Saving the Stars
Why Towns Should Adopt Dark Sky Policies
If you walk outside tonight and look up, how many stars can you see?
For many of us, the answer is “not many.” The Milky Way, once a brilliant ribbon stretching from horizon to horizon, is now invisible to more than 80% of Americans. What was once a shared experience of awe and wonder has been diminished by the glare of poorly designed outdoor lighting. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Dark sky policies are not about turning off the lights. They’re about turning them the right way, using the right amount of light, only when and where it’s needed. Communities that adopt these policies gain more than just beautiful night skies. They protect wildlife, improve public health, save money, and reconnect people with something deeply human: the stars.
What Are Dark Sky Policies?
At their core, dark sky policies are local regulations that reduce light pollution. That includes things like:
Requiring shielded fixtures that point light downward
Limiting excessive brightness (especially from commercial or decorative lighting)
Favoring warm-colored LEDs over harsh blue-white ones
Setting curfews for unnecessary lights
Encouraging motion sensors or timers
These policies are often informed by guidance from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a nonprofit organization that also designates Dark Sky Parks, Reserves, and Communities worldwide.
Why It Matters
A Cultural Connection Worth Preserving
For millennia, humans looked to the stars for guidance, inspiration, and meaning. Whether it was the Polynesians navigating vast oceans or Galileo charting the heavens, the night sky shaped who we are.
Light pollution severs that connection. Kids growing up today may never see the Milky Way. Without action, we risk becoming the first civilization in history to forget what a star-filled sky looks like.
I’m reminded of the first time we turned the lights off on Erie Street in Lowell to see the Milky Way aligned over the street. Residents who have lived there for decades came onto the street and stared, awe-struck, at the night sky. One long-time resident came to me with tears in her eyes, saying she never realized the Milky Way was so beautiful.
Wildlife Needs the Dark
Many species rely on natural darkness to hunt, migrate, or reproduce. Birds become disoriented by lit-up skylines. Sea turtles crawl toward parking lots instead of the ocean. Even insects, pollinators critical to our food supply, are dying by the billions around streetlamps. In Cochise County, the threat to wildlife is directly connected to the reason we live here.
A large part of Arizona’s beauty and uniqueness is the incredible number of cactus and succulent species, including the iconic Saguaro Cactus. Saguaro, hearty and fragile at the same time, live for hundreds of years, and when one is lost, it is an eraser of centuries. But did you know that it is the Long-Nose Bats that migrate from Mexico to the US that pollinate the Saguaro, as well as the Organ Pipe Cactus and Agaves? Light pollution disrupts the bats’ migration corridors and stifles the start of their flights, affecting the saguaro's health. The bats are also crucial in controlling insect populations.
A single unshielded light fixture might seem harmless. But multiply that by every home, business, and streetlight in a town, and you’ve got a massive ecological disruption.
Light Pollution Affects Human Health, Too
Our bodies are designed to follow natural light cycles. Artificial light at night can throw off circadian rhythms, reduce melatonin production, and contribute to insomnia, anxiety, and even chronic disease.
Warm, targeted, and timed lighting solutions protect health without compromising safety.
Safety and Visibility Improve With Smarter Lighting
Here’s the surprising part: more light doesn’t mean more safety.
Overly bright lights create glare, deep shadows, and visual discomfort. Properly shielded, softer lighting actually improves visibility and helps people feel safer.
Law enforcement agencies and urban planners are increasingly recognizing that thoughtful lighting design is more effective than simply adding more lighting.
It’s Good for Business and the Bottom Line
Efficient lighting reduces energy use and utility costs. But there’s another bonus: astrotourism. People are traveling specifically to see dark skies. Places like Flagstaff, Arizona, Torrey, Utah, and Dripping Springs, Texas have built reputations (and revenue) around their commitment to darkness.
Bisbee, Arizona, recently designated a Dark Sky Community by the International Dark-Sky Association, is a prime example. The city has leveraged its location near some of the darkest skies in the Southwest, collaborating with residents and business owners to minimize light pollution while preserving Bisbee’s vibrant, artistic charm. The result? Not only are the stars back, but the town now markets itself as a dark sky destination, attracting photographers, stargazers, and nature lovers alike.
Your town doesn’t need to be remote to benefit; it just needs to be responsible.
A Case Study: Cochise County’s Sky, From Pristine to Polluted
Cochise County, Arizona, is a photographer’s dream when it comes to dark skies, and a cautionary tale for what happens without consistent policy.
To understand just how much light pollution can vary, even within a single county, it helps to know about the Bortle scale. Developed by astronomer John E. Bortle, this system rates night sky darkness from Class 1 (pristine, darkest skies) to Class 9 (inner-city glow). Under Bortle 1 skies, thousands of stars are visible, the Milky Way casts shadows, and deep-sky objects can be seen with the naked eye. By contrast, Bortle 9 skies might reveal only the moon, a few planets, and a handful of the brightest stars.
Some of the darkest skies in North America can still be found here in Cochise County. Areas near the Chiricahua Mountains, Portal, and stretches of the San Pedro Valley reach Bortle Class 1, offering skies that most Americans have never experienced. Under these conditions, the Milky Way isn’t just a vague stripe; it’s a brilliant, textured arch.
But just 60 miles west as the crow flies, or 85 miles by road, you reach Sierra Vista, a growing city rated Bortle 5 or worse. The city’s unshielded lighting, expanding development, and lack of lighting policy have created a dome of skyglow visible from far beyond its borders. Even locations that once offered excellent viewing are now compromised.
This dramatic contrast in sky quality within a single county makes Cochise a perfect case study. It shows what we stand to lose, and what’s still possible to protect. With thoughtful lighting ordinances and community education, Cochise County could become a national model, striking a balance between development and preservation.
Success Stories
Flagstaff became the world’s first Dark Sky City back in 2001. Since then, dozens of towns across the U.S. and beyond have followed suit, often with help from residents, astronomers, nature enthusiasts, hunters, and photographers.
Closer to home, Bisbee, Arizona, earned its designation as a Dark Sky Community in 2023 after a grassroots effort involving residents, local government, and conservationists. The city updated its lighting ordinance, hosted public education events, and retrofitted problematic fixtures. It now joins a growing movement of towns proving that light pollution can be reversed with collaboration and vision.
Common Concerns (and the Real Answers)
"It's too expensive to change everything."
Most upgrades pay for themselves in energy savings. Retrofit programs and grants are also available.
"It’s a safety risk to turn off the lights."
Actually, glare and overlighting often reduce visibility and make it harder to detect threats.
"People won’t support it."
In many towns, education and simple demonstration projects are enough to gain public support, especially when folks see the stars again.
How to Take Action
Start by evaluating your own home lighting. Are your fixtures shielded? Are your bulbs warm in color?
Attend or speak at town council meetings.
Encourage local governments to adopt lighting ordinances based on IDA guidelines.
Host or participate in star parties and public outreach events.
Partner with local schools, parks, or businesses to promote the value of a visible night sky.
Conclusion: A Sky Worth Saving
We’ve protected rivers, forests, and mountains, but the stars need saving, too. A night sky filled with stars should never be a rarity. It’s a shared heritage, a scientific treasure, and a source of inspiration we cannot afford to lose.
By adopting dark sky policies, towns don’t go dark. They shine smarter.
Let’s not be the generation that forgot the stars.
If you liked this post check out my night sky workshops here: 2026 Erie Street Milky Way