It took Hurricane Irene to cause a power outage in Waterford, Connecticut neighborhood to give Melissa Babcock optimal conditions to do some stargazing.
There are plenty of reasons to conserve electricity and energy sources. Cutting back on electricity, is of course, a big issue, not only environmentally, but economically.
Before electricity, there was fire to conquer the darkness. Soon humans discovered burning torches and candles. Fear and awe of the night sky was evident.