Letter - View of glittering heavens is part of heritage

To the editor:

I wish to commend the Echo Press for recently bringing attention to the issue of light pollution, a type of pollution that is among the easiest to clean up and prevent.

An unfettered view of the glittering heavens is part of our common heritage as humans and has provided inspiration in Scripture and literature from times ancient to modern. Science has given us even more mind-blowing reasons to appreciate what we can see above. When I give tours of the night sky, rarely do my guests leave without a rekindled sense of awe for the beauty of Creation.

Residents of the Alexandria area have long recognized the importance of the preservation of its natural resources for both their quality of life and the economic vitality of the region. For these same reasons, a resplendent night sky with thousands of stars that could be visible to the naked eye is also a resource worthy of protection. Quality outdoor lighting can help to restore this vista while saving money and improving nighttime safety and security.

The folks at the International Dark-Sky Association, www.darksky.org, have a wealth of information about how this may be done. If a large city like Tucson, Arizona can have a sensible lighting policy that allows the Milky Way to be visible from its downtown, imagine the results that could be had in the Alexandria area. More people would find it “hard to leave” because of its majestic night skies!

Nicholas Moe

(former Alexandria resident)

Collegeville, MN

Tags: opinion, letters