Flagstaff Dark Sky Enthusiasts In for a Treat

Flagstaff is the first International Dark-Sky City and is home not only to leading professional astronomers at Lowell Observatory, but also to many amateurs, and just plain folks who like to watch the stars at night. This week we Flagstaff star-lovers will have the opportunity to see what National Geographic Magazine calls The Year's Best Meteor Shower. The annual Geminid meteor shower will be at its best since 1996 because this year it coincides with the early setting of a crescent moon.

The Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition website advises that the best viewing will be “to the east” and after midnight. So set those alarm clocks and enjoy the night sky!

If you’re wondering what dark skies have to do with selling real estate, let me tell you this story: Several years ago I was the real estate agent for a very nice couple from out-of-state. I showed homes to them over the course of several days. One morning, they came into my office to say they were so disappointed in the neighborhood that we had visited together the day before. They had driven back to check it out after dark and found NO LIGHTS on the homes at night! They were shocked! Where they came from, every "quality" home was lighted with spots at night. I explained about the value the Flagstaff community places on the night skies. They admitted that they had noticed how wonderful the stars were – something they never saw in the city they were coming from. That day, they spent the afternoon at Lowell Observatory, learning the history of the importance of dark skies to Flagstaff. Later in the afternoon, they bought their favorite house in that “disappointing, dark neighborhood.”

Most Flagstaff people treasure our dark skies, even if they haven’t thought a lot about it. There are city lighting codes to require light shielding on both commercial and residential properties. Here’s what the Dark Skies’ Coalition advises if your neighbor’s light is shining in your window: How to talk to your neighbor about a bad light.

So, enjoy! (And be neighborly about that outdoor lighting.)