Roundup: Towns in U.S. West embrace starlight to pursue "dark sky economy"

FLAGSTAFF, the United States, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Championed by dark sky advocates and bolstered by economic incentives, towns and parks around the U.S. West are making strides to preserve night sky views.

Flagstaff, a city of Arizona with some 80,000 residents, has achieved worldwide recognition for innovative leadership in the protection of dark skies back to the 1950s. On Oct. 24, 2001, it was recognized as the world's First International Dark Sky City.