New York is now literally demanding people apply for permits to look at the night sky, and the Empire State is charging at least $35 a pop for the right to look up and view the cosmos in state parks.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is now offering “stargazing permits” for people who plan to look at the night sky in a state park.

The state office released a pricing guide for the stargazing permits in December last year.

Residents of New York must apply for a permit and pay $35 to look at the stars according to New York guidelines.

WesternJournal report: For those out of state who inexplicably want to travel to New York for stargazing, they’ll have to shell out a whopping $60 for the privilege.

The permits allow “after sunset parking for stargazing only” at locations in Hither Hills, Jones Beach, Robert Moses, and Gov. Alfred E. Smith parks. For Wildwood and Montauk Point parks, the permit only allows stargazing from a parking lot.

Who says you can’t connect with nature in New York?

The issue of paying for stargazing privileges was brought to the forefront after one of the state’s permits was photographed and uploaded to Twitter.

The permit is numbered 0226, which means there are likely 225 more people who were duped into paying to look at something that has been free for the entirety of human history.

News of the permit drew widespread criticism over New York’s nanny state attitude and the government’s attempt to monetize a free and educational hobby.

Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson even waded into the conversation, issuing a scorching rebuke to New York’s shameless attempt to pad the treasury.

“No,” Tyson wrote. “Back in the day, you didn’t need permission to look up at the sky.”

Permits for activities like fishing and hunting at least make sense — after all, nobody benefits from an uneducated hunter or angler unknowingly devastating fisheries and forests.

But stargazing doesn’t damage anything. Those that look at the stars do not take away any resources, and the celestial bodies shine just as bright as before they were observed.

Americans pride ourselves on our freedoms — something much of the world can’t boast about.

When it comes to states like New York, restricting that freedom and then selling it back to the public is apparently too lucrative to ignore.

Baxter Dmitry

Baxter Dmitry is a writer at Your News Wire. He covers politics, business and entertainment. Speaking truth to power since he learned to talk, Baxter has travelled in over 80 countries and won arguments in every single one. Live without fear.
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