Re: How dark is dark ?

In article <1114292749.862222.206640@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Gaz wrote:
> Is the 'Venus casts a shadow' thing a myth or true for dark skies?

It's surely true. Under the darkest skies I've ever experienced,
on a trip to east Africa in the mid-70's, I was able to detect a
shadow cast from the light of Sirius on the white back of a star map
(Skalnate Pleso atlas page!). I had to move my shadow-casting
hand to see it, but it was there. Could see 12 stars in the Pleiades too.
I've never seen more than 9 of them elsewhere.

Stuart in drizzly Champaign, IL
.