McDonald Observatory collaborates with communities and businesses to preserve far West Texas’s famous night skies. Endlessly star-filled skies are possible through the adoption of outdoor lighting practices that direct light down instead of up.
Sawtooth Mountain
The Milky Way over Sawtooth Mountain. The photographer used a flashlight to create the words. Image credit: Stephen Hummel and Rainey Miller.
Fireflies at Mt Locke
Fireflies in front of Mount Locke. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Harlan J. Smith Telescope
The night sky above the Harlan J. Smith Telescope. Image credit: Ethan Tweedie Photography
Otto Struve Telescope
Star trails over the Otto Struve Telescope. Image credit: Ethan Tweedie Photography
Nighttime Monsoon
A monsoon over McDonald Observatory and the Davis Mountains. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Mount Locke
Scorpius and the Milky Way over Mount Locke. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Milky Way Over Mt Locke
The Milky Way soars over the domes of McDonald Observatory's Mount Locke showcasing the region's dark skies. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Agave in Nighttime Fog
An agave in the moonlight. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
The Nature Conservancy Davis Mountains Preserve
Fireflies in The Nature Conservancy Davis Mountains Preserve. Image credit: Stephen Hummel
The Nature Conservancy Davis Mountains Preserve
The Milky Way unfurls behind a windmill at The Nature Conservancy Davis Mountains Preserve. Image credit: Stephen Hummel
Balmorhea State Park
The night sky reflects in Balmorhea State Park's pool. Image credit: Stephen Hummel
Jeff Davis County Courthouse
Jeff Davis County Courthouse, Fort Davis, TX. Image credit: Justen Pautzke, McDonald Observatory
Jeff Davis County Courthouse
Jeff Davis County Courthouse, Fort Davis, TX. Image credit: Justen Pautzke, McDonald Observatory
Marfa Gardens
Marfa Gardens, Marfa, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Marfa Gardens
Marfa Gardens, Marfa, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Terlingua Ranch Lodge
Pool at the Terlingua Ranch Lodge. The Lodge worked with McDonald Observatory to update the lighting on all facilities across its 425-acre site. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory.
Starstruck Observatory
Starstruck Observatory, Terlingua, TX. Image Credit: Linda Avitt
Stargazer
Big Bend Stargazer, Terlingua, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Brewster County Courthouse
Built in 1887, the Brewster County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory.
Terlingua Fire and EMS
Terlingua Fire and EMS, Terlingua, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
The Perch
The Perch, Terlingua, TX.
Image credit: Spencer Millsap
USO Building Marfa
City of Marfa Visitor Center, USO Building, Marfa, TX. Image Credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Village Fresh Greenhouse Grown
Village Fresh Greenhouse Grown has greenhouses located in Marfa and Fort Davis. While the company doesn’t use artificial lighting to grow crops, it still saw opportunities to reduce light pollution across its local farms. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory.
Forever West Texas
Forever West Texas, Keller Williams Realty, Alpine, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Alpine Visitors Center
Alpine Visitors Center, Alpine, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Apache Offices Pecos
Offices of Apache Corporation. Pecos, TX. Image credit: Bill Wren, McDonald Observatory
Big Bend Sentinel
Big Bend Sentinel offices. Marfa, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Cactus Liquors
Cactus Liquors. Marfa, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Fort Davis Streetlights
Streetlights in Fort Davis, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Fossil Knob Ridge
Fossil Knob Ridge, Terlingua, TX.
Image credit: Spencer Millsap
Frama & Tumbleweed Laundry
Frama & Tumbleweed Laundry, Marfa, Texas
Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Ghost Town Casitas
Ghost Town Casitas
Terlingua, TX. Image credit: JD Swiger
Ghost Town Casitas
Ghost Town Casitas, Terlingua, TX. Image credit: JD Swiger
Catalyst Midstream
Catalyst Midstream Partners County Line
Processing Plant, Orla, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Javelina Hideout
Javelina Hideout, Terlingua, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Javelina Hideout
Javelina Hideout, Terlingua, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Roadrunner RV Park
RoadRunner Travelers RV Park, Terlingua, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Jeff Davis County Courthouse Annex
Jeff Davis County Courthouse Annex, Fort Davis, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Alpine Public Library
Alpine Public Library
Alpine, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Franklin Mountain Energy
Franklin Mountain Energy Carnival Central Tank Battery, Lea County, NM. Image credit: Franklin Mountain Energy
La Cochera
La Cochera Vacation Rental, Alpine, TX.
Jomomas RV Park
JoMommas RV Park, Terlingua, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Brewster County Courthouse
Brewster County Courthouse, Alpine, TX. Image credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory
Tank Battery
Apache / Altus Midstream Tank Battery
Reeves County, TX. Image credit: Bill Wren, McDonald Observatory
Apache Cryogenic Facility
Altus Midstream Diamond Cryogenic Complex, Reeves County, TX. Image credit: Bill Wren, McDonald Observatory
Hotel Limpia
Hotel Limpia before and after implementing night sky friendly lighting. Fort Davis, TX. Image credit: McDonald Observatory
Responsible Lighting
Principles of night sky friendly lighting. Image credit: McDonald Observatory
Responsible Lighting with Labels
Principles of night sky friendly lighting. Labels included. Image credit: McDonald Observatory
Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve
Map of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve. Image credit: Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve
Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve
Map of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, with parks and wildlife management areas noted. Image credit: Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve
