Date:         Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:39:42 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Big Bend NP
Comments: To: "Kris S. Seago" <eljefeweizen@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <68709426-8F3E-45DD-AF56-7341A1D02F0C@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- "Kris S. Seago" <eljefeweizen@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> I recall being told that Fort Davis, Texas, is the darkest spot in the lower 48. The McDonald Observatory has agreements with surrounding inhabitants (and there aren't many of those) to limit light.

Well, that may have been true when the observatory was built, and it may still be true for an observatory.  Yes, it is dark.  The observatory is about 20 miles out of town on top of a mountain a couple of thousand feet higher than the town, also.  The entire county has a population under a thousand people, and it is a big county.  It is about 100 miles from Big Bend NP, which is even more sparsely populated.

mcneely
>
> http://mcdonaldobservatory.org
>
>
> On Mar 26, 2013, at 7:13 AM, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>
> > " Just about the darkest sky in the lower 48."
> > We camped at a Pennsylvania park (Cherry Springs SP) in the Wilds along Route 6 some years ago that bills itself as having the darkest sky on the East Coast so we expected some star action but, of course, it rained like crazy that night and we were gone the next. I'd love to see Big Bend, though.  Missed it while I was stationed in Texas and have not been back since.
> > Stephen
> >
> > --- On Mon, 3/25/13, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:
> >
> > From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
> > Subject: Re: Big Bend NP
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Date: Monday, March 25, 2013, 10:56 PM
> >
> > ---- Rob <vwrobb@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >> If your going to go to Big Bend NP in Texas the best time is no moon,
> >> that's when you get to see the stars.
> >
> > Even at full moon, one can see more stars at Big Bend than at most places ever.  But yeah, no moon, the sky is a natural light show.  Just about the darkest sky in the lower 48.  Can't wait to get back there.  mcneely

--
David McNeely