Light in the Dark

In addition to being a State Natural Area, Enchanted Rock is also an International Dark Sky Park. Okay, so first what exactly is the difference between a state natural area and state park? Well, they are fairly similar, but the former includes a mission of preservation to limit the human impact and to care for the natural space indefinitely. You are more likely to find recreation options, such as boating, swimming, camping with electricity etc., for the humans in a state park.

Enchanted Rock is also designated an International Dark Sky Park, which means it is a “land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage and/or public enjoyment.” For us, this has been a treat like no other. City life just doesn’t afford you opportunities to see much more than the phases of the moon and major constellations.

But here. The winter skies were crisp and sparkly, like someone had just finished polishing the stars. We have been to places where you could enjoy a stellar night sky. But to live here for many months guarantees cloudless nights and a chance to see the constellations move across the sky and change with the seasons. The StarMap app has been a good guide to the landscape above our heads. When we first got to the park, we could see the Zodiac lined up: the Bull (or maybe a longhorn?); the Twins, stick figure buddies with arms around each other’s shoulders; the Crab, a little diminutive in line, the great Lion resting like a Sphinx and eventually Virgo, a big boxy gal relaxed across the eastern horizon. Now in summer, the picture is totally different. Virgo begins the night by setting in the west, and the Big Dipper has swung around the opposite side of the North Star. And Woah Nelly, it so cool to see the Milky Way stretched across from the Archer to Cassiopeia from the back porch. At first, I wasn’t sure we were seeing it correctly or if we were enjoying some hazy weather. But I found the brightest spot towards the center of our galaxy is usually located just to Scorpio’s left and in the spout of the teapot (which is actually the Archer, but come on, clearly a teapot). Though I’m sure I once knew, I had to ask again: If we are in the Milky Way, how can we see it? Well friends, the internet continues to provide quick answers. We learned that if you picture our galaxy as a disc, Earth is in an outer part of it. In summer, in the Northern Hemisphere, we have a good orientation towards the center of the disc and can see the density of our galaxy stretched out, side to side.

I guess it’s just one of those things where seeing is believing. And by that, I mean by tracking the patterns and changes over a stretch of time, you can really visualize and conceive more clearly the movement of our home planet in space.

PS: The sounds of night are pretty wonderful out here too. In winter, it was so quiet with occasional coyotes, bats and frogs. With spring came vixen in heat; you would not believe what a startling sound this is when you’re walking alone in the dark. Summer now brings out the drones of katydids and crickets, with occasional owls and territorial buck huffs.