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Start this July by locating the three bright stars of the Summer Triangle: Vega, Altair, and Deneb. They can be seen overhead towards the eastern sky. If the moon is down and your skies are dark (Can you see the seven stars of the little dipper?), you should be able to make out the stary clouds of the Milky Way. The Milky Way will stretch from the constellation, Cassiopeia (a big "W"), rising in the northeast, through the constellation, Cygnus, the swan (with its bright star Deneb), through the constellation Aquila, the eagle (with its bright star Altair), through Sagittarius, the teapot, and end on the southern horizon with the constellation Scorpius, the scorpion (with its bright reddish star, Antares). What you'll see is what lying on an army cot in a field at Garner on a clear night in July is all about.
With your binoculars, see if you can see the two binary stars of the Double Double, Albireo (Epsilon Lyrae), at the head of Cygnus, opposite Deneb. Also look for M6, the Butterfly Cluster, 4 degrees east of the star at the point of the spout of Sagittarius, Alnasl. For more celestial objects to see, check out the back of a current month's sky map at the Visitor Center. Look for a "Sky Tour" program given at the park occasionally when the skies are dark, and the weather is good. A good place to observe the heavens at the park is from the Excess Vehicle Parking Area. It's just north of the Visitors Center.
Seeing the Milky Way requires dark skies, skies that many don't ever see. Often before and after the new moon, while the moon is not shining, you can make out the Milky Way in our Garner skies. The Milky Way galaxy is made up of millions of stars. It is sometimes mistaken as a layer of clouds when first seen. The darker the skies the more magnificent the many stars stand out. Have you seen the stars from Garner State Park?
New neighbors, new businesses install lights to light up their properties and light up the whole Frio Canyon in the process. From the top of Old Baldy, you can see light domes of Uvalde, Hondo, Bandera, Kerrville, and yes, even Concan and Leakey. Texas towns has their light bubbles. Let them know, "Illuminate only what is needed with only as much warm light as is needed." If you see lights shining upward or too bright, let's do better. If you want to continue to see stars, tell them you want and expect darker skies. We can make our skies darker.
Count the number of stars in the Little Dipper. If you can see all seven, you have a relatively dark sky. If you can only see the end of the little Dipper's handle, the North Star (Polaris), you have a lit-up city sky.
We want to make Garner an International Dark Skies Park. Unfortunately, it isn't currently dark enough. It takes some work, a real campaign. Educating our visitors, neighbors, students, businesses, and government officials; adding light shields; updating light fixtures; measuring, recording, and reporting light readings and other progress steps; getting the right color LED's; seeing what we can do to make the skies dark again. Interested in volunteering? Use the "Contact us" form at the bottom of the home page or call us at 830-232-5999.
Spread the word, set an example. Shine light only when and where you need it. Only shine as much as you need. Use the warmest color light to minimize light scattering. If light is needed for security or emergency purposes, use video or motion activated lighting.
Do we really need a blinding flood light lighting the heavens at every barn, parked car, business sign, steeple, or flag? Here is a link to the International Dark Sky Association's (IDA's) webpage of outreach materials.
While the scope might not be a large spectacular instrument, it generates oohs and ahs when viewing Jupiter, Saturn, or the moon up in the Garner night skies.
Several astronomy clubs come to view the skies above Garner. Check the park's calendars for other star parties, often held on a warm Saturday night around the occurrence of a new moon when skies are at their darkest.
FOG Board Meeting 8/14/24 5pm
2024 River Clean Up Sept 7th, 9am
Other events
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