Dark Sky Issues

The Parable of the Boiled Frogs

Let this serve as a metaphor for the slow loss of the majesty of our skies to commercial and residential light pollution:
  Once upon a time a man from a distant land wished to created a delicacy of boiled frogs for his supper. He prepared his pot of boiling water and then attempted to drop the frogs into the pot. Each time he did so, the energetic frogs leaped out before they could become his supper. After several attempts, he threw out the hot water and filled the pot with pleasantly warm water and tossed the frogs in. They happily swam about thinking they had found a new home. The man then slowly added twigs to the fire, increasing the heat bit by bit until the frogs all fell into a stupor and then into death. They became a tasty meal for the man and his wife.

In other words--the scary thing about light pollution is that it steals our skies so slowly and stealthily that we have fallen into a stupor! Let's start hopping!

Dark Sky Q and A

Q. What are Dark Sky Issues?
A. These are issues relating to the abatement of light pollution through education and legislation that inevitably arise when people who enjoy the stars realize that commercial and residential lighting is slowly but inevitably stealing away our view of the heavens.

Q. What kind of legislation does NM currently have regarding light pollution?
A. The Night Sky Protection Act is our first state-wide legislation. Click here , then follow the links to New Mexico Statutes, New Mexico Statutes Unannotated, Chapter 74, Article 12. Individual municipalities may enact more stringent codes. See below for website.

Q. What organizations deal with Dark Sky issues?
A. The premier organization is a non-profit Arizona based, international organization called the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). Its website is listed below. Many amateur astronomical societies also deal with these issues.

Q. Is TAAS involved in Dark Sky issues?
A. Yes, TAAS has always been involved in one way or another. We have more formally announced our involvement by creating a special interest group recognized as DarkSky NM, voted into existence on April 13, 2000 by the Board of Directors.

Q. How can I join DarkSky NM?
A. First, you must be a current TAAS member. Then you may join by sending a check made out to TAAS for $5 to TAAS at PO Box 50581, Albuquerque, NM 87181-0581. Please denote the check with DarkSky NM Dues. You must also make a commitment to make at least one educational presentation per year (slide show, speak to a school group, talk to a reporter, etc.) Please note that the goal is to build a team of informed darksky educators, not to collect small contributions. We need your time more than your dues.

Q: What if I don't have time to make an educational presentation?
A: You can complete a 10 Letter Writing Campaign instead. We are currently targeting the Albuquerque City Council for our letter writing campaign. See below the addresses of our current councilors. The focus is to inform councilors that New Mexico now does have dark sky legislation, and that you support its active enforcement. It would be helpful if you included a copy of the Night Sky Protection Act. Email is OK but snail mail more effective. Please report your 10 contacts to darksky@taas.org by the end of the year.

Q. Why must I be a TAAS member to join?
A. As a sub-group of TAAS, DarkSky NM is eligible to receive:
  • This link on the TAAS website
  • Funding from the board
  • Space in the newsletter
  • A strong base of already interested folks
  • Access to a pre-existing listserv

Q. When are the meetings?
A. We currently are only having meetings in conjunction with the Santa Fe group called Volunteers for the New Mexico Night Sky. Please check the current TAAS newsletter for dates and times for this information.

Q. Will DarkSky NM become politically active?
A. Yes, to the degree that the board approves and the membership wishes. Contrary to popular misconception, non-profit organizations MAY be politically active within certain guidelines. Currently our emphasis is on education.

Q. What are our current projects?
A. We are actively working toward more effective local ordinances on outdoor lighting in Albuquerque and surrounding areas.
 

 

Sky Quality Meter is now available!

A Unihedron Sky Quality Meter (SQM) is now available for TAAS members.  You can borrow this meter from David Penasa at (505) 277-1141 (w) or (505) 275-2480(h).  The SQM will be reserved on a first come, first served basis for durations up to one week.  Obviously, TAAS events such as Oak Flats and GNTO take priority.  The following links give information on checkout and operating procedures for our new SQM. 

