EPISODE · Jun 25, 2026 · 28 MIN
Dark Sky Parks
from Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks
Have you ever actually seen the Milky Way with your own eyes? Not a photo — the real thing, overhead, arching across a pitch-black sky? If not, this episode is for you.Susan and Monica dive into the world of Dark Sky Parks — what they are, how places earn that designation, and what it actually takes to visit one and see something that will genuinely blow your mind.🌠 IN THIS EPISODE:• What a Dark Sky Park actually is (and why 99% of Americans have never seen a truly dark sky)• The 5 types of Dark Sky designations — parks, reserves, sanctuaries, communities & urban night sky places• How a park becomes certified — the 1-3 year process, the Bortle Scale, and what it all means• How many dark sky places exist in the US and worldwide• Why 70% of wildlife species are nocturnal — and why protecting dark skies matters for animals too• The visitor protocol: moon phases, red lights, dark adaptation, what to pack & what NOT to do (Susan's headlight story 😬)• McDonald Observatory's Star Party near Alpine, TX — a great local option!• Book recommendation: "Stikky Night Skies" by Laurence Holt — a beginner-friendly star guide we loved• App recommendation: Stellarium Mobile • Plus: telescope farms, buying a star, and a book giveaway coming soon!⏱️ CHAPTERS: See below ↓📚 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:→ Stikky Night Skies by Laurence Holt (part of a series of books)→ Stellarium Mobile Star App (free)→ McDonald Observatory Star Party — Fort Davis, TX (~$25/person)→ DarkSky International: darksky.org🏕️ NOTABLE US DARK SKY PARKS:Joshua Tree · Arches · Bryce Canyon · Death Valley · Big Bend · Zion · Great Basin · Mammoth Cave🎙️ Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks covers the cultural, historical, and natural wonders of the world around us. New episodes regularly — subscribe so you don't miss one!Don't forget to check out the Stikky Night Skieshttps://stikky.com/#DarkSkyParks #Stargazing #NationalParks #MilkyWay #NightSky #Astronomy #HikingPodcast #TwoChicksWithHikingSticks #BigBend #McDonaldObservatory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
Have you ever actually seen the Milky Way with your own eyes? Not a photo — the real thing, overhead, arching across a pitch-black sky? If not, this episode is for you.Susan and Monica dive into the world of Dark Sky Parks — what they are, how places earn that designation, and what it actually takes to visit one and see something that will genuinely blow your mind.🌠 IN THIS EPISODE:• What a Dark Sky Park actually is (and why 99% of Americans have never seen a truly dark sky)• The 5 types of Dark Sky designations — parks, reserves, sanctuaries, communities & urban night sky places• How a park becomes certified — the 1-3 year process, the Bortle Scale, and what it all means• How many dark sky places exist in the US and worldwide• Why 70% of wildlife species are nocturnal — and why protecting dark skies matters for animals too• The visitor protocol: moon phases, red lights, dark adaptation, what to pack & what NOT to do (Susan's headlight story 😬)• McDonald Observatory's Star Party near Alpine, TX — a great local option!• Book recommendation: "Stikky Night Skies" by Laurence Holt — a beginner-friendly star guide we loved• App recommendation: Stellarium Mobile • Plus: telescope farms, buying a star, and a book giveaway coming soon!⏱️ CHAPTERS: See below ↓📚 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:→ Stikky Night Skies by Laurence Holt (part of a series of books)→ Stellarium Mobile Star App (free)→ McDonald Observatory Star Party — Fort Davis, TX (~$25/person)→ DarkSky International: darksky.org🏕️ NOTABLE US DARK SKY PARKS:Joshua Tree · Arches · Bryce Canyon · Death Valley · Big Bend · Zion · Great Basin · Mammoth Cave🎙️ Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks covers the cultural, historical, and natural wonders of the world around us. New episodes regularly — subscribe so you don't miss one!Don't forget to check out the Stikky Night Skieshttps://stikky.com/#DarkSkyParks #Stargazing #NationalParks #MilkyWay #NightSky #Astronomy #HikingPodcast #TwoChicksWithHikingSticks #BigBend #McDonaldObservatory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Dark Sky Parks
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