I'd Rather Be Hiking

09/06/2026

According to popular folklore, a persimmon can predict winter weather. How do you make a persimmon forecast? It's easy. Just split open ...

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

They say a photograph is worth a thousand words. With over 2,400 entries, from over 22 countries, together we’ve created a powerful story of the night…

09/05/2026

National Park Week is a reminder that protecting our parks means protecting them after the sun sets, too.

At Big Bend, an International Dark Sky Park within the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, towering canyons, ancient rivers, and vast desert landscapes sit beneath some of the darkest night skies remaining in North America. This remarkable region shows what’s possible when communities, land managers, scientists, and partners work together to protect the night.

But darkness cannot be an afterthought — especially in places already protected for their exceptional night skies.

New construction along the Rio Grande brings the potential for sustained artificial light into this protected landscape. DarkSky’s position is simple: protected dark sky places should remain dark. Before any construction begins, impacts on the nighttime environment must be thoroughly assessed.

Read our statement on border infrastructure, “Protecting Big Bend’s dark skies,” here: https://bit.ly/4ixwNLB

📷 Photo of Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park, by Aubrieta Hope

09/05/2026