News
Night Sky Month News
Every year, dozens of counties, communities, and organizations recognize Night Sky Month with proclamations and outreach on our scenic, starry skies. Explore recent and past coverage of Night Sky Month below.
Missing something? These are non-exhaustive lists of coverage across the Hill Country that will continue to be updated. If we missed something relevant in your part of the Hill Country, or if you have suggestions on additional outreach we should share, please contact Dawn@hillcountryalliance.org.
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Proclamations 2023
With support from the Kerr County Friends of the Night Sky, Kerrville City Council proclaimed October 2023 as Hill Country Night Sky Month (October 5, 2023)
Press Releases 2023
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Media Coverage 2023
Solar ‘ring of fire’ viewing offered on Saturday (Lampasas Dispatch Record – October 9, 2023).
Celebrate Hill Country Night Sky Month (Lampasas Dispatch Record – October 10, 2023).
Proclamations Archive
With support from the Kendall County Friends of the Night Sky, the Bexar Audubon Society Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by Patsy Inglet, President. (August 13, 2020)
With support from the Kendall County Friends of the Night Sky, the Boerne Independent School District BISD Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by BISD Board President, Maritza Gonzalez-Cooper. (August 18, 2020)
The City of Dripping Springs, TX, City of Dripping Springs Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by Mayor Bill Foulds, Jr. (September 8, 2020)
With support from the Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky, the City of Blanco, TX City of Blanco Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by Martin Sauceda, Mayor Pro-Tem. (September 9, 2020)
With support from the Wimberley Parks and Recreation Department and the Wimberley Valley Dark Sky Committee, the City of Wimberley Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by the Wimberley City Council (September 17, 2020).
The City of Horseshoe Bay, TX, City of Horseshoe Bay, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by Mayor Cynthia Clinesmith. (September 22, 2020)
The City of Fredericksburg, TX, City of Fredericksburg, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by Mayor Gary Neffendorf. (September 21, 2020)
With support from Friends of the Hays County Night Sky, The city of Dripping Springs, and the Wimberley Valley Dark Sky Committee, the Hays County Commissioners Court signed the Hill Country Night Sky Month Proclamation (September 27, 2020).
With support from the Bandera County Friends of the Night Sky, Bandera County Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed. (September 28, 2020)
The Kerr County Commissioners Court, Kerr County Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by the Honorable Rob Kelly, Kerr County Judge.(September 28, 2020)
The Real County Commissioners Court, Real County Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by the Judge Bella A. Rubio (September 29, 2020)
With support from the Travis County Friends of the Night Sky, The City of Austin Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed. (October 1, 2020)
With support from the Comal County Friends of the Night Sky, the Comal County Commissioners Court, Comal County Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed. (October 1, 2020)
With support from the Comal County Friends of the Night Sky, the City of Garden Ridge, City of Garden Ridge Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed. (October 6, 2020)
With support from the Kerr County Friends of the Night Sky, the city of Ingram, TX, City of Ingram Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed. (October 6, 2020)
With support from the Kerr Country Friends of the Night Sky, UBarU Camp and Retreat Center Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed. (October 6, 2020)
With support from the Hays Country Friends of the Night Sky, the City of Buda Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by Mayor George Haehn. (October 7, 2020)
The City of Kerrville, City of Kerrville Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed by Kerrville Mayor Bill Blackburn.(October 14, 2020)
The Alamo Area Council of Governments, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The Bandera County Commissioners Court, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The Blanco County Commissioners Court, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The Kendall County Commissioners Court, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The Kerr County Commissioners Court, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The Travis County Commissioners Court, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The City of Boerne, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The City of Bulverde, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The City of Castroville, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The City of Gillespie, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The City of Johnson City, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The City of Kyle, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October 6, 2020)
The City of San Marcos, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The City of Spring Branch, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
The City of Wimberley, Night Sky Month Proclamation was signed (October, 2020)
Press Releases Archive
River Hill Neighborhood Association Hill Country Night Sky Month Press Release (September 30, 2020).
City of Kerrville Hill Country Night Sky Month Press Release (October 14, 2020).
Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky Blanco Market Days Press Release (October 17, 2020)
Media Coverage Archive
Celebrate the starry skies! (September 22, 2020).
October is Night Sky Month with plenty to see (September 25, 2020).
Gracias and do look up! (October 7, 2020).
Look up after dark to see the show (October 9, 2020).
Hill Country Alliance’s Inaugural Night Sky Month kicks off October with a Harvest Moon (October 12, 2020).
Two groups encourage lights out for human and bird benefits. (October 13, 2020).
Did you know?
Approximately 30% of the energy cost powering unshielded bulbs is uselessly illuminating the night sky. This wasted energy costs $2.2 billion annually in the United States and contributes to light pollution and the steady loss of a treasured Hill Country resource – our brilliant starry skies.
Here in the Hill Country, we believe the best way to preserve our night skies is through community involvement. Click the button below to find a Friends of the Night Sky group in your region, become a Night Sky Steward, and learn more about our Night Sky Friendly Business and Neighborhood Recognition Programs.
Recent Night Sky News:
The City of Fredericksburg takes steps to protect the night sky
Efforts to limit the nighttime glow in and around Fredericksburg were buoyed this month as the council approved an outdoor lighting standards ordinance, which will primarily affect new residential and commercial development. A complete draft of the ordinance can be...
Two Texas Parks & Wildlife Properties Achieve International ‘Dark Sky’ Status
August 6, 2014 TUCSON, Ariz. – Texas state parks remain among the few public places in one of the nation’s most populous and increasingly urbanized states where the starry heavens can be viewed in all their celestial glory with only minimal intrusion of artificial...
Better Lights for Better Nights Conference
The City of Dripping Springs, in partnership with the International Dark Sky Association Texas (IDA Texas), will host the Better Lights for Better Nights Conference on Friday, August 15, 2014 at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park Events Center. Details
Seeing Stars in Dripping Springs
As Texas booms, the state is less and less able to brag that the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas. In the big cities and the sprawling suburbs, and even in Far West Texas near the McDonald Observatory, light pollution is increasingly...
Hill Country Night Sky Month is a Hill Country Alliance event.
The Hill Country Alliance is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise public awareness and build community support around the need to preserve the natural resources and heritage of the Central Texas Hill Country.