Richard Green, the assistant director at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory, said the challenge was to create a win/win political situation for both the observatories and legislators.

Green and others fought a push by the Arizona Legislature a few years ago to weaken local control over dark sky ordinances by pointing out that the astronomy business in Arizona has more than a billion dollars in investments and brings in more than a quarter million dollars in yearly funding.

“We made it about who brings in the jobs,” he said. “We would much rather say here is a winning formula for both of us.”

INCENTIVIZE BUSINESSES

James Benya, an engineer with Benya Burnett Consultancy, thought cities could have the best of both worlds.

“I believe we can have it all, good lighting and dark skies. All we have to do is do it right,” he said.

Evolving technology is making lighting easier to control, Benya said. All cities have to do is learn how to use it.