Dark Skies Festival
In celebration of International Dark Sky Week (April 21-28), join McDonald Observatory and community partners for events showcasing West Texas’s famous dark skies. Events will be held April 22-26 at McDonald Observatory and locations throughout Fort Davis, Alpine, Marfa, and Terlingua.
In addition to its regular public programs, Dark Skies Festival events at McDonald Observatory will include special talks, tours, Star Parties, and more. Visitors receive free general admission all week, Tuesday-Saturday, 12-5 p.m. If reserving general admission tickets online, use discount code DarkSky. Locals of the surrounding Dark Skies region can reserve free Star Party passes for the week with discount code Local25.
Leading up to Dark Skies Festival, McDonald Observatory will host a special livestream showcasing telescope views of the cosmos and a discussion of the impact of artificial light. Tune April 16 at 9:15 p.m. CT.
Festival Events
Tuesday, April 22
- 8 p.m. - Special Talk (see below) at McDonald Observatory
- 9:15 p.m. - Star Party at McDonald Observatory ($5-25)
Wednesday, April 23
- 9 p.m. - Star Party at the Far Flung Outdoor Center in Terlingua (free)
Thursday, April 24
- 12:30 p.m. - Behind the scenes tour of McDonald Observatory's Hobby-Eberly Telescope ($10)
- 9 p.m. - Star Party at the Ballroom Marfa Stone Circle (directions) (free)
Friday, April 25
- 12:30 p.m. - Behind the scenes tour of McDonald Observatory's Hobby-Eberly Telescope ($10)
- Fort Davis Daytime Talks & Night Hike
- 9:15 p.m. - Star Party at McDonald Observatory ($5-25)
Saturday, April 26
- 9 a.m.-noon - Outreach Activities at the Alpine Farmers Market (free)
- 2 p.m. - Astrophotography Talk: Empowering Wounded Veterans to Heal Through Photography at the Alpine Public Library (free)
- 9 p.m. - Beginner Astrophotography Workshop at the Alpine Public Library ($275 + service fee)
- 9 p.m. - Star Party at Kokernot Park Soccer Field in Alpine (free)
- 9:15 p.m. - Star Party at McDonald Observatory ($5-25)
McDonald Observatory collaborates with local communities and businesses to promote nighttime lighting that keeps light on the ground and out of the sky. Learn more about the Dark Skies Initiative and how you can help.
Talk at McDonald Observatory
Tuesday, April 22 at 8 p.m.
Dark for the Park Alliance: Collaborating to Improve Lighting in the Permian Basin
A discussion of the dark sky efforts underway in the oil and gas industry.
Speakers: Alexandra Fleming and Stephen Hummel
Alexandra Fleming, New Mexico Regulatory Advisor Chevron USA Inc, NMOGA Workgroup Co-Chair ‘Dark for the Park Alliance’
Alexandra Fleming is a New Mexico Regulatory Advisor for Chevron’s Permian Basin assets and co-chairs the NMOGA ‘Dark for the Park Alliance’ workgroup focused on better lighting practices for industry while maintaining safety and security.
Previously, Alexandra was a technical geologist for unconventional onshore and conventional deepwater development, utilizing data analytics, machine learning, regional seismic mapping, and whole rock core description. She joined Chevron in 2010.
Alexandra grew up in New Mexico and holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in Earth Science and Italian Language and Literature, and a master’s degree in Geology from Colorado School of Mines. She is a registered Professional Geologist in Wyoming (License Number PG-4127). She enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and playing soccer with her family.
Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory Dark Skies Initative Coordinator
Stephen Hummel is the Dark Skies Initiative coordinator for McDonald Observatory. He works with surrounding communities, external partners, and industries on outdoor lighting practices to preserve dark skies. He uses scientific methods to measure and track changes in artificial sky brightness at McDonald Observatory and surrounding parks and protected places.
The Milky Way soars over the domes of McDonald Observatory's Mount Locke showcasing the region's dark skies. Credit: Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory.