Deep in the Heart of Texas

Recently along a stretch of Devil’s Backbone, people have been lining up their cars near a public-access picnic area to watch the setting sun. When conditions are right—and in the Hill Country, they often are—spectators can view a broad swath of the Milky Way, multiple planets, and since April, the Comet Neowise.

Next week, the Texas night sky will feature another spectacular show with the Perseid Meteor Shower. Throughout the year, about a dozen meteor showers occur as the planet passes through the debris fields of various disintegrating comets, but the Perseids are generally the most abundant and well-known. While skywatchers won’t see a literal ‘shower’ of meteors with the Perseids, it’s like that even with the last quarter moon in the sky, viewers will see several shooting stars streaking across the sky each hour.

Since the meteor shower will peak on the night of Aug. 11-12, the Hays County Friends of the Night Sky are hosting a virtual event to celebrate it.

To enter the meteor shower contest, The Friends of the Night Sky are encouraging people to take a photo or make a drawing of their home, family, pets or yard under the Perseids. A randomly-selected winner will receive two T-shirts and a tote bag from the Texas Night Sky Festival.

So where are the best stargazing sites in the Texas Hill Country?

Michelle Fischer, administrator for the city of Dripping Springs, recommends Dripping Springs Ranch Park and Charro Ranch Park.

“Because so many people go out there to go stargazing, our parks are open until midnight,” she said. “The best time is to go as soon as it gets dark.”

Both Wimberley and Dripping Springs boast designations as International Dark Sky Communities, meaning they implement municipal ordinances and host educational programs that preserve the night sky from the effects of light pollution. Dark Sky Communities also make an effort to promote responsible lighting to protect migratory birds and wildlife affected nighttime lighting.

“One thing that’s really interesting in Dripping Springs is that we have a really tiny city limits,” Fischer said. “Outside of that, we can’t force people to comply with light ordinances, but a lot of people do it voluntarily. It’s pretty neat how many people do it because they want to.”

Lately, this effort has been more appreciated than ever as people have been seeking ways to get out and explore while maintaining responsible social distancing. Many Hill Country residents have turned to astronomy to fulfill their need to stay connected.

In an article by Diana del Solar, a Public Outreach Associate for the International Dark Sky Association, she wrote, “Around the world, people are adjusting to a new ‘normal’ as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens public health, the global economy, and the stability of the modern world. During this challenging time, supporters of the International Dark-Sky Association have looked to the night sky for solace.”

It’s true that the predictable nature of the night sky can restore a person’s sense of continuity. And with the regularity of the Perseids, there’s a guarantee that if a person keeps their eyes skyward, they’re bound to see plenty of shooting stars for wish-making opportunities.

For optimal viewing of the 2020 Perseid Meteor Shower, the best time to start watching will be as soon as darkness falls and before the moon rises in the east. The meteors will appear to radiate from the shower’s namesake constellation, Perseus, which will rise after midnight in the northeastern sky. Viewers will be able to see the meteors without telescopes or binoculars; in fact, unaided eyes are recommended to better take in the full scope of the sky.

“We encourage you to watch from your own yard, especially since the ideal time for watching is from midnight to dawn,” Fischer said.

For a list of Dripping Springs Parks, check their website at cityofdrippingsprings. com/page/parks_DSparks. Also, for future Hill Country Alliance events, such as the Hill Country Night Sky Month event in October, check out their website at hillcountryalliance.org/NightSkyMonth.