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.
closed
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
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
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:
In Texas Hill Country, darkness enlightens and inspires
The city of Blanco sits on the edge of darkness, and it’s trying to stay there. Nestled in the rural Hill Country of Central Texas, the 1,700-person town is growing – but locals are wary of losing the longtime neighbor they all share: the neighbor that lives overhead....
Hill Country ‘snapshots’ captured in 2023 calendar
The 2022 winners in the "Snapshot of the Hill Country" photo contest have been chosen, and you can hang their work on your wall with a 2023 calendar. The Hill Country Alliance contest "challenged photographers to capture the fleeting beauty of life" in the region,...
Central Texas home to all 5 of state’s dark-sky communities
Central Texas lies within the main corridor of North American bird migration with flocks of aviators flying south for the winter and vice versa for the summer. But despite the innate directional awareness, some birds can get confused or harmed by lights shining in our...
‘The Olympics of astronomy’: Travis County gears up for 2024 solar eclipse
Travis County officials are gearing up for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in 2024, as a total solar eclipse is expected to pass over the Central Texas region. A total solar eclipse will pass over the Hill Country region on April 8, 2024, from 1:32-1:41 p.m. The...
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.