A star figures prominently in the Christmas story, but for many people today stars are becoming an unfamiliar sight. Light pollution is making it harder for our increasingly urbanized populace to appreciate the splendor of the night sky.

What is worse, the problem is no longer confined to large cities. Growth and affluence have brought light pollution even to the small towns and cities of the Four Corners.

The culprits are familiar. Street lights spread out with new development. Shopping centers and strip malls light their parking lots. Homeowners enhance the security of their property with yard lights, illuminated drives and brightly lit entrances. And, of course, businesses compete for customers with prominent signs.

The cumulative effect is to increase both the volume and the intensity of light bathing our cities and towns. That creates glare, illuminates property whose owners may not want it lit up and obscures the beauty of the stars.

In response, the International Dark Sky Society, a group formed to counter the spread of light pollution, suggests a list of steps that can be taken to help curb the problem. They include such simple measures as pointing lights down, shading outdoor lights and turning off lights not in use. More involved solutions can include the use of dimmers, automatic light sensors and installing more energy-efficient lamps.

One of the first areas to focus on should be government itself. The Colorado Department of Transportation and some cities have already joined the effort and other agencies should follow.

Limiting light pollution should be a natural for government at all levels. Not only does it have aesthetic benefits – which in an area that profits from tourism is no mean thing – but it can save money as well. Replacing old streetlights as they wear out with more modern fixtures can mean better lighting, increased energy efficiency and a darker sky.

A comprehensive fix will also have to include lighting codes. That certainly would not mean regulating home Christmas decorations, but it would mean limits on commercial signs and parking lot lights.

Not everyone will welcome that. For example, efforts in Moab to control light pollution have run into opposition from business owners with large signs or who fear the loss of a competitive advantage.