Make no mistake about it, the stars at night are big and bright … (clap, clap, clap, clap) … deep in the heart of Texas!
“It is true what they say about the stars in Texas, they really are big and bright. In fact, they are some of the biggest and brightest in the country,” explains Travel Texas. “Texas has wide-open spaces away from urban areas where stargazers can view the celestial glory of the night sky.”
Big Bend: The Largest Dark Sky Place in the World
It’s not just that Texas has good stargazing, but the Lone Star State has one of the most remote and darkest star-viewing venues in the world with the Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve spanning over 15,000 square miles in Far West Texas.
“The Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky reserve is a 15,000 square mile region that has been designated as one of the largest dark sky places in the world,” Midland TV station KOSA.
The Reserve, with a mission to protect the area from the spread of artificial light pollution and promote the use of night-sky friendly lighting practices, includes University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory and the Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve as well as Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Chinati Mountains State Natural Area, and the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area.
“To view the night sky in Big Bend, I would say be prepared to have, if you're not used to it, a very exciting, potentially emotional experience,” Big Bend Ranch State Park ranger Amber Harrison told the Austin American-Statesman. “A lot of people who have never experienced (dark skies) are amazed by it. They're struck by it; it makes them nervous; it makes them uncomfortable; it makes them excited. It just incites a whole bunch of emotions.”
Of course, Texas being Texas, Big Bend can be quite the hike for some folks – it’s a saddle sore 12-hour drive from Texarkana! – but the chances are that wherever you are in this great state, you are close to some great star gazing.
Use the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale to Find Your Spot
One of the ways to find your star-gazing Valhalla is to use the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale.
The scale runs from 1 to 9:
- 1: Excellent, truly dark skies.
- 2: Typical, truly dark skies.
- 3: Rural sky.
- 4: Rural/suburban transition.
- 5: Suburban sky.
- 6: Bright, suburban sky.
- 7: Suburban/urban transition.
- 8: City sky.
- 9: Inner city sky.
While a majority of Texas live near more-lit suburban and city areas higher on the scale, the good news is that Texas State Parks lists 16 locations that score 1, 2 or 3 on the scale – making them awesome locations for stargazing:
- 1: Big Bend Ranch State Park (Terlingua)
- 2: Barton Warnock Visitor Center (Terlingua)
- 2: Devils River State Natural Area (Del Rio)
- 2: Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site (Comstock)
- 2: Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area (Rocksprings)
- 2: Kickapoo Cavern State Park (Brackettville)
- 2: Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway (Quitaque)
- 2: Copper Breaks State Park (Quanah)
- 3: Davis Mountains State Park (Fort Davis)
- 3: Indian Lodge (Fort Davis)
- 3: Colorado Bend State Park (Bend)
- 3: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (Fredericksburg)
- 3: Lost Maples State Park (Vanderpool)
- 3: South Llano River State Park (Junction)
- 3: Mission Tejas State Park (Grapeland)
Looking for Bigger? Try the McDonald Observatory
While it’s estimated that you can see some 2,000 stars on a clear night in the Big Bend area, to really get up close and personal with the stars you can try McDonald Observatory in nearby Fort Davis one their special viewing nights open to the public (passes are $100 or $150 depending on viewing option).
“On select nights throughout the year, the Visitors Center offers special viewing programs on our large research telescopes. These programs have limited capacity and offer amazing views in an intimate and historic setting,” explains the observatory.
There are two options:
- Public Viewing on the 36-Inch Telescope: Special Viewing Nights on the 36-inch provide fabulous views in a small group setting. Located a few steps from the Astronomers Lodge on Mount Locke, the 36-inch Telescope is a staff and visitor favorite. Passes are $100/person. Keep in mind that a normal telescope for home use usually is somewhere between 2.8 inches and 10 inches.
- Public Viewing on the Otto Struve 82-inch Telescope: The 82-inch Special Viewing Night takes place on the original McDonald Observatory telescope, the 2.1m Otto Struve Telescope. It is one of the largest and finest telescopes in the world through which routine public viewing is conducted. Passes are $150/person.
Between Big Bend and Fort Davis is the Marathon Sky Park, which also scores a 1 on the Bortle Scale, and features star parties with viewing on 20-and-24-inch telescopes.
A Closer Look at Other Stargazing Locations
Here is a closer look at other stargazing locations around Texas:
- Brazos Bend State Park: Light pollution can be an issue for any areas close to Houston but this state park, just an hour away from the Bayou City, has a 36-inch telescope available at the George Observatory, which just reopened recently after a two-year makeover.
- Caddo Mounds State Historic Site: A new visitor’s center has been rebuilt here after a tornado hit the Alto area in 2019. The ancestral site for the Caddo people, this historic site features stargazing programs.
- Canyon of the Eagles Resort: This 940-acre park nestled in Texas Hill Country has its own observatory. The Eagle Eye Observatory is staffed by a resident astronomer and has a retractable, sliding roof along with 16-inch and 12.5 inch research-grade telescopes.
- Dripping Springs: Within shouting distance of Austin, this community, billed as “The Gateway to Hill Country” passed a lighting ordinance in 2011 and became the first community in Texas – and just sixth in the world – to be certified a “Dark-Sky Community”.
- Fort Griffin State Historic Site: This former U.S. Cavalry fort in Albany is home to the official State of Texas Longhorn Herd and some great stargazing as well as monthly events.
- Matagorda Island: Just an hour away from Corpus Christi, this pristine Gulf Coast location can only be accessed by private boat or ferry, making for some awesome night-time skies. Light pollution is not an issue as the island does not have electricity!
- Palo Duro Canyon: This area may not score as low on the Bortle scale because of its proximity to Amarillo but this rugged and scenic location has some of the best stargazing in the Panhandle. The park hosts regular star parties and has a 10-inch telescope on hand.
- Pedernales Falls State Park: Just down the road from Dripping Springs is this state park which is shielded from nearby light pollution and a great spot for stargazing.
- Rafes Urban Astronomy Center: This observatory is located just north of Denton and operated by the University of North Texas on the site of a decommissioned Nike missile base. Star parties are held once a month.
- Resaca De La Palma State Park: This Brownsville area park is considered a Rio Grande Treasure. While a lot of visitors come for the excellent birdwatching, the star gazing is a surprising bonus.
- SFA Observatory: Located in Nacogdoches at Stephen F. Austin State University, this is the second largest observatory in Texas. Look for tickets to their limited public viewings on select Saturdays.