PSA: Using a red bike light saved my night vision (and my sanity)

I kept ruining my dark adaptation every time I checked my star chart, even with my phone's brightness turned all the way down. After 3 weeks of frustration, I grabbed a cheap red bike tail light from my garage and taped it to my clipboard. The red light lets me read my notes without wiping out my night vision for a full 20 minutes. I just use a rubber band to hold it on, and it cost me maybe $8 total. Has anyone else tried a random bike light for stargazing, or do you have a better DIY setup that actually works?

2 comments

2 Comments

phoenixgonzalez5d ago

The battery drain on cheap bike lights is brutal in cold weather.

nina_sullivan615d ago

That part about ruining your dark adaptation really hit home. One thing nobody's brought up yet is that red lights aren't all created equal. I tried a bike light once but it had this nasty flicker when the battery was going low, and that messed with my eyes even more than a white light. You might want to tape a piece of red cellophane over your phone screen instead. It's dirt cheap and gives a softer, more even glow than most bike lights I've seen. Have you tested yours through a full night to see if the battery holds up?