[AZ-Observing] Article from March 24th talking about SB1218

Arizona Republic
Seeing in the dark: Astronomy a boon for state, deserving support
Mar. 24, 2003 12:00 AM
You can't touch it or harvest it or bottle it. Yet darkness is one of
our most valuable natural resources. 

It's made Arizona a premier location for astronomy. In the past five
years, about $100 million has been invested in new astronomy facilities
here. And more could come our way.

But the bright light from our growing cities is threatening this
precious resource. At Kitt Peak National Observatory in southern
Arizona, you can see the glow of Phoenix lights 90 miles away. 

Fortunately, the state Senate has approved Senate Bill 1218 to help
protect our nighttime skies, and use energy more efficiently. The House
should show the same foresight. 

The state and cities with populations of 50,000-plus would be required
to install efficient lighting, with shielding on outdoor fixtures, when
they build or renovate any structures or facilities. The shielding keeps
light rays from going up into the sky, concentrating them instead on the
area meant to be lighted. 

There are reasonable exemptions, including the state Capitol complex,
emergency lighting and highway work by the Arizona Department of
Transportation. School and municipal sports facilities would be allowed
to use partial shielding.

This bill is not breaking new ground, but building on existing policies.
In 1986, the Legislature specifically recognized that keeping our
astronomical observatories is in the best interests of the state. The
law already requires most bright outdoor lights, including incandescent
fixtures of more than 150 watts, to be at least partially shielded. 

Unfortunately, SB 1218 faces extra hurdles in the House, where it is
assigned to four committees. That should be scaled back to two. 

The legislation is important not only for what it does but the message
it sends. "It is an indication to the astronomy community that the state
is making a commitment to keep our skies dark," says Sen. Gabrielle
Giffords, a Tucson Democrat and a sponsor of the bill.

Many cities have dark-skies ordinances, including Tucson's requirement
for low-pressure sodium lights, that protect visibility for astronomers.


It's a real contrast with Southern California. As Rogier Windhorst,
professor of astronomy at Arizona State University, points out, "We
would not be in this business any more if they'd let themselves go like
Los Angeles or Pasadena." 

SB 1218 adds an important layer of protection for a precious Arizona 


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