Big Bend Designated as International Dark Sky Park

The stars at night are big and bright in Texas’ Big Bend National Park. The park was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Park, one of now just ten in the world. Big Bend National Park (BBNP) came in at the ‘Gold Tier’ level meaning that the skies above the park are free from all but the most minor impacts of light pollution.

Measurements by the National Park Service Night Sky Team show that the Big Bend Region offers the darkest measured skies in the lower 48 states making it a worthy jewel to the worldwide crown of dark sky oases recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).

With an area of over 801,000 acres, Big Bend National Park is also the largest International Dark Sky Park to date.

Full Story (PDF): http://docs.darksky.org/PR/BigBendNPPR.pdf