Quick, Make a Wish!

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Details: Created on Thursday, 11 August 2011 18:26; Published on Thursday, 11 August 2011 18:26; Written by Abe Connally

This weekend is supposed to be the peak time to the Perseid meteor shower in Texas. And what better place could you be than in Big Bend and the surrounding area? The mornings of August 12 and 13, just before dawn, are going to be the highlights of this light show, so don’t miss it!

What is Perseids?

Perseids is the name of one of the best meteor showers you can see in the northern hemisphere. It is associated with the comet called Swift-Tuttle, and it gets its name because the meteors come from the general area of the constellation Perseus. shooting_stars

Each year, in the beginning of August, debris from the particle cloud that stretches along Swift-Tuttle’s orbit falls into Earth’s atmosphere, causing the shower.

When Should You Watch?

While the Perseids have been continuing since mid July, and will continue until about August 24, this weekend (August 12 and 13) will be the peak time to see them.

As usual, the best time to go meteor watching is in the early morning before dawn. This is because the earth is spinning as it travels around the sun, and the area that’s just about to face the sun (starting at dawn) sort of collides with more of the shower, giving you more shooting stars than any other time of night.

Where Should You Watch?

Obviously, you’ll want to be away from any city lights, if possible. Even the brightest shooting stars may escape your view in a city or town. Generally, if you can make out all the stars of the Little Dipper, then you’ll be able to see most of the shower.

Getting away from civilization will be especially important because the moon is full and bright right now, meaning that it’ll outshine many shooting stars as it is.

A great place to watch the shower would be far into the country. Big Bend is an excellent option, as many campers will no doubt be enjoying the view this weekend. Why not join them?

Thinking of going to Big Bend this week? Why not check out the Summer Discounts? You’re wallet will thank you!

Worth a Thousand Words

There are some views you just can't take in all at once. Like a dazzling sunset or breathtaking field of wildflowers—you just can't appreciate such beauty in the moment, a moment that is often over before you realize it, the forms and colors of that marvelous vista already fading in your memory. Perhaps it was with the goal of preserving such scenes that the first camera was invented, a goal that you may still share when you visit a place as beautiful as Big Bend and the surrounding area. Why not take a look through our new and improved photo galleries to see what amazing sights have been preserved by astounded visitors and appreciative locals? When you see the mountains, plains, flora, and fauna displayed in those images, you'll be glad the gallery contributors took their camera along.

Birding in Big Bend

Among the many activities available in Big Bend National Park that highlight the region's diversity of wildlife, birding can be enjoyable and promising. Big Bend engulfs a vast area, bounded by the the rushing Rio Grande valley to the south, containing high peaks in the Chisos Mountains, and boasting both desert and forest climates between the two. It embodies the very diversity that makes America great, providing countless opportunities to spot more than 450 birds in one area.

Your Big Year is Here

What are your new year's resolutions for 2012? Did you keep your resolutions for 2011? While the top resolutions each year include losing weight, learning something new, traveling, or getting out of debt, here's a new challenge you can take on this year: spot all the bird species in Big Bend National Park.

Big Bend Video Collections

Big Bend has some of the most spectacular scenery in Texas, if not the entire US. Our big sky country rivals any other state and our night skies are as dark as anywhere for excellent star gazing. The beautiful light and great scenery make for a photographer’s paradise.

Trails and Wildlife

There are many things you may love to do in Big Bend National Park in the heat of summer, but running or jogging is probably not one of them. With 90+ degree temperatures, there simply is no such thing as a nice July run in West Texas. With the dry weather we've had this year, you have truly hostile workout conditions. That all changes this time of year, though, as temperatures drop and the sun gives us a break for a few months. What a great time to get out on some trails in Big Bend!

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