TELLURIDE, Colo. (AP) — Telluride residents were asked to turn out the lights on Saturday night and early Sunday to help stargazers see the night sky free of light pollution.

"For all of humanity's history up until the last two generations, humans have always looked up and seen the night sky," night sky photographer Ben Canales said.

Joining him will be astronomers, who will be leading a tour of the stars.

The steep canyon walls and high altitude of Telluride mean that little other light pollution will be visible if the town itself goes dark, the Telluride Daily Planet reported (http://tinyurl.com/kfg3vaf).

Canales said he would guide photographers up the Jud Wiebe Trail to get a birds-eye view of the dark town and the brilliant night sky.

Homeowners and renters were asked to turn off porch lights and anything that might contribute light pollution before going to bed Saturday night. Business owners were encouraged to leave their shops dark when closing down for the night.

"It's pretty wild," Canales said. "It sounds like we're making a fort back in the living room with couch cushions. There's something really fun about it."

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Information from: Telluride Daily Planet, http://www.telluridenews.com