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How much of the Milky Way can you see from your front door?
For those looking to escape into the great outdoors while the fall weather cools, central Texas has several designated International Dark Sky Parks that offer views of the night sky with less light pollution, so visitors can enjoy many stars in the Lone Star state. There are six dark sky parks in Texas, three of which are in the immediate vicinity of Austin.
Two of them are state parks, and the most popular of these is the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area between Fredericksburg and Llano. Doug Cochran, the superintendent of nature Visitors should reserve 30 days in advance as soon as they become available, otherwise it could be difficult to find an opening.
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Cochran said providing a dark area of the sky for guests to see the cosmos is an important part of Enchanted Rock’s mission.
“By exposing people to the dark skies and protecting the dark skies, we can preserve this wonderful area for future generations,” he said. “We have people from San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and we swear they don’t have these stars in their town. They do, they just can’t see them because of all the light pollution. But you can come to a park with a dark sky and see all the wonderful stars and see the beauty that our sky has to offer. “
Another dark sky park within easy reach of the Austin area, albeit a little further away, is South Llano River State Park. Park interpreter Lorissa Digiacomo called the location on Interstate 10 near Junction “The best kept secret of the Hill Country.”
Reservations are usually easier to come by for camping, and the park offers a variety of programs to introduce visitors to the night sky. According to Digiacomo, people can check the park’s social media to stay up to date on events like night walks or star parties where astronomers sit in the park to share knowledge.
Digiacomo said dark sky parks are also important for wildlife life without being negatively affected by artificial lights, and she said visitors to the park should try to minimize the light in their campsites at night to keep the experience for all to improve.
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Dark skies are also becoming rarer as cities grow and light pollution spreads across the Texas countryside. Cochran said home and business owners in cities near these dark sky parks, such as Austin and San Antonio, can take steps to maintain star visibility in the hill country. People can shield their lights and point them downwards the soil to minimize the impact, he said.
For those looking to explore the night sky, Digiacomo said that fall is a great time to visit, especially after summer time, when stargazers don’t have to stay up late.
“The fact that it gets dark earlier gives people more opportunities to see the different constellations because as the night goes on, the Milky Way and various stars become brighter,” she said. “If you go out at night and look up at nine o’clock and then go out at 11 o’clock, there will be a big difference in what you see.”
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