The Activity Center will host a discussion on light pollution Thursday, Feb. 22, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Community Center.

For a location so close to the bright lights of Phoenix, Fountain Hills still has extremely dark skies that allow residents and visitors to appreciate the stars.

Partly this is due to location, with the McDowell Mountains protecting the town from the lights of the Valley, but the town has also had a strong lighting ordinance in place for many years. Recent action by the Town Council has further strengthened the protection of local night skies.

With this in mind, citizens formed the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association to help educate Town residents on the best way to continue to preserve dark skies. In this talk Ted Blank will explain light pollution, its effect on humans and the environment, the work of the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association and how Fountain Hills residents can best help protect their unique dark sky resources.

Blank has been a NASA Solar System Ambassador for the past five years. He is the past-president of the New Hampshire Astronomical Society and a co-founder of the Fountain Hills Astronomy Club.

Preregistration is required. The event is free for 2018 Activity Center members. There is a $5 charge for non-members.