! ! CCAAO ! ! Cochise County Association of Astronomical Observatories 5515 E. Lantana Drive, Sierra Vista AZ 85650 ! Mayor and City Council City of Sierra Vista 1101 N. Coronado Avenue Sierra Vista Arizona, 85635 February 24, 2014 !Dear Honorable Mayor Mueller and Honorable City Council Members, !The Cochise County Association of Astronomical Observatories (CCAAO) is a recently formed consortium of more than 50 privately owned astronomical observatories throughout Cochise County. We have joined together in an effort to promote amateur contributions to the study of astronomy, prolong the usefulness of our observatories which represent millions of dollars in investment, and to protect the dark skies that allow us to conduct astronomical research in the county. !Amateur observers in Cochise County contribute significantly to the science of astronomy. The coalition of observatories that we represent include facilities that have discovered more than 500 minor planets, including some potentially hazardous Near Earth Objects. Some have discovered and recovered comets and have contributed thousands of hours of observations of asteroids, comets, and transient phenomena, critical work that professional observatories do not have the time to perform. Others conduct programs devoted to observing variable stars, novae, and supernovae and provide important data to professional astronomers the world over. !We write today to ask your help with a serious problem facing the many astronomers and astronomical observatories in our area. We understand that a Digital Sign Task Force has made a recommendation that the city amend its lighting codes to allow digital signs. We feel strongly that this is the wrong action to take. Allowing digital signs will send a message that Sierra Vista's long standing support of dark sky friendly outdoor lighting has been abandoned. The devastating effect of illuminated signage on the quality of our nighttime environment is well known. Digital signs, constructed of thousands of LED's that can emit bright light in an endless range of wavelengths compound the already light polluting qualities inherent in all illuminated signs. More troubling perhaps, is the certainty that the few, reasonably moderate signs that are currently contemplated are just the beginning. Once the city allows these signs in principle, city planners will be deluged with demands to allow more signs, brighter signs, and bigger signs. That proliferation has happened in countless other communities and we have every reason to expect it would happen here as well. !We believe that the only way to slow the inevitable loss of the dark skies necessary to perform astronomical research in Cochise County is to maintain the ban on digital signs. Therefore, we the owners of the below listed observatories that comprise the Cochise County Association of Astronomical Observatories, respectfully request that you reject any change to the city codes that would result in allowing digital electronic signs. !Sincerely, Gary Grue, CCAAO spokesman !Cochise County Association of Astronomical Observatories !! Song of the Lamb Observatory (SOLO) Paul and Dorothy Dybvig Whetstone, AZ Windy Mountain Observatory (WMO) Rich and Jill Swanson Sierra Vista, AZ Blue Marvel Observatory (BMO) Gary and Aracelis Grue Sierra Vista, AZ Cochise Skies Observatory (CSO) Bob and Terrie Gent Sierra Vista, AZ Desert Coyote Observatory (DCO) Ted and Halina Forte Sierra Vista, AZ Discovery Observatory West (DOW) Glen & Deann Sanner Sierra Vista, AZ The Desert Starlight Observatory Bob and Barb Kepple Palominas, AZ Junk Bond Observatory (JBO) Cheryl Healy Sierra Vista, AZ Mr. Galaxy Observatory (MGO) Wayne Johnson Benson, AZ 85602 Night Sky Observatory (NSO) Howard and Barbara Day Sierra Vista, AZ Palominas Star Haven Observatory (PSO) Doug & Jean Snyder Palominas, AZ Wind Spirit Observatory (WSO) Jim McCaw Benson, AZ David Butler Observatory Huachuca City, AZ Hereford Arizona Observatory (HAO) Bruce Gary Hereford, AZ Eagle Nest Digital Observatory (ENDOR) Dennis & Jean Whitmer Hereford, AZ Karl A Wells Observatory Wendell Perry Hereford, AZ RISS Observatory David Roemer and Nancy Hannaford Sierra Vista, AZ Mesquite Ranch Observatory (MRO) Craig Gundy Hereford, AZ Greg Schwab Observatory Elgin, AZ Raemor Vista Observatory Tom Kaye Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 Garry Sedun Observatory Dragoon AZ Max Mirot Observatory Hereford, AZ Ramsey Canyon Observatory Bill Howard and Katherine Zellerbach Hereford AZ Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (CAC) Located east of Pearce, Arizona San Pedro Valley Observatory Benson, Arizona High Knoll Observatory Sierra Vista, AZ Butterfield RV Resort and Observatory Benson, Arizona Sonoita Hills Observatory (SHO) Mike Shade and John Ross -- West of Cochise County near Sonoita, AZ Winer Observatory Sonoita AZ Grasslands Observatory Tim Hunter and James McGaha east of Sonoita, AZ Jack and Alice Newton Observatory Portal, AZ Fred Espenak Observatory Portal, AZ 85632 Mike Patton Observatory Portal, AZ Joe Morris Observatory Portal, AZ Ismael Rodriguez Observatory Portal, AZ Roy Morrow Observatory Portal, AZ Richard Beno Observatory Portal, AZ Rajiv Gupta Observatory Portal AZ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Alkira Observatory (AO) Sierra Vista, AZ pending statements to be forwarded RepoGazer Observatory (RGO) Palominas pending statements to be forwarded Greyhound Observatory (GO) Sierra Vista, AZ pending statements to be forwarded ! 12 Additional observatories of the Arizona Sky Village in Portal AZ pending statements to be forwarded
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