Stargazing in Big Bend: The Darkest Skies in Texas

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Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park – both occupying a remote corner of West Texas in the Chihuahuan Desert – are popular tourist destinations surrounded by the glory of the Rio Grande River, the mesas of Mexico and rural Texas ranch land.

As the home of some of the darkest and starriest night skies in the country, it's no secret that the area attracts astronomers and stargazers. And, as of this year, Big Bend Ranch State Park has officially been designated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the International Dark-Sky Association as an International Dark Sky Park.

There are only 13 parks in the world – and only four parks in Texas – to have received this prestigious honor, including Big Bend National Park, which received it in 2012.

To achieve this distinction, Big Bend Ranch State Park inventoried its outdoor lighting arrangements and created a strict plan for protective outdoor lighting going forward. The park has implemented a program to expand education for visitors and residents about dark night skies and conscientious outdoor lighting.

Related: Marathon: Where the Big Bend & Dark Skies Meet

The Big Bend parks have also taken a strong stance against all pollution, forbidding campfires and retroactively fitting incandescent outdoor lights with LED alternatives.

The Big Bend Conservation Alliance has also implemented a Dark Sky Program to work with landowners, homeowners, government entities and businesses to continue to educate and advocate for dark-sky protection, as well as to monitor protected dark skies.

The results are breathtaking: On any given night, a viewer in one of the Big Bend parks can see more than 2,000 stars – up to 10 times as many as might be visible elsewhere.

The Big Bend area's ancient rocks – some of which are 500 million years old – also add to the natural splendor of the area, where 450 species of bird and 1,200 species of flora can be observed.

Options for stargazing and other outdoor activities in the Big Bend region are many: Hikers can traverse the Hot Springs Canyon Trail by the riverside, a one-mile hike that ends inside Big Bend National Park with a fantastic view of the starry skies.

Or, for those with lessened physical abilities, the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail is an option; it offers a 100-yard wheelchair-accessible path for visitors to witness the Del Carmen Mountains and the Chisos – as well as to observe the stars after sundown.

And, two hours from Big Bend National Park, the McDonald Observatory is another must-see stop for the avid stargazer. The observatory, established in 1933 by the University of Texas, features four enormous research telescopes and hosts several "star parties" weekly for a nominal fee.

Because of the location of the McDonald Observatory, lighting ordinances keep the counties surrounding it in check to protect from light pollution, and also any potentially harmful gas and oil development.

If your goal is to camp within the Big Bend parks to stargaze, know that it may be one of the most beautiful nights you've ever experienced beneath the stars – but pack a gallon of water a day if you plan to go deep into the park or the 30-mile Outer Mountain Loop, since water supply is unreliable.

All told, the Big Bend area is replete with natural riches and beauty – an ideal destination for the hiker, outdoors person and stargazer to rest, reflect and observe the wonders of nature.

For more information go to visitbigbend.com

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