Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve
The Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve (DSR) is a partnership between many communities, parks, businesses, and conservation groups in Texas and Mexico to help protect our shared night sky through better outdoor lighting. Covering over 15,000 square miles, the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve is the largest IDA-certified reserve in the world and the first to cross an international boundary.
The goal of the DSR is to protect the night sky from the spread of light pollution through the use of night-sky friendly lighting practices.
Benefits include:
Environment: All life on Earth, including human beings, evolved to the rhythm of the day & night cycle. Light pollution disrupts this rhythm and can have severe negative consequences for ecosystems. The DSR helps to preserve nocturnal environments for plants, animals, and humans alike.
Safety: Night sky friendly lighting designs provide more even illumination and eliminate glare, which means visibility is improved over traditional designs. The DSR helps make communities safer and more pleasant places to live and visit.
Energy: Every year in the world, billions of dollars worth of electricity are wasted by shining light into the sky rather than directing it to where it is needed. Night-sky friendly lights keep light on the ground and out of the sky, and are more efficient than most common designs.
Research: Astronomical research depends on having dark skies. At McDonald Observatory, highly sensitive equipment can detect as few as a dozen photons from distant galaxies billions of light years away. The DSR ensures that astronomical research, as well as biological research into nocturnal ecosystems, can continue to be successful.
Culture: The night sky in the Big Bend region is as iconic as the silhouette of the Chisos mountains, or the wide open spaces of the Mitchell Flat. It is a part of the identity of the region, and has been a part of human culture for countless generations. The DSR ensures that this iconic feature is not relegated to history books.
Tourism: Astro-tourism is an increasingly important part of the local economy, and growing in popularity worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the region each year and see the night sky. The DSR ensures this continues in a sustainable and respectful manner.
For more information about the Big Bend Area Dark Sky Reserve, visit https://www.bigbenddarkskyreserve.org/.
