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The International Dark-Sky Association wants to dim urban sky glow and light pollution of all kinds to restore the spectacular view of the night sky our ancestors once enjoyed. "The night sky is part of our environment, too, but everyone forgets that," says astronomer David L. Crawford, executive director of the nonprofit association, which held its fourth annual meeting last month in Tucson, Ariz. Crawford is a professional astronomer, and thus his interest in dark skies may be self-explanatory, but he advances the group's cause in terms of economics and efficiency, as well. He claims that as much as $1 billion could be saved nationwide, while a better view of the stars is achieved through the use of energy-efficient, low-pressure sodium lighting fixtures for street lights (instead of mercury vapor fixtures); ...
