Today's Article

Dr. Danielle Adams, Cultural Astronmoer Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition: This bright star here is Vega. In a 5pristine dark sky, you can see about 4,500 stars on any given night. In a place like Atlanta or Phoenix, that number is 35.

CNN Narrator: In 2001, Flagstaff, Arizona was 6recognized as the world's first international dark sky city for its efforts to 7preserve the night sky, 8thanks in part to the city's 9innovative work with outdoor lighting.

Dr. Danielle Adams: We don't allow too much light to go into the sky. We have fixtures that have full cutoff 10shielding so it all goes to the ground. We 11regulate the 12wavelength of light. You'll see that most of the 13street lighting is 14amber and that 15scatters less in our sky.

CNN Narrator: Flagstaff's dark sky 16designation isn't the only reason it's become a 17hub for 18astrotourism. “Oh, you can see right where the astronauts would be sitting. Cool. You good with a 19selfie, dude?” Less than an hour away, you can visit the Beringer Crater where NASA once trained astronauts to 20land on the moon. “Makes you kind of feel small.” And at the Lowell 21Observatory, you can gaze at the heavens through a giant 128-year-old 22telescope. “Wow. Can I move this thing?” 

Dr. Danielle Adams: That 23inspiration from the night sky 24leads to poetry and art and music and dance. So many different things in cultures throughout the world. It all connects to this wonder that we get out under a truly dark sky.