Truckee town officials are exploring ways to reduce lighting in order to ensure the stars continue to shine brightly overhead.

They're considering night-sky lighting standards as part of an ongoing update of the Sierra town's development code.

Town Planner Duane Hall says existing town standards require lights to be shielded, directing light down rather than up or out. Street lights also are restricted to 20 feet or less in height.

Hall says those standards have been "somewhat successful," but
town council members now wonder if more can be done to minimize
light pollution.

In updating its development code, Hall says Truckee would use
information from the International Dark-Sky Association.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-12-23-07 1831EST