Newsletter of the Big Bend Astronomical Society, Inc. April, 1999 Jim Walker, Editor

President Bill Baker opened the April 14th meeting by reading the following letter:

Members of the Big Bend Astronomical Society

Dear Members,
        I would like to take this opportunity to give my thanks to the many efforts of many people that have made the Big Bend Astronomical Society a great success.
        This year we are beginning to see the realization of several goals that will indeed benefit our community.
        The Murray Newman Educational Fund will make its first contribution to educational activities related to astronomy, to the McDonald Observatory under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Mark Adams.  Outdoor lighting legislation has been passed from committee and into the Texas House and now has the support of Brewster County and the City of Alpine. This past month, during spring break, the McDonald Visitors Center saw a record star party crowd of over one thousand people, and with the help of many volunteers of the Big Bend Astronomical Society and others, was able to provide the guests with memorable views of our universe.
        It is my pleasure to thank one and all of the members of the Big Bend Astronomical Society and the staff of McDonald Observatory Visitors Center for the cooperative efforts that are working to improve the quality of living, as well as the enjoyment of astronomy, in the Davis Mountains, Big Bend area.  I look forward to seeing these improvements grow as your efforts
continue.
        Sincerely,
        Bill Baker, President
        Big Bend Astronomical Society

        Bill Wren, Public Information Specialist, McDonald Observatory, gave a presentation on outdoor lighting at our April meeting.  Bill began by saying he felt as though he was preaching to the choir.  True enough, but the choir needs a good rehearsal now and then, and Bill gave us a good one.
        Bill reported that Jim Walker, the previous evening, had asked the Alpine City Council to support the state lighting bill, HB916.  Bill suggested that Jim share the spotlight by giving the results of that meeting and the current status of the bill in the Texas House.  Always accommodating, Jim agreed.
        Jim said the City Council voted unanimously to support the lighting bill after a 5-minute presentation.  There were no questions or discussion before the vote.  Many thanks to the several BBAS members who were there, and who identified themselves by a show of hands.  Earlier, the Brewster County Commissioners Court also voted to support the bill.
        Pete Gallego, our state representative, introduced HB916 in January.  Nine people testified at the hearing in Austin before the House Committee on State Affairs on March 29.  Bob Gent, Public Information Officer of the International Dark-Sky Association, came from Washington to testify.
Although living in the Washington area at present, Bob is also a Texas resident, so no one challenged him as an out-of-state agitator.  He emphasized the win-win aspects of good outdoor lighting, how it benefits everyone, not just the astronomical community.
        Mark Adams, Superintendent of McDonald Observatory, testified on the increasing threats to the observatory from light pollution.  As a state employee, Mark could testify neither for nor against the lighting bill.  He could only offer factual testimony on the bill, which he did very effectively.
        Karl Burkett, a lighting engineer with TxDOT, testified that they adopted a full-cutoff standard for all highway lighting in January, 1999.  Two years ago, he testified that the lighting bill then before the committee (essentially the same as this year's) would cost the state $750,000 more per year.  He now believes that full-cutoff lighting will add nothing to the cost of highway lighting.
        Several members of the Austin Astronomy Club addressed many issues, such as the role of astronomy as the first area of science to interest many students, the energy savings from more efficient lighting, the growing trend toward lighting ordinances across the country, and the prominence of Texas stars in song and poetry.  Dr. Louis Binder, an optometrist and president of
the Fort Bend Astronomy Club, offered written testimony on the effects of glare, and on visual problems in aging.
        Jim Walker's testimony emphasized glare, sky glow, the waste of electricity, and the resulting increase in air pollution, closing with this observation:
        "If there were no astronomers, and if no one else on the face of the earth ever looked at the night sky, there would still be good reasons for full cutoff lighting.  Everyone would profit from better visibility on the ground, energy savings, and cleaner air."
        The State Affairs Committee has now unanimously passed HB916, with a few very minor changes.  The bill is now awaiting action by the full House.
        At this point, Bill Wren took up the torch, showing us an article on lighting from the Odessa American in 1966, datelined Ft. Davis.  The headline asserted, Stargazers strive to keep city in dark.  The article quoted such luminaries as Bill Wren, Jim Walker, Eileen Conner (then BBAS
vice president), and Peggy Robertson (Jeff Davis County Judge).  Among other problems, the article misattributed to Bill the notion that people are eager to keep the area in "opaque blackness."  We are not well served by articles that overstate our case for good lighting.
        For years, Bill has emphasized that good lighting doesn't mean total darkness.  His handout on Outdoor Lighting Control illustrates this in three panels labeled The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.  The Good panel shows a full cutoff, shielded fixture allowing no direct light to escape into the sky, also reducing glare, and providing more efficient lighting.  The Bad panel shows an unshielded  fixture like many of our streetlights and security lights.  The Ugly panel shows a globe on the top of a post that lights up the sky and produces a lot of glare, while leaving the area dark directly under the light.
        Bill showed a number of slides of local examples of good and bad lighting.  In many cases, mercury vapor lights can be fitted with shields provided through funding by the Texas Star Party and McDonald Observatory.  About 250 such shields have been installed free of charge by West Texas Utilities.
        The slide of the Pima County, AZ, Jail is an excellent example of good institutional full cutoff lighting.  Closer to home, the Lynaugh Facility, the state jail near Ft. Stockton, has been completely retrofitted with full cutoff fixtures using inmate labor.  This retrofit project was initiated about two years ago through the work of our State Representative Pete Gallego.  There is a big difference in the amount of sky glow visible as you travel south on State Highway 1776 toward Interstate10.  You can still see the lights themselves, but the uplight is much reduced, perhaps by 80 or 90%.
        Bill has met with Rick Cuellar, the engineer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice who was largely responsible for overseeing the Lynaugh retrofitting.  Cuellar has said the staff is very pleased with the new lighting.  They have as much light on the ground as before, and less glare,
so they can see better.  (Indeed, the warden sent a letter to the committee hearing in Austin supporting HB916.)  The staff at Lynaugh has tried to promote full cutoff lighting elsewhere in the system, but some staff at other facilities feel that bright lights and lots of glare help intimidate the inmates.
        Bill has strongly emphasized that we can best promote good lighting as a win-win situation where everybody benefits.  Full cutoff lighting reduces glare for everyone, saves energy, and - oh yes, incidentally - saves the sky  for stargazers.

