The Magdalena Village Board of Trustees once again postponed action on a “dark skies” ordinance following a public hearing at its Nov. 28 meeting in Village Hall. The Night Skies Ordinance No. 2022-02 would allow for all village outdoor lighting to be shielded, that is, in such a manner that “light from the fixture is projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where light is emitted.”

Attending the meeting was local astronomer Eric Toops, who contends that properly shielding lighting lights up the ground and not the sky, adding that the current lighting in the village goes against the New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act, signed into law by Gov. Gary Johnson in 1999. Toops has stated that there are 33 private light poles and 111 public light poles, all of which are out of code. He also claimed that Socorro Electric Cooperative would replace the whole assembly for free.

The ordinance recognizes that Magdalena attracts professional and amateur astronomers and is known for its rural character and dark skies.

Opponents of the ordinance contend that shielded outdoor lighting would result in lowered security.

The proposed ordinance, which has been the topic of public hearings at board meetings since September, stipulates that “all outdoor lighting fixtures shall be shielded except incandescent fixtures of one hundred fifty watts or less and other sources of seventy watts or less unless the fixture is extinguished by an automatic shutoff device between the hours of 11 p.m. and sunrise.”

In addition, “no outdoor recreational facility, whether public or private, shall be illuminated after 11 p.m. except for a national or international tournament or to conclude any recreational or sporting event or other activity conducted, which is in progress prior to 11 p.m. at a ballpark, outdoor amphitheater, arena, or similar facility.”

The ordinance also prohibits the sale or installation of mercury vapor outdoor lighting fixtures.

The board voted to table the ordinance and take it up again at a future meeting.

John Larson, El Defensor Chieftain