Best stargazing spots near/outside the city? (Dallas, El Paso: live, safe)

[nullxposur]

After reading about the recent moon stargazing topic, I was wondering if anybody knows any good dark spots to stargaze. I would say something outside the city, probably around the 1604 area due to light pollution. How about somewhere alongside the major highways?

I know a couple spots coming here north on 281/37N, but I would assume I-10 towards El Paso would have some more darker areas.

Anyone want to share?

[majormadmax]

Wow, I was expecting someone to respond...maybe it has to be me!

We live just outside 1604 off of Braun and I use my telescope on my back porch. I usually focus on the moon as I have some odd fascination with it; plus my telescope is relatively low-powered so the stars don't really show up much more than bright lights in the sky.

As we live near Helotes, if I wanted to reduce the ambient light to stargaze, I would head out on 16 into the Hill Country. There are a few locations on the way to Bandera, such as 211, where the viewing might be really nice. However, I haven't packed my telescope into the car and wandered off since Halle-Bopp flew over when we were in Germany nearly ten years ago...

Cheers! M2

[Turtle_Mom]

We had much better luck when we moved here 4 years ago, there is now more light pollution but we still see things ok. We are outside 1604, East of 281. Once the big golf course and resort goes in north of me I'm sure we'll have even more ambient light.

[Paka]

And that is the BEAUTY of not having all the street lights in Westcreek...I can sit in MY hottub on MY deck and watch the start shoot by....love it!!!

[nullxposur]

I'm gonna check out the Bandera area north of 1604 one of these days (week or two). I'm definitely planning to drive out as much as an hour or two for a good night sky. It'll soon be a full moon and the dark will be pitch black!

M2, I like the moon alot too. In fact, I have a personal picture of the moon I took that I have not been able to replicate with my un-tripod hands but it's beautiful. However, nothing beats seeing the sky full of stars!

[sapphire]

The Scobee Planetarium is pretty cool to check out also. We went a few months ago and got to see Saturn on their newest telescope. It was pretty impressive.

[IrishSA]

Id say anywhere on the far Northwest side. The elevation is higher, so u feel that much closer to the stars. I normally head out to the Medina lake area. It’s nice and dark out there as well as very peaceful . Not to mention the water, and hills add a nice touch .

[majormadmax]

Scobee Planetarium, looks cool, thanks for the tip sapphire!

Cheers! M2

[wCat]

Can you believe that less than 10 years ago we actually drove to Stoneoak Parkway and 281 to stargaze! Stone Oak was just in it's infanthood...and it was very undeveloped. It was a great hilltop to watch the meteor showers in early August every year!

My guess would be anyplace further north and west. That stretch of I-10 between Kerrville and Junction would probably be safe and clear.

But...if you want to really see a zillion stars plus a few other interesting things, try Marfa, TX!

[Paka]

We are going to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center this weekend up near Dallas (there was a GREAT article in the paper about a month or so ago on it and it looked like such a neat place we booked that day) and I am hoping since it is an 1800 acre place and we are staying in the lodge that we get to see loooooootttsss of stars for the night!

I am SO praying it is a clear night this Sat evening!