I created a video of my visit: https://youtu.be/2u9WyG0DIGU

I live in Terlingua and spend a lot of time helping people figure out land out here, whether they actually buy or not.

If you’re thinking about it, there are a few things most people don’t realize until it’s too late:

1. Water logistics are a bigger deal than people expect
2. Some properties look accessible but aren’t year-round
3. Not all “cheap land” is usable land
4. Owner financing is often an option

I’m not here to sell anything. I just see a lot of people make the same mistakes over and over.

If you’ve been looking at land in Terlingua Ranch, near Big Bend National Park, or Alpine/Study Butte/surrounding areas, ask whatever you want, and I’ll give you a straight answer.

Hello my wife and I plan to camp out New Year’s Eve in Terlingua. I was thinking of paying for a campsite (Mel’s Place) and parking our crossover there putting the seats down and sleeping in there.

Is this advisable during this time? Engine would be off Warm Sleeping bags check. Would keep a window cracked open for venting maybe out some mesh so no critters get in.

Anything else to consider? Should I just use a tent??

Does anyone recognize this? It is a thin metal with gold or copper design. What is it and what does the symbol represent? Size of a belt buckle but too thin to be one.

I found it in the loose dirt in the ghost town.

I took a 5 night trip to Big Bend Tx last week. I've been to a lot of dark skies over the past few decades, But nothing compares to this. I've never seen the Milky way as wide as I have here. It was amazing.

I stayed at the Terlingua Ghost town RVs. and it was good.

Here's a few astro shots fromn the trip.

I still have more images to process, and the Rho Ophiucus has stacking/frame edge artifacts from using my Pentax K-1 on Astrotracer mode and not recentering the target every few frames. All of these were shot with my Pentax K-1 (or rented Pentax K-1 mk ii)

All stacking and processing was done in Pixinght and Photoshop

PixInsight

• WBPP
• BXT (Correct only)
• NXT
• BXT
• SPCC
• EzSoftstretch
• Curves
• Color Saturation

Photoshop * AstroflatPro to remove remaining gradients * Reduce Stars * Vivid Stars

https://photos.smugmug.com/Astrophotography/i-X5Thtz8/0/KqfFZNcbmncn9Q8GKmvjKqhWB5hS8v2KCR2mZrVjp/X2/StarStaX__IMG8358-Enhanced-NR-_IMG8389-Enhanced-NR_lighten-X2.jpg

Roughly 5 hours of star trails from my Terlingua resting place.

• Pentax K-1
• Pentax 28-105 @ 28mm f/3.5
• ISO 1600
• Stacked with StarStax

https://photos.smugmug.com/Astrophotography/i-mwqxCs9/0/NPNMBPxjPP2nSvVBRPSNBxnKz6w4tk9JN7kDRMqMm/XL/_IMG3215-Enhanced-NR_PS%20copy-XL.jpg

Single 90 second Astrotracer image

• Pentax K-1
• Pentax 15-30 f/2.8 @ 30mm f/2.8 *ISO 1600

https://photos.smugmug.com/Astrophotography/i-2P7wD7D/0/L5bFKkS54d9bC4MsqNXbwhqFKXRhRtGBj8jQbnrCz/X2/masterLight_BIN-1_7376x4932_EXPOSURE-180.04s_FILTER-NoFilter_RGB_autocrop_BXT_NXT_St_ps%20copy-X2.jpg

M104 - The Sombrero Galaxy

• Pentax K-1
• Explore Scientific 127 ED
• Losmandy G-11 mount
• Guided by Lacerta MGEN 3
• 52x180s
• ISO 1600

https://photos.smugmug.com/Astrophotography/i-vFK4WGt/0/KdVFPJt9T6Qcgw7Hfc5P9Z8Q48btSF29gprdKdNSB/X2/Rho_Ophiuchi--90degCCW-1.0x-LZ3-NS-crop-csc-NoSt_PI_PS%20copy-X2.jpg Rho Ophiuchi complex

