Dark skies over Tucson
Featured on the February 12th, 2026 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:
- Hear about some local musicians who got their first big chance to play for an audience in an event called Fallfest, and nothing was going to rain on their parade.
- Newcomers to Tucson may complain about the lack of street lamps and public lighting, but there is a reason why dark skies are important in this region and elsewhere. Experts say they are vital for science, wildlife, and people. In recent decades, a growing effort has been trying to protect this natural resource. In Arizona, Flagstaff was designated as the world's first International Dark Sky City in 2001, and other Arizona Cities have joined it, setting up DarkSky chapters to support these efforts. These groups host special events during International Dark Sky week and Global Astronomy Month, where people can learn more about our world and the universe.
- And groundbreaking documentarian Frances Reid is visiting the Loft Cinema in Tucson to screen two of her late ‘70s films, Greetings from Washington D.C. and In the Best Interests of the Children. Film essayist Chris Dashiell offers his opinion on why these films remain important, and Mark talks with Frances Reid about her career.
Webpage by Sarah Arellano.
Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.
