that. I hope things will be fine soon.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

15 Apr 18

I think it is fine "a single cluster." "Cluster" is considered in a group. For me, it is better to say, "star clusters" and the be verb should be "are."

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@ridingbet (66854)

• Philippines

28 Mar 18

yes kabsat. can you also see OUR moon here in YOUR skies there? hahaha

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

29 Mar 18

@ridingbet I think what you are telling me.lol It sounds like shouting Shaider.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

28 Mar 18

I can see our MOON and STARS. lol

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@ridingbet (66854)

• Philippines

29 Mar 18

@Shavkat this was a childhood blooper before kabsat. i would stay in one side of our house and my brother was in the side of the road. we then shouted to each other if 'he can see my moon because i can see his moon'. hahaha

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@Hannihar (130213)

• Israel

10 Apr 18

@Shavkat Hi Shavkat my friend, how are you doing? I love watching the stars. When I am out early in the morning on my porch I can see some. To me they are amazing. That is so bad your student cannot see them. He can live through you. but, I know it is not the same thing.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

10 Apr 18

@Hannihar I always see the stars right after having my online teaching.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

10 Apr 18

I do love them, too. I also look the stars in the sky at night. Moreover, I also felt bad for my online student.

@Hannihar (130213)

• Israel

10 Apr 18

@Shavkat I bet you did. You are a good person. I would feel bad for your student too. It is a shame because the stars are so so beautiful.

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@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

26 Mar 18

Yes, I do sometimes. Even if your student goes to the highest side of the city where they live?

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

It is nice that we can still see them. Yes, I had asked that question. They can't see their stars even in the tallest building in Shanghai.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

@JustBhem Based on facts, it is because of factories situated in big cities.

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@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

27 Mar 18

@Shavkat Wow. I wonder what is the issue there? Is it because of pollution?

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@dpk262006 (58678)

• Delhi, India

27 Mar 18

Most of the days stars are not visible in the sky due to excessive lighting and pollution and smog.

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@dpk262006 (58678)

• Delhi, India

27 Mar 18

@Shavkat Stars are visible, where there are fields and no buildings etc. and sky is clear. Pollution has made the sky grey in some of the cities.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

@dpk262006 I totally agree with you. I hope that we can have a better solution to get rid of the air pollutants. It is an alarming situation that we are experiencing it now.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

I do agree with you. We, humans, should do something, right?

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@silvermist (19702)

• India

26 Mar 18

I am lucky that I can see the stars at night.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

I think we both lucky, my friend. We hope it will not happen to us. However, we can never tell what will happen in the future.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

30 Mar 18

@silvermist (19702)

• India

30 Mar 18

@Shavkat True,the future is not for us to foresee.

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@shshiju (10342)

• Cochin, India

27 Mar 18

Yes I can see it clearly. But how man's deed change the climate. This is a fine example.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

It is starting to see the outcome of man's made irresponsibility to his mother earth.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

@shshiju It is an awakening moment for people. I agree.

@shshiju (10342)

• Cochin, India

27 Mar 18

@Shavkat Exactly. Now the result of global warming and pollution is can see clearly.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317468)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

26 Mar 18

I don't see very many stars due to light pollution. If I lived where there wasn't so much population, I would see a good night sky. I haven't seen more than a handful of stars in years. It doesn't surprise me he can't see the stars in a big city like Shanghai.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

I do think that there are some places similar to his and air pollution is one the of sentiments. Our Earth is continuing to deteriorate through the years.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

@just4him That's also what I am proud of my hometown. We don't have serious air pollutants. It wasn't a big city but it is one of the best places to visit in my country.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317468)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

27 Mar 18

@Shavkat We don't have a lot of air pollution here where I live, but larger cities put out what they call light pollution. The number of lights a city has affects how many stars you see at night. More lights, less stars.

