Great to see everyone! We will start in just a few! Let us know where you're joining us in from!

Jacksonville FL

Comet Neowise is visible in Dallas!

9:45ish?

I viewed from 9:30 to 10:30PM

Big window

I didn’t get to see it. Too cloudy. :(

Did need binoculars, too much light pollution to view naked eye - even with averted vision. 8 inch telescope a little better.

I've heard binoculars are key!

I thought the comet looked better with binoculars; telescope actually dims it - in a light polluted metro.

What do you all enjoy the most about the natural night sky?

Enjoying the presentation so far? It is being recorded and will be available to share and review at https://www.npca.org/events/478-park-talks

The seemingly random movements of planets across a set background of stars.

For now, observing the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (with the crescent moon two weeks ago) - especially early AM when Mars and Venus are also up.

I thought is was extremely interesting how Jupiter and Saturn flipped when I saw them in the early evening VS early morning.

*it

I bought my scope at the observatory last year.

Great questions! We plan to address those in this presentation

You mentioned that yellow or yellowish is a good color for outdoor lighting. What about red? Would that be even better? We have a neighbor that uses red, and I'm wondering if they are total Dark Skies Smarties! :-)

Do the shades of green (on previous slide) represent different levels of light pollution?

Are you asking businesses in Alpine and other areas to install or consider down-lighting?

Yes! Love this conversation - I'll make sure to answer these questions in a few.. keep them coming

Loving County only has 87 people.

How does the fireworks on the 4th of july affect night sky viewing?

What is your favorite park to visit? And especially experience after dark?

++ posters

Yellowstone is amazing after dark

In Texas, favorite park is Big Bend.

Learn more about LBJ National Historical Park here - https://www.nps.gov/lyjo/index.htm

Explore more of Fort Davis https://www.nps.gov/foda/index.htm

Who has been to Alibates Flint Quarries?https://www.nps.gov/alfl/index.htm

Are naturally nocturnal animals (e.g. bats) impacted by light pollution?

How can we get involved? :)

This is kind of related, but what about plants?

Alibates - twice. The quarries are only viewable with a ranger. Visits to the quarries are limited in the summer hot weather. The afternoon hike may be canceled.

Eden - Great question! I am not certain but we know other mammals being habitats are being harmed by artificial lights!

Learn more about what you can do at your own home to support darks skies. https://idsw.darksky.org/activities/dark-sky-friendly-home/

Chuck - We are working with partners on best practices with flaring and are concerned with the growth of oil and gas development in the 7 county region around the Observatory that has regulations around dark sky lighting.. As we learn more, we hope to share it!

More info at Globe at Night https://www.globeatnight.org/webapp/

It’s nice to see de-inflammation over time in environmental photos for once!

Eden - some plants do need the night!

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Chloe, that’s interesting because they don’t have eyes.

Thank you for the presentation!

Share your dark sky story and why you love dark skies at our parks https://www.npca.org/myparkstory

+ Deann

Stay in touch with NPCA and learn how you can take action www.npca.org/signup

Learn more about the Observatory and how you can engage with their programs https://mcdonaldobservatory.org/

Thank you, Stephen, Chloe & NPCA TX Team!

Thank you for the presentation!

Thank you for joining NPCA and the Observatory today. If you want to join us in support of our efforts, please join with a special rate for participants today. www.npca.org/join2020

great presentation!

Steven, great talk. (And thank you too Chloe!)

Thank you all! please email ccrumley@npca.org

for more info!

Thank y'all for the presentation!

Thank you for joining! We look forward to hosting more. If you have ideas on what you'd like to learn about, please email ccrumley@npca.org