Light pollution is something that’s thrown around from time to time, but many don’t see its negative effects.

However, at Andrews City Council Thursday, Bill Wren from the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis looked to enlighten the council members.

“It’s a good idea for communities all over the world. And communities all over the world have been working to keep their light on the ground and out of the sky,” says Wren.

Around the Permian basin, light pollution comes from a number of things: new businesses, entertainment and gas and oil refineries.

“With the Permian Basin, I guess the unique characteristic there would be all of the oil and gas activity. Again, that’s 24-7 they’re operating all night long,” says Wren.

According to Wren, if the light from oil and gas ever got near the McDonald Observatory, they could be in big trouble.

“If the sky gets brighter than the faint distant objects we are trying to study, and we can’t see them anymore, then we are out of business,” says Wren.

But don’t worry, the stars are not going to fall out of the sky anytime soon near Fort Davis. They would have to see more than a hundred percent increase.

Right now, both Wren and the City of Andrews are just trying to focus on better informing the population on light pollution.

“It really is just a good reminder for us of being a little more responsible when it comes to lighting,” says Andrews City Manager Glen Hackler.