Big Bend, Dark Skies

[Casa Grande]

I've working on this for awhile now with Gil Bartee.  Gil has now set up a non-profit organization to promote the dark skies of the Big Bend.  I'm mastering the website and Gil does everything else.  Please find the attached PDF for more info.

http://www.bigbenddarkskies.com

"Stars Up, Lights Down"

[Burn Ban]

it does get dark out there...almost every night.  it's real cool.

[SA Bill]

Very cool CG!
I like the "Stars Up   Light Down" theme. Easy to get that idea across to people.

As an amature astronomer who travels to BB at least once a year to observe in those dark skies, I'm all for keeping the light pollution down in W TX.
  Bill

[Joe]

Last month I  e-mailed Gil Bartee to get some more information about Big Bend Dark Skies. That was before I saw this thread, so I didn't know Casa Grande was their webmaster. Here's part of what Gil told me, dated Oct 30:

"Our plan is to hire a project manager once we have sufficient funds in the Big Bend Dark Skies account. The project manager will work with the owners of non-compliant lighting fixtures and assist them in changing the fixtures out to FCO fixtures.We also plan to start an educational program in the very near future and to start to distribute flyers and posters for local businesses similar to the ones attached.

We look forward to getting this project off the ground as soon as possible. To date we have had donations from Chicago, Boston, Iowa, Florida but nothing from Texas at this time."

[OldJeepr]

Very interesting article in this month's Texas CoOp Power:
http://www.texascooppower.com/texas-stories/nature-outdoors/starstruck

[wild.open.spaces]

Great article...thanks for sharing!

[Lorax]

Thanks!

[leigh]

Wonderful stuff, brings to mind a question; were the lights I saw coming south from Ocotillo Grove toward Castalon from the Castalon Complex? They were a long string of orange,maybe low sodium? but it seemed like a lot of lights for there. I couldn't tell as I was driving where they were coming from.

I live in a rare rural community that doesn't allow street lights or security lights, you can have motion sensored lights and porch lights, which drive me crazy when people leave them on all night! It makes me want to ask them if they're afraid of the dark!!! And if so maybe they need to move back to the city...sorry, got a little carried away there.
Leigh

[STARLITDARKNESS3]

The nighttime at Big Bend is one of the most spectacular events I can think of.  One of my favorite moments when I introduce someone new to BB is when they step out into the darkness to be welcomed by stars above.  "it's so dark you can see" that's my quote.  The BB night sky is the reason for my name.....

[SA Bill]

Amateur astronomer that I am, the skies are a big reason I go to BB. As a college student, in 1976, I first went to see the sights and to do some hiking. As soon as the sun set on the first day that I was out there, I knew I would be back with the telescopes. And I've been back one or two times almost every year since. Glad to see that the NPS is taking the initiative to keep it as dark as possible in the parks because truly dark places are few and far between these days. Sad that many people have never seen the milky way.
  Keep looking up,
    Bill

[fartymarty]

....brings to mind a question; were the lights I saw coming south from Ocotillo Grove toward Castalon from the Castalon Complex? They were a long string of orange,maybe low sodium? but it seemed like a lot of lights for there. I couldn't tell as I was driving where they were coming from..

There is a (NPS?) residential area and an adjacent maintenance area very near the Castalon area. I'm sure that was where the excessive light was coming from.