As light pollution increases, West Texas works to protect the world's largest 'dark sky reserve'

The night sky looms bright over the facilities of McDonald Observatory after a Star Party in Fort Davis, Texas on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

While recent research shows the night sky is getting brighter every year across North America, the Big Bend area in Texas has fended off the light glow that washes out starry nights.

(Image credit: Paul Ratje/Paul Ratje for NPR)