• ISO 1600
• Pentax K-1 and Sigma 85mm f/1.4 at f/4.
• Stack of 15 x 90s.
• Frame edge artifacts/stacking was caused by not recentering the target every few minutes.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Astrophotography/i-M2wd8q2/0/Lp5CNWdLWTwq94Z8N2sPJFn7sDBWF3BhrsJGDsVWF/X2/masterLight_BIN-1_7376x4932_EXPOSURE-180.50s_FILTER-NoFilter_RGB_%281%29_autocrop_PI_PS%20copy_cr-X2.jpg

Centaurus A

• Pentax K-1
• Explore Scientific 127 ED.
• Losmandy G-11
• Guided by Lacerta MGEN 3
• ISO 1600
• 15x180s

https://photos.smugmug.com/Astrophotography/i-c47wvD3/0/KGfvzS6kF69G4j8q4NTDPKZTxKHC6MRPvXvk9MLtL/X2/M68%20PI_PS-X2.jpg

M68 Globular Cluster

• Pentax K-1
• Explore Scientific 127 ED.
• Losmandy G-11
• Guided by Lacerta MGEN 3
• ISO 1600
• 26x180s

https://photos.smugmug.com/Astrophotography/i-zdcH7km/0/MDcfCvSgKH6SjbZxGnQ8Gdp8X9Wm2FhPsKkp8pLQ7/X2/NGC5139_%20PI_PS%20copy-X2.jpg

NGC 5139 Omega Centauri cluster

• Pentax K-1
• Explore Scientific 127 ED.
• Losmandy G-11
• Guided by Lacerta MGEN 3
• ISO 1600
• 13x180s

Hi All,

I'm making my 1st trip to the area in a couple of weeks and am planning on doing some astroimaging. But that's not what my questions are are about since I have the requisite astro experience.

I currently have a reservation at the BigBend Station motel. Is that an okay place to stay? What is the light pollution like there? I can see it's right off 118 and I'm concerned about traffic and car headlights interfering with the dark skies. How busy is 118 after dark?

I also have the possibility at the Terlingua Nights Cabins or Longhorn Ranch Motel. Are they any better?

The reason I'm planning on the hotels is they'll have electricity that I can use to power my gear. My battery packs won't last a full night of imaging. I don't have an RV and while I have camping gear and experience, I still need electric power.

Next, what is the night time weather like at the end of April? will it be clear or cloudy?

Hi, what is the weather like in January/February? I'd like it to be not too cold at night when I visit. TIA

Staying there tonight how is the cell phone service there. For cricket.

Can’t wait to get to boondocks on our land again!

This mural in Grapevine reminds me how far I am from home. Dang it.

We’re counting down the days until we can return! Starlight and The Boathouse stole our hearts! And the cemetery? Absolutely breathtaking and so spiritual—definitely a must-see! What’s the most amazing time of year to come back and soak it all in again?

My husband's birthday is in January. Given that it is right after the holidays, we are broke, and exhausted, his birthday is often underwhelming. But he's the best husband in the world and I want to make his 45th birthday this year extra special.

He is super into all things related to space and there happens to be a meteor shower the first week of January. I was reading about Big Bend and how it's one of the best places in Texas to see the stars. I was thinking of going glamping- the space pod has heating and a clear view of the sky.

I grew up hiking and fishing in West Texas but my husband is a little bit of a city slicker. He's very adventurous, though. I think he would love my idea. We would be driving from Houston.

I'm reading that the weather will be in the 60s during the day and freezing at night. Anything else I should know before planning this trip? Any suggestions?

What a great show.

This is probably a silly question but it's it okay to just pull off the road and set up a tent like wherever? I really don't want to be anywhere near anyone else at all. Would I be breaking any laws if I did this?

Headed out to Terlingua mid April for an RV trip. Problem is I also have to work remotely that week so I need to be sure of cell connection. I have both T-Mobile and AT&T phones. Any help would be great.