🌟 A night of apocalypse… and an unexpected celestial show
Los Angeles, the metropolis of a thousand lights, never sleeps… except that night. A violent earthquake strikes the city, plunging it into total darkness. In the sky, a forgotten spectacle: the Milky Way reveals itself like never before. But what should have amazed some apparently terrified the residents, prompting them to call for help, according to a persistent rumor. Urban myth or hidden truth? Let’s untangle fact from fiction.
🌍 The Los Angeles blackout: a historical event
The Northridge earthquake shakes Los Angeles in the middle of the night. 6.7 magnitude, thousands injured and a total power outage. The skyscrapers and illuminated streets vanish, revealing a sky forgotten for decades.
In the absence of light pollution, the Milky Way appears distinctly, a quasi-invisible phenomenon under normal conditions in large cities. This exceptional moment could have been an enchanted interlude… except that some residents apparently got scared and called 911.
📞 An avalanche of emergency calls… or just an urban legend?
According to rumor, dozens of calls were made to emergency services and the Griffith Observatory. Witnesses reported an “enormous white cloud” in the sky, never seen before.
So then, fact or fiction?
✔️ What is true:
- The Milky Way really did appear more distinctly that night.
- The blackout indeed occurred, plunging LA into almost complete darkness.
- Earthquakes are often accompanied by massive calls for help.
❌ What is questionable:
- No official archive confirms these mass calls related to the starry sky.
- The majority of calls received that night concerned earthquake damages and victims.
- The story is widely circulated on the Internet but poorly sourced.
👀 Our verdict? A plausible anecdote, but largely exaggerated.
💡 Light pollution: what this story really reveals
The anecdote, true or not, brings to light (no pun intended 😏) a very real problem:
🔥 80% of humans cannot see the Milky Way from their place of residence (Source: National Geographic).
🔥 Artificial lights erase thousands of stars, making the night sky unrecognizable.
🔥 Scientists warn about the negative effects of light pollution on our health and biodiversity.
🔭 To try: get away from the cities and observe the sky, you will be shocked by what you see!
🚀 How to find a starry sky? (And avoid panicking like in LA 😅)
✅ Turn off unnecessary lights at night (especially outdoors).
✅ Use dimly lit and well-directed LED bulbs.
✅ Participate in events like “Nights of the Stars” to rediscover the sky.
✅ Advocate for cities that respect the night sky (e.g., “Star-Friendly City” label).
🛰️ Fun fact: Some cities like Flagstaff (Arizona) or the island of La Palma (Spain) are protected from light pollution and offer a 100% pure sky!
🌠 You too, rediscover the sky!
And you, have you ever seen the Milky Way for real? 😍 Share your experience in the comments! And if you found this article captivating, share it with those who should look up more often! 🚀
Céline, a passionate blogger about news and travel, I decode the trends that make the world buzz. Whether it’s exploring hidden corners of the planet or analyzing the hottest topics in the news, I share my discoveries here with a curious and authentic perspective. Join me to travel through words and ideas!
