Lighting Guide — Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve (2024)

FAQs

Is Big Bend National Park the darkest place on Earth? ›

It's one of just 10 in the world. 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. If you ever plan to visit Big Bend, you should know … at night, it's dark there.

If you look long enough you will certainly see falling stars. You will also notice very dim stars that seem to move across the sky. These are satellites. And of course the Milky Way is prominently displayed.

The DarkSky Approved program provides objective, third-party certification for lighting products, lighting designs, and installed lighting projects that minimize glare, reduce light trespass, and reduce light pollution. To be certified, they must: Restrict the amount of upward-directed light. Avoid glare.

Night Sky Quality Map

Big Bend National Park has some of the darkest night skies in the lower 48 states.

It's a place of extremes: Death Valley is one of the hottest and driest places on earth, it's also one of the darkest. The skies there are affected by only the smallest amounts of light pollution, giving it Gold Tier classification by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Grand Canyon National Park

Not only is the park recognized as an official International Dark Sky Park for its efficient nighttime viewing measures, but there are several locations for a stargazing adventure. These include Cape Royal, Desert View, and Mather Point.

Summer. Summer in Big Bend is characterized by HOT days & comfortable nights. This is the low season for the area, so if you are seeking solitude or comfortable stargazing - summer is the best season to visit.

Big Bend is in the Chihuahuan Desert. Sunshine is abundant most of the year. Spring is typically warm and pleasant and is the park's busiest season.

💫Big Bend National Park witnessed a rare celestial spectacle as the Northern lights were visible. 🌌Its vibrant red auroras graced the night sky, due to a severe solar storm.

There is a one-time $250 U.S. fee to begin the application process. DarkSky International does not charge additional fees to apply for or maintain the certification.

What is the criteria for the International Dark Sky? ›

An International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR) is a public or private land of substantial size (at least 700 km², or about 173,000 acres) possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment, and that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural ...

Most importantly: no white lights and keep your cell phones off and tucked away. Only bring red lights. This is very important for protecting your night vision. It takes 20-30 minutes for the human eye to maximize its ability to see in very low light conditions.

A new analysis of National Park Service numbers names Grand Canyon and Wrangell-St. Elias as the “most dangerous national parks” in America. “Since 2007, 165 people have died in the Grand Canyon,” outdoor clothing company KÜHL said in a press release for its U.S. National Park Safety Index.

1. Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve: This vast park in Alaska has no roads or trails. With just over 11,000 recreational visits last year, it was the least-visited of the 63 national parks.

Its great distance from major urban centers renders the skies over Big Bend among the darkest in North America.

While the least light polluted countries are Chad, the Central African Republic, and Madagascar. Similarly, the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, which is located in the Canary Islands, was officially named the darkest place on Earth in 2016. ➳ You can explore the World Atlas of Night Sky Brightness Map here.

Big Bend National Park is a geological marvel evidenced in sea fossils and dinosaur bones to volcanic dikes that mar the desert landscape. It's a world of species diversity from the meandering river corridor that sidles across the desert floor to the sky island ridge tops that reach for the stars.

Oregon Now Boasts The World's Largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary, With Plans To Expand. Contributor. Right now, the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary takes in 2.5 million acres in Lake County, Oregon. When complete, the sanctuary is expected to encompass more than 11.4 million acres.

With an average yearly visitation of less than 300,000, Big Bend is one of the least visited national parks, and yet its diversity of plants, animals and geology make it one of the most fascinating.