The Arizona Daily Sun reports that the City of Flagstaff will more aggressively write citations to businesses and homeowners who add brighter lighting, including those along Route 66.
I was wondering why the city is doing this. It’s because Flagstaff, with its high elevation and its clear Southwestern skies, is a good place for observatories, including Lowell Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory. But bright nighttime lighting diminishes the ability to see faraway solar systems. Flagstaff has an ordinance in place to curb brighter lighting.
It’s not Flagstaff that’s the big problem, though.
The statewide astronomy community is perennially looking to the glow of Phoenix, Luginbuhl and others have said, asking what can be done to keep Arizona from losing its rank as one of the top three places in the world for astronomy.
“You can see Phoenix all the way from Gallup to Holbrook along Interstate 40,” city councilman Joe Haughey said.
Here’s a Web site for stargazing advocates.
The ordinance doesn’t affect current Route 66 business signs. But I wish the city would write an exemption for new neon signs along the Mother Road. Neon is bright and intense, but its glow doesn’t go high into the sky like regular security lighting. And neon adds to the roadie experience.