Sky Quality Meter (SQM) Check-Out and Return Instructions

Sky Quality Meter (SQM) Site Data Sheet

Sky Quality Meter (SQM) Usage Instructions

 

David Penasa's Dark Sky Handout

Dark Sky Information Handout -- New Mexico & Albuquerque Area (updated 12-11-05)

David A. Penasa, PE, Univ. of NM PPD Engrg & Const, (505) 277-1141 / Fax (505) 277-2385

Member of IESNA, IDA, NMHPA Night Sky Program’s Advisory Board, and the 2000-2001 City of Albuquerque’s Night Sky Protection Task Force

Here are some basics on light pollution and good outdoor lighting, plus web sites for some of the existing codes and ordinances that address outdoor lighting in the Albuquerque area and New Mexico.

What is Light Pollution? Collectively, it is:

  • Sky glow - destroys mankind's view of the universe (a national heritage)
  • Light trespass - someone's outdoor lighting encroaches on our property
  • Glare - blinds us and reduces visibility (Glare is never good.)
  • Clutter - trashes the nighttime environment (causes confusion as well)
  • Energy waste - costs us over $1.5B/yr (est.) in USA alone
  • Health issue - light at night has adverse health affects on humans and animals

In summary: "Light pollution is any adverse effect of man-made light used in the night environment."

Design Criteria for Good Outdoor Lighting

  • Comply with applicable codes/outdoor lighting ordinance(s)
  • Design in accordance with IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) recommendations
  • Follow IDA (International Dark-Sky Association) information and guidelines

    But, more generally, determine if it is really necessary to be lit and then apply these four elementary concepts

    • shield it,
    • point it down,
    • don't use more than you need,
    • turn it off when you are done and not there.

Industry Design Guidelines (make sure your local engineers & architects are aware of and follow these!)

  • IESNA RP-33-99 Lighting for Exterior Environments $45.00
  • IESNA RP-20-98 Lighting for Parking Facilities $45.00
  • IESNA RP-8-00 Roadway Lighting $30.00
  • IESNA RP-6-01 Sports Lighting $40.00
  • IESNA TM-11-00 Light Trespass: Research, Results and Recommendations $20
  • IESNA TM-10-00 Addressing Obtrusive Light (Urban Sky Glow and Light Trespass) in Conjunction with Roadway Lighting $10

    (To obtain the above documents, contact the IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) or call (212) 248-5000 and ask for the publications department.)
  • FAA Advisory Circular AC 70-7460-1K Obstruction Marking and Lighting

International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)

  • Be sure to look at their information sheets, their Good Lighting Fixtures List, and their Fixture Seal of Approval Program for dark-sky friendly fixtures. The IDA's vision is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting. Their goal is to educate everyone about the value of a pleasant nighttime environment of dark skies, and of quality outdoor lighting, with all of its advantages.

Dark Sky Friendly Light Fixtures & Shielding - sources:

Dark Sky Slide Show

New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act:

  • The full version of the Act is here (follow the links to New Mexico Statutes, New Mexico Statutes Unannotated, Chapter 74, Article 12.)

    Compliance is required by Article 290.40 of the 2002 New Mexico Electrical Code (NMEC). Enforcement is the responsibility of the Construction Industries Division (CID) of the State's Construction Industry Commission (CIC) for State projects and local jurisdiction for other projects.

    Concerned about enforcement? Contact Lisa Martinez, Director of CID, (505) 476-4689, Lisa.Martinez@state.nm.us, or Rem Pacheco, Electrical Bureau Chief, (505) 476-4679, Rem.Pacheco@state.nm.us, to express your concerns. Or, attend the next regular meeting of the Construction Industries Commission (CIC). See this link for information about the next meeting.

New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance (NMHPA) - Night Sky Program:

  • The Night Sky Program will initiate action on issues concerning light pollution and New Mexico's night sky, and will establish educational, legislative, informational and outreach efforts to reverse light pollution in our state, and will promote pristine night skies. Additionally, the program will act as a clearinghouse for counties, municipalities, homeowners' associations, and other jurisdictional entities that have existing light regulations or ordinances or are looking for resources to develop such regulations. See the sky section of the NMHPA website here. Also see the main NMHPA here. They have a 16 page booklet, "Consumer Guide to Night Sky Friendly Lighting," located here, which serves as an introduction to the phenomenon of light pollution, its consequences and solutions, and a tool for night sky advocates. You can also contact Lazlo Lazowska, Director of the Night Sky Program at NMHPA, lazlo@nmheritage.org, (505) 989-3696, (505) 989-7745 or (866) 700-6647.