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@cintol (11261)

• United States

27 Mar 18

We live in a small town so we have no haze and we can see the stars very clear at night. I hope your student will get to see the stars soon

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

That's the advantage of living in a small town, my friend. There is no need to worry about dealing any serious air pollutants. I must say he is so desperate and felt dismayed living in a big city.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

28 Mar 18

@cintol At present, I am living in the mountainside of my country. We breathe fresh air as compared to other places in the Philippines.

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@cintol (11261)

• United States

27 Mar 18

@Shavkat I lived in a big city before I moved here but we were in the mountain above the pollution.

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@kobesbuddy (78871)

• East Tawas, Michigan

27 Mar 18

Most of the time, on a cloudless night, I can see the stars. But, near the cities of our world, air pollution has blocked the view of these beautiful wonders!

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

I do think that big cities are experiencing the same situation. As for me, my habitat is better to live in. I am living on the mountainside and still protected by trees. Regardless, I can feel the sentiments of this student that seems he lost what used to see in his life.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

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@kobesbuddy (78871)

• East Tawas, Michigan

27 Mar 18

@Shavkat I feel the same way, when our skies get cloudy:(

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@Starmaiden (9311)

• Canada

26 Mar 18

The glare of the city lights make it difficult to see them, but on a clear night I can see the constellation Orion and other constellations. :-)

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

Wow! You can see them, too. I personally think that people in China need to be awakened because of such condition. Some locals don't believe that it will have any changes despite the government's effort.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

@Starmaiden I agree. I think we need to take actions in saving our mother Earth.

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@Starmaiden (9311)

• Canada

27 Mar 18

@Shavkat They are truly missing a spectacular sight. :-(

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@Jessabuma (31700)

• Baguio, Philippines

26 Mar 18

It's been a long time since the last I saw the stars at night, but when I was still in my province I often to see them.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

Uhm I thought you are from the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Where's your hometown?

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

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@Jessabuma (31700)

• Baguio, Philippines

27 Mar 18

@Shavkat Cagayan Valley

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@Sreekala (34312)

• India

27 Mar 18

I am not noticing at all recently, honestly

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

Really? Do you think it is serious? I think we need to know the root cause.

@DianneN (247184)

• United States

28 Mar 18

I'm not surprised he can't see the stars in Shanghai. I found the haze in Xi'as much, much worse.The sky seems so lit up by all those extra tall buildings. Yes, I can see the stars from my homes in Florida and Connecticut.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

28 Mar 18

It is nice that you had experienced the bad situation in China. I also worked in south part of China before. During that time, it wasn't the problem. That is why I was so surprised when he had this claim.

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@Namelesss (3365)

• United States

26 Mar 18

Yes I can. We have a lot of trees around so our little patch of sky isn't very big but it's bright with stars. I feel your students pain at not being able to see them, they are magical to look at aren't they?

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

I also felt bad when he had his story in Thailand. When then they traveled in this country, his daughter was so surprised seeing the stars. It makes him more in pain when the child asked why they don't have it in Shanghai.

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@db20747 (43440)

• Washington, District Of Columbia

1 Apr 18

On a clear summer nite, stars light up the sky, where we are, a Wonderful site to see!!!

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

2 Apr 18

I agree. If I am feeling sentimental, I also do staring the stars at night. It makes me relax in some way.

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@db20747 (43440)

• Washington, District Of Columbia

2 Apr 18

@Shavkat ever see the north star or big dipper?

•

26 Mar 18

Yes I can see the stars. I live outside the city.However there is power supply center to the north of my home.The strong light of the center blurs the northern stars a little but I can still see the north star and the great bear.

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@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

It seems that you are living in Alaska. It is nice that you can still see the North Star and the bears. Are they polar bears?

@august18 (3907)

• Tunisia

26 Mar 18

Same here. I can't see them where I live right now because of artificial lightening. But they are as clear as day in my hometown where there is less lightening.

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@august18 (3907)

• Tunisia

26 Mar 18

@miketagz Thanks

@Shavkat (140157)

• Philippines

27 Mar 18

@august18 It seems that haze is starting to cover up the Earth's atmosphere now. That's why some people dreamed to live in the countryside than in big cities.

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