Naked-eye star visibility and limiting magnitude mapped from DMSP-OLS satellite data

Abstract

We extend the method introduced by Cinzano et al. to map the artificial sky brightness in large territories from DMSP satellite data, in order to map the naked-eye star visibility and telescopic limiting magnitudes. For these purposes we take into account the altitude of each land area from GTOPO30 world elevation data, the natural sky brightness in the chosen sky direction, based on Garstang modelling, the eye capability with the naked eye or a telescope, based on the Schaefer and Garstang approach, and the stellar extinction in the visual photometric band. For near-zenith sky directions we also take into account screening by terrain elevation. Maps of naked-eye star visibility and telescopic limiting magnitudes are useful for quantifying the capability of the population to perceive our Universe, evaluating the future evolution, making cross-correlations with statistical parameters, and recognizing areas where astronomical observations or popularization can still acceptably be made. We present, as an application, maps of naked-eye star visibility and total sky brightness in the V band in Europe at the zenith with a resolution of approximately 1 km.