Yellow Street Lights

Sodium vapor lighting is certainly unpleasant and depressing and would never be given first choice for aesthetic or safety reasons. However, even though I have never been acquainted with an astronomer, I do appreciate the accomplishments of astronomers in making and interpreting observations. I’m confident that an important portion of those accomplishments have been made possible by the sacrifices to safety and convenience made in accepting substandard outdoor lighting in San Diego County.

To me, the heavens represent another frontier whose study and understanding must continue to be pursued vigorously. It is my belief that this is a natural and essential consideration in the continued successful development of civilization in the future ages and millennia. For this reason, I’m willing to accept sacrifices to enhance serious astronomy, including yellow lighting outdoors, and feel that this is a small contribution to future generations of people, but maybe a crucial one.

SCHUYLER TOMKINSON, Escondido