City of Albuquerque

  • See the City of Albuquerque Code of Ordinances, in particular, Chapter 14, Zoning, Planning and Building. There are lighting related items in both Article 1 (Uniform Administrative Code and Technical Codes) and Article 16 (Zoning Code).  See “14-16-3-9 Area Lighting Regulations”, “14-16-3-5 General Sign Regulations”, and “14-16-3-18 General Building And Site Design Regulations For Non-Residential Uses”, among others.

    Note that a Mayor-appointed Night Sky Protection Task Force submitted proposed outdoor lighting-related amendments to both Uniform Administrative Code and Zoning Code on March 1, 2001.  (This document is no longer available on the web.)  The amendments were reviewed by the City’s Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) until mid 2002, when they expired due to exceeding a time limit. However, in October 2002, other amendments were passed regarding height limitations for light fixtures within parking areas. See the City's LEGISTAR system that tracks Council action and search for Bill O-02-19.

    Interest by the City was renewed in the Spring of 2004, and a Night Sky Protection Ordinance (text amendments to the zoning code) was again considered. At the March 17, 2005 EPC Hearing, the amendments (Project # 1003718, Case # 04EPC 1579) were deferred until the January 19, 2006 Hearing. ()The staff report has been withdrawn.) Contact Richard Dineen (924-3352, rdineen@cabq.gov), Director, Planning Dept, for further information.

    Note that the City also has lighting regulations specified in the Coors Corridor Plan and the Alameda Boulevard Design Overlay Zone documents.

Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque

  • See the following sections for Dark Skies regulations in the zoning ordinance: Section 19 - Dark Skies

    (The zoning ordinance was updated, effective May 2003. Quite a few changes were made to prior Dark Skies regulations.)

Bernalillo County

  • The Bernalillo County Zoning, Building and Planning Code is the basic source for county regulations.

    Light Pollution Ordinances for 1) the East Mountain Area and 2) North Albuquerque Acres and Sandia Heights Areas is located here.  The East Mountain Ordinance was recently under review (August-December 2001) but the review is now inactive. Contact Catherine VerEecke, Program Planner, (505) 314-0387, cvereecke@mercury.bernco.gov, for further information.  Or, contact Sandy Fish, Director of Building, Zoning & Planning, sfish@mercury.bernco.gov, (505) 924-3700, to discuss outdoor lighting regulations for Bernalillo County and coordination with the City of Albuquerque’s regulations.

City of Rio Rancho

  • The City of Rio Rancho has no outdoor lighting code. But, they do have an Illumination Task Force (inactive at present). The ITF turned in a proposed ordinance and recommendations in June 2001. However, things seemed to have stalled with its review and adoption. Please contact the Mayor, Jim Owen, (505) 891-5002, jowen@ci.rio-rancho.nm.us, if you are interested in seeing the City move forward with the Task Force’s recommendations. There are also lighting-related items in the City of Rio Rancho Code of Ordinances. See Chapter 154 Planning and Zoning, items 154.09 (I) (5) and 154.39, among others .  See the city of Rio Rancho Code of Ordinances.
     
 

Helpful addresses and websites

DarkSky NM info

International Dark Sky Association

Night Sky Protection Act Text

Want to Help?

Our current writing campaign is targeted at reminding our the City of Albuquerque Councilors and Bernalillo County Commissioners that we DO NOW have a statewide code for lighting, and that we, as citizens, would like to reclaim our night sky. All letters and emails that you can send would be helpful!

Here is the web page of all of the Albuquerque Commissioners, including phone numbers and e-mail addresses. The Official Albuquerque City Website

Here is the web page of all of the Bernalillo County Commissioners, including phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Notice that they are listed on the right side of the web page. The Bernalillo County Commissioner's Website

Click image for North America at night, in color