Looking up at the stars of the night sky is a luxury future generation may not enjoy. Years of inefficient light bulbs used for outdoor lighting may have irreversibly concealed some stars from sight.

Last year was the 400th anniversary of Galileo's invention of the telescope - a tool which made star gazing easier. The South Bend Tribune reports that it was also the first year that researchers quantified how much of the night sky has been lost, only to reveal that there are only a few hundred stars in the sky that are visible.

According to the source, there are currently no laws that mandate responsible light bulb purchases to preserve the night sky. Instead, it is up to the public to make an effort to go green even in the dark of night.

The source says that when switching to energy-saving light bulbs, like CFL or LED bulbs, reduced electricity consumption should not be the only consideration. Consumers can choose motion detecting lights, aim outdoor light bulbs down, or pick dimmer, lower-lumen bulbs to reduce night pollution.

Luckily for homeowners and star gazers alike, Leviton has recently introduced the first CFL dimmer. The technology can be used to make CFL outdoor lights yield a range of light, so it can be dimmed for both mood lighting and sky preservation purposes.