An error in the balance of the Newman Fund was reported.  The fund balance should be $3,899.95, not $3,864.55 as reported in the Newsletter (Secretary Jim Walker made this error all by himself with no help from Treasurer Betty Grimm).  The minutes were accepted with this correction.
 

Treasurer Betty Grimm presented the following report: Bank balance 02/28/99         $862.64 March Activity  Receipts                                    67.00 Disbursements (Ins)                   27.00 Balance 03/31/99                    902.64 Less Lighting Fund                    100.00 Working balance 03/31/99     802.64

First National Bank in Alpine Savings Account Opened 09/25/98 Balance 02/28/99                   $708.93 Interest Acrued                             5.53 Balance 03/31/99                   $714.46

Murray Newman Fund 05/18/98 CD     2,974.95 Murray Newman Fund 01/19/99 CD        925.00 Fund CD Balance                                 3,899.95

        Doug McCombs noted that our regular meeting and the likely date for a star party in May falls at a time when some members will be attending the Texas Star Party.  It was moved and seconded that we not hold our meeting and star party during the month of May.  The motion carried after a brief discussion.
        Barb Stone recommended that we differentiate more clearly the minutes of our business meetings from the remainder of the Newsletter.  Barb was concerned about possible problems with the IRS that she thought might arise for the Big Bend Weavers and Spinners.  Secretary Jim Walker said he would try to do so.
        Thus, here endeth the writing of the minutes.
        Respectfully submitted,
        Jim Walker, Secretary

        Jack Mollard came up with an idea for a possible addition to the slogan that the Alpine Avalanche always runs under their masthead at the top of page 1.  The slogan now says, Serving Big Bend and Davis Mountains Country since 1891.
        Jack suggests asking the editor to consider an addition to the slogan, such as "We cherish our dark sky."
        Other possibilities are:  "We cherish our clean air and starry skies." or "Home of Texas' brightest stars."
        A good addition to their existing slogan might emphasize some of the things we all hold near and dear.  Of course, we have not yet made any contact with the Avalanche on this issue pending the creation of something suitable for their masthead.  Give it some thought.

        The Main Street lights at the WTU office now have internal shields, perforated metal disks above the bulbs that cut off 2/3.  I was invited to look at the shielded fixtures before they were installed.  The internal shields indeed reduce the uplight substantially, but they do nothing for
the glare.  Please have a look, and keep in mind the present 70-watt HPS bulbs will be replaced with 50W HPS when the Main Street lights are installed.
        Have you seen the new Town & Country gas station at night.  It's clearly the brightest in Alpine.  Gas stations are a growing problem all over the country.  A local lighting ordinance would help control such lighting, where every new station seems to want brighter lights that everyone else.
        I believe we are approaching the time when a local lighting ordinance may become possible.  As we discuss the issues with people in our community, please stress the benefits to everyone.  These benefits are real, substantial, and impinge on everyone's health and well being in many ways.

        The New Mexico lighting bill, which was awaiting the governor's signature last month, has now been signed into law.  The bill requires full cutoff fixtures on all lights, not just state facilities. The installation of mercury vapor lights is prohibited after January, 2000, and the sale of
replacement MV bulbs is outlawed after January, 2001.  Thus, the New Mexico law is stronger than our Texas bill.