Big Bend National Park, Texas
Big Bend National Park insists its skies are “dark as coal.” It’s in a remote area in southwest Texas along the Mexico border. It also happens to be in a secluded location and has very low humidity and infrequent cloud cover. If there was any doubt, the park went through a severe reduction in energy consumption and lighting in 2011 to obtain its gold certification as an International Dark Sky Park.
On a clear night, you can expect to see 2,000 stars, planets, and meteorites. Pro Tip: Winter is the best time for stargazing at Big Bend National Park. Not only are the nights longer than the days, but the skies are the clearest. Winter winds from the north bring in much less debris from Mexico and other parts of the U.S. than the summer winds can.
