Big Bend StarGazer

04/19/2026

🌠 Lyrid Meteor Shower Viewing – Big Bend (April 21–22, 2026)

If you’re staying with us this week, you’re in for a treat—this is one of the best nights of the year to see shooting stars!

✨ When to watch:
Late night April 21 into early morning April 22
Best viewing: 1:00 AM – 5:30 AM (prime time: 2–5 AM)

🌙 Conditions:
Nearly perfect! The moon sets early, leaving dark, clear skies for peak viewing.

👀 What to expect:
- Around 15–20 meteors per hour
- Occasional bursts of more
- Bright, fast streaks across the sky

📍 Why Big Bend is special:
You’re in one of the darkest places in the U.S., which means you’ll see far more than in cities.

🛏️ How to watch:
- Find a dark spot away from lights
- Lie back in a chair or on a blanket
- Give your eyes ~20 minutes to adjust
- Look up and enjoy—no equipment needed!

🔥 Pro tip: Put your phone away—your night vision matters more than anything.

Clear skies and enjoy the show!

12/03/2025

Ever had a cookout at Gazer Point? Highly recommend this activity (definitely weather permitting)! Best place in the west to grill burgers! 🍔

Lovely temps in the low 70’s with no wind made for an exceptional evening grilling burgers at StarGazers own Gazer Point.

Even had a surprise visit from the International Space Station right around sunset, and shortly after a mysterious large light that quickly disappeared.

12/01/2025

Beautiful day in the desert. Did some backroad exploring, one of our favorite things to do. Such a beautiful place on this earth. 🌎 🌵 ☀️ 💨 ☁️

04/15/2023

Deep in the heart of Texas…

If you’re coming to see the stars at night, be sure to check the moon phase and the rise/set times to be sure to give yourself the best chance possible of catching that elusive Milky Way view!

New moon is the best, but other phases can also allow excellent viewing depending on the rise/set times.

"Remember, when stargazing, give your eyes twenty-five minutes to adjust to night vision. Don't look at any light, including cellphones, during this time. With a little patience the Universe will begin to reveal itself to you."
~Park Ranger Jason Gablaski

Many visitors often ask for the best places and time of year to see the Milky Way Galaxy. Truly the best time to see the Milky Way most vibrant is in the summer during a new moon, because that's when you can see the galactic core of our galaxy.

Our top 5 suggested places to stargaze are:

1. Sotol Vista
2. Fossil Discovery Exhibit
3. Dugout Wells
4. Mule Ears viewpoint
5. Santa Elena Canyon Overlook



Photo Credit: NPS/LBartsch

Photo Description: The galactic core of the Milky Way Galaxy over the Chisos Mountains in the summer.

11/18/2022

A little Gazer fun fact! We have lots of them…

Big Bend StarGazer shared a post on Instagram: "⭐️ Big Bend StarGazer Fun Fact: ⭐️ Angela and I ended up doing the majority of the work ourselves for this build. We hadn’t intended to, but that’s just how some projects go (especially in Terlingua!). Among many trades that we both had to ...

08/15/2022

If you’re in town, this would be a cool thing to do!

08/02/2022

Hey y'all! We have a short (verbal) cameo in this article in NPR regarding the county's HOT tax (Hotel Occupancy Tax). If you visit Big Bend, there's a good chance you're contributing to this fund.

The article is a quick 4 minute listen and worth listening to.

At Big Bend Stargazer, we'd like to see the HOT taxes used for local infrastructure (roads, bridges, water access, restrooms, laundromat, etc...). The first step is raising awareness. We're hopeful there will be a way to more appropriately use these funds in the future to serve both visitors and residents alike.

https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/big-bend-national-park-terlingua-texas-tourism-hotel-occupancy-taxes/

08/01/2022

Summer clouds making Gazer look Good! 2.5” of rain in the last month has our plants and tanks pretty happy.

06/30/2022

Coming soon…

http://www.vivabigbend.com/