Tubac receives coveted International Dark Sky Community designation
Tubac, Arizona
After an extensive application and rigorous certification process, Tubac has earned the prestigious designation as Arizona’s newest International Dark Sky Community. This accolade places Tubac among an elite group of only 48 communities worldwide that have achieved this certification. Arizona, home to the certifying non-profit DarkSky International, now features six International Dark Sky Communities, further cementing the state’s role as a leader in dark sky preservation efforts.
The community of Tubac, widely known as “the place where art and history meet,” is becoming an epicenter for dark sky preservation and the tourism that follows. Tumacácori National Historical Park, located nearby, became an International Dark Sky Park in 2018, with many other surrounding communities and locations in southern Arizona also in the process of seeking certification.
“Arizona has been a strong leader in dark sky conservation since DarkSky International’s formation in Tucson in 1988,” says DarkSky International Program Associate Michael Rymer. “Tubac is another great example of dedication to the protection of dark skies in Arizona through lighting management policy and education, and the volunteer efforts of Emilio Falco and his team have been exceptional.”
Nestled along the Santa Cruz River, Tubac is home to 1,345 residents and sits midway in the picturesque valley that stretches 48 miles from Tucson to the north to Ambos Nogales, located south on the Mexican border. The renowned Smithsonian’s Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory is just 12 miles northeast of Tubac. The Observatory pioneers studies ranging from galaxies to supernovae to exoplanets. Its operations depend critically on dark night skies.
The potential threat of uncontrolled light pollution led residents to coalesce in efforts to protect Tubac’s pristine night sky. Members of the Tubac Dark Sky Committee made sky quality measurements, inventoried outdoor public lighting, and took steps to become an International Dark Sky Community. A key component was strengthening the county’s outdoor lighting code.
“We can preserve this island of dark sky in the Santa Cruz Valley,” said Dr. Emilio Falco, founder and co-chair of the Tubac Dark Sky Committee. “Being named an International Dark Sky Community is a beginning. But it will take concerted ongoing efforts to build on that honor and educate people about the negative impacts of light pollution.”
District 3 County Supervisor Bruce Bracker said that “the Dark Sky Community designation strengthens our county, helping to preserve our heritage and natural landscape for future generations.” He noted “the potential by-product of increased tourism and resulting job creation.”
The Tubac community is committed to mitigating light pollution and to maintaining its certification as an International Dark Sky Community. The Tubac Dark Sky Association will maintain the lighting inventory, work with community members to encourage proper lighting, and collect sky quality data. This information will be kept in a “Dark Sky Community Data Collection” log to maintain a consistent record of the evolution of the night sky brightness in Tubac.
The Tubac Dark Sky Association will collaborate with nearby Tumacácori National Historical Park and with the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park to preserve dark skies. This collaboration will include conducting joint dark sky events and promoting the central Santa Cruz Valley as a dark sky destination.
About the International Dark Sky Places Program:
Founded in 2001, the International Dark Sky Places Program is a non-regulatory and voluntary program encouraging communities, parks, and protected areas worldwide to preserve and protect dark sites through effective lighting policies, environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and public education. When used indiscriminately, artificial light can disrupt ecosystems, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block our view and connection to the universe. Tubac, Arizona, joins more than 210 Places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution. Learn more by visiting https://darksky.org/what-we-do/international-dark-sky-places/.
About DarkSky International:
DarkSky’s mission is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Learn more at darksky.org.
Contacts:
Tubac Dark Sky Committee:
Emilio Falco
520-481-4855
Jim Patterson
520-398-2511
DarkSky International:
Amber Harrison
Dark Sky Places Program Manager
520-347-6363
[email protected]
