LAS VEGAS, PHOENIX & TUCSON ESA’s Cupola module was added to the ISS in 2010. It greatly expanded the station’s window space and
enabled wide-fi eld photography. This shot shows the Baja Peninsula, coastal cities of Southern California, and cities in Nevada and Arizona. Compare
the intensity of the lights of Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tucson. Over-the-top lighting is embraced in Las Vegas, so its glow can be seen on the ground from
hundreds of miles away. The illumination of Vegas does not stay in Vegas. In contrast, Tucson has nearby observatories. The city adopted its fi rst outdoor
lighting ordinance in 1972. The need for dark-sky-friendly lighting is part of the community’s ethos. Tucson has a similar population to Las Vegas, but their
difference in lighting intensity stunningly shows that outdoor lighting controls make a huge difference.
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