During the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, much of Los Angeles experienced power outages.
According to a report cited by astronomer Ed Krupp of the Griffith Observatory, some residents called emergency services to report an unfamiliar "cloud" or strange sky phenomenon.
What they were actually seeing was the Milky Way, normally obscured by LA's severe light pollution.
The sudden blackout revealed a night sky that many urban dwellers had never seen before, leading to confusion and surprise — not necessarily panic.
The story has since been used in dark sky awareness campaigns to highlight how urban lighting hides the cosmos from millions of people.
During the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, much of Los Angeles experienced power outages.
According to a report cited by astronomer Ed Krupp of the Griffith Observatory, some residents called emergency services to report an unfamiliar "cloud" or strange sky phenomenon.
What they were actually seeing was the Milky Way, normally obscured by LA's severe light pollution.
The sudden blackout revealed a night sky that many urban dwellers had never seen before, leading to confusion and surprise — not necessarily panic.
The story has since been used in dark sky awareness campaigns to highlight how urban lighting hides the cosmos from millions of people.
