notes.husk.org. scribblings by Paul Mison.

Some 53% of those who joined a recent star count failed to see more than 10 stars in the Orion constellation. That had decreased only very slightly from 54% since 2007, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Campaign for Dark Skies said.

Fewer than one in 10 said they could see between 21 and 30 stars, and just 2% of people had truly dark skies, seeing 31 or more stars.

The information was gathered as part of the annual Star Count survey, which was held across two weeks in January and February this year. Almost 1,000 people in different locations around the country took part. Participants were instructed to pick a clear night to count the number of stars in the constellation of Orion.