Date:         Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:47:52 -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: Rob <vwrobb@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <5151bbc0.6d8a440a.476b.ffffaa15@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- Rob <vwrobb@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Ranger Bob said last week during his light pollution talk that Big
> Bend was the darkest due to it's distance from other cities (no city
> glow on the horizon), he did mention the McDonald Observatory and the
> agreements but 'suggested' the agreement was not always followed. He
> also mentioned that the Mexican village across the river was looking
> at getting electrical power, that would change things.
> There are photos available on the net of the world at night and you
> can see the places that still have stars and the places that don't.
>
> We had half a moon (+/-) for our nights there, that would have been
> poor planning if we'd done any planning at all <g>!  We did get
> photos of javelina, coyote, horses (Mexican, not wild, I asked),

The Mexicans used to herd their horses and burros into the park to take advantage of the better grazing there.  I don't know how much of that still goes on (some, but ????) with more border enforcement.  But, most Mexicans along the park border seldom see La Migra, and they likely know the habits of the officers, too.  Same for park rangers.


> turtles, hawks, buzzards, a crane(?), roadrunner and some fish in a
> spring on one walk. Spectacular mountains, cactus & thorns...
> everything has thorns in the desert it looked to me <g>.
> Saw zero Vanagons in Big Bend.
>
> Rob
> vwrobb@gmail.com
>
>
>
> At  3/26/2013 08:38 AM, Kris S. Seago 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.
> >
> >http://mcdonaldobservatory.org

--
David McNeely