A couple of times a year I need to find a dark place and stare at the sky. Any idea where I can do that within an hour drive of downtown Dallas? The moon’s still waning, and the evening temperatures aren’t hot and muggy yet. I’m thinking this weekend.
Let me know if you can suggest a location.
@LisaSelk, I realize now that I wasn’t perfect in my category choice. However, asking me to edit it would have been preferred to your doing so without mentioning it.
I learn much better when I’m taught, not when someone does it for me. I’m probably not alone in that fact.
@clk75201 Thanks for that bit of advice, as you may be aware after the last Board of Directors meeting; Team_Moderators is working out an action plan and procedures to help moderate Talk in a way that is fair to all and benefits our members.
With that said we appreciate your suggestion and will take it under consideration as we workout the procedures going forward.
I usually have a few spots that I like to visit most of them are out towards Southlake or Grapevine but there’s a really great article that covers all of the DFW area at http://www.iliveindallas.com/15-hot-spots-to-stargaze-at-in-north-tx
One can also visit http://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html to find a live map for light pollution that will help locate the best spot.
Super link! Thank you.
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Dug into that list and found:
http://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/stargazing
I think that’s my answer.
It’s outside the hour drive time, but my favorite ‘near-by’ spot is Dinosaur Valley SP as most of the objects I prefer to view are to the south.
I think the “hour’s drive” qualifier is a non-starter for Dallas.
I did notice on a road trip out west, that nearing Decatur the sky opened up incredibly.
So… who wants to start an Astronomy SIG?
In general, I’d agree. I do know that I had a good bit of luck finding a spot near Milwaukee, though, a few years ago. Marked it on the GPS. It’s a farm field beside an interior lake.
Come to think of it, I used a dark sky map like this one…
Can we go camping? Pleeeease?
http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/cooper-lake/fees-facilities/campsites
It’s outside an hour but Caddo National Grasslands and Pat Mayse Lake up in Fannin and Lamar county are great places.
Cooper lake state park is nice camping. The also have a nice long trail. I almost hit a deer (buck)on my mountain bike out there, the last time I was there.
My mother’s from Duncan. That’s familiar territory indeed.
Glad I started this thread. Looking forward to exploring a bit.
I agree with others on the proximity to Dallas. The closest Milky Way pics I’ve taken (that I liked) were taken in Comanche Springs. My favorite spot, does not fall within your parameters, but if you ever get a chance, take a trip out to Fort Davis. I’ve got some really good pics out there.
Taken from Comanche Springs 
Taken from Fort Davis: 
Yes! yes we can. 
April 22, 23 - Lyrids Meteor Shower. The Lyrids is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. The shower runs annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year on the night of the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The crescent moon should not be too much of a problem this year. Skies should still be dark enough for a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/cooper-tx/75432/april-weather/335773?monyr=4/1/2017&view=table
Looks like a great night for it too.
Calendar of astronomical events for 2017: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-current.html
(Went to the wrong reply. Trying again.)
These are fantastic. I haven’t started with stars and star trails. Figured that’s a rabbit hole I don’t need to be jumping down right now.
Focused on printing and overpainting a few things to hang. (Well, focused except for the absolute need to go camping now.)
