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Alpine (Texas) Dark Sky Party – October 16^th, 17^th and 18^th.

 

In conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy, the 400th anniversary of Galileo and the telescope please join us in the celebration of Dark Sky Month in Alpine Texas.

 

The month of October has been designated by the Alpine City Council as Dark Sky Month to educate and inform citizens, businesses and property owners regarding the use of safe, efficient and appropriate lighting, with the goal of preserving the treasure of Alpine’s night sky, and working towards being designated as an International Dark Sky Association Dark Sky Community. The City of Alpine Environmental Advisory Board and the Bid Bend Astronomical Society are working together to coordinate the Alpine Dark Sky efforts.

 

Community events during the month of October include dark sky presentations at area schools and at the Sul Ross State University Planetarium and Dark Sky Parties at Sierra la Rana and Luz de Estrella Winery. The International Dark Sky Association will also have a traveling display that will be exhibited at area schools and at Sul Ross State University.

 

Achieving the status of a Dark Sky Community will benefit the health of the citizens of Alpine, protect local wildlife, spur eco-tourism and economic development, will reduce overall energy consumption, and will likewise benefit the Big Bend region as a whole and the McDonald Observatory in particular. Together with the work that Big Bend National Park is doing to preserve the night skies, this area will be one of the largest Dark Sky Regions in the US.

 

During Dark Sky Month, the Dark Sky Working group will submit a series of articles in local news papers on the following topics:

·         The McDonald Observatory

·         Star Parties

·         Economic advantages of Dark Skies and IDA Dark Sky Community Designation

·         Practical information on retrofitting light fixtures with Dark Sky Friendly fixtures.

 

Sierra la Rana will host star parties on the 16^th and 17^th of October. The star parties will start at dusk and will include presentations and star viewing with multiple telescopes. There will be a “Black Hole” presentation at the Sul Ross Planetarium at 2:00 pm on October 16^th and Bill Wren of the McDonald Observatory will make a dark sky presentation at Sierra la Rana on Saturday the 17^th   at the beginning of the star party. Dark Sky speakers who wish to make a presentation during Dark Sky Month are encouraged to contact us.

 

Luz De Estrella Winery in Marfa (3 miles east of Marfa on Hwy 90) will host a Star Party, Jam Session, Potluck Dinner and Wine Tasting on October 18^th. Festivities commence at 4:30 pm on Sunday -- Local and Austin musicians and singers will meet at the winery at about 4:30 for a potluck meal and wine-tasting. Everyone, professional musicians and singers as well as rank amateurs, are encouraged to participate. When it gets dark, we'll start the Star Party. Experts will be on hand to interpret, and we expect to have several telescopes. And you may have the good fortune to witness the Marfa lights as well. Contact Luz de Estrella Winery at 432.729.3434 for more information.

 

The James T. Walker Dark Sky Fund has been established by the Big Bend Astronomical Society to assist property owners who chose to replace non Dark Sky Friendly fixtures with Dark Sky Friendly fixtures. Members of the Dark Sky working group will also provide light assessments free of charge to property owners and local businesses. Tax-deductible contributions to the JTWDSF can be mailed to the BBAS c/o Bernie Zelazny, PO Box 523, Alpine, TX 79831-0523. More information on the Dark Sky Fund can be found at http://www.bigbenddarkskies.com/donation.html

 

Contact: Bernie Zelazny                                Contact: Gil Bartee

Phone:   432-238-4747                                Phone:   817-975-8736

Email: bdz@apcwizard.com                           Email: gbartee@swbell.net