{"id":678581,"date":"2026-03-24T15:14:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/678581\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T15:14:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:14:30","slug":"kendall-county-applies-to-be-international-dark-sky-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/678581\/","title":{"rendered":"Kendall County applies to be International Dark Sky Community"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>STORY HIGHLIGHTS<\/b><\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p><b>DARK SKIES INCREASINGLY RARE:<\/b> Light pollution is a growing problem <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p><b>HILL COUNTRY FIGHTING BACK: <\/b>Several Hill Country locations have applied for or received \u201cDark Sky\u201d designation <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p><b>WHAT IT REQUIRES:<\/b> Stringent rules call for downward-facing lights and limited light pollution in new development<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>STORY<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><strong>KENDALL COUNTY, TEXAS <\/strong> \u2013 <b>WHAT IS DARK SKY INTERNATIONAL?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">An Arizona-based organization, Dark Sky International has been making headway in the field of light pollution. In their own words:<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThanks to more than 193,000 supporters, members, and advocates in more than 70 countries, we provide leadership, tools, and resources for individuals, policymakers, and industry, in order to reduce light pollution and promote responsible outdoor lighting that is beautiful, healthy, and functional.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Light pollution continues to be a growing problem in much of the industrial world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><b>WHERE CAN YOU FIND \u2018DARK SKY\u2019 LOCATIONS?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">According to their website, Dark Sky International has certified more than 200 places across the world. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Flagstaff, Arizona, was the very first \u201cDark Sky\u201d designation. The city received certification in 2001. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Dark Sky locations can be found in 22 countries on 6 continents. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><b>HILL COUNTRY SEES OPPORTUNITY <\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">A nice chunk of those 200 places can be found in the Texas Hill Country. Several locations have received or are applying to receive the designation. Why? Tourism is one reason, as many people visit the areas to get away from Texas\u2019 big cities. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The other has to do with conservation. Most people who live here want to keep the Hill Country more sparsely populated in order to protect a fragile ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/weather\/2020\/02\/28\/fredericksburg-receives-designation-as-an-international-dark-sky-community\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/weather\/2020\/02\/28\/fredericksburg-receives-designation-as-an-international-dark-sky-community\/\"><b>&gt;&gt; Fredericksburg receives designation as an International Dark Sky Community<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"> It should also be noted that the City of Boerne is very close to receiving an official designation. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><b>COULD KENDALL COUNTY BE NEXT?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThis is a horsehead nebula,\u201d explained Jack Estes, a Kendall County amateur astronomer, as he showed off his numerous photos of the celestial bodies. <\/p>\n<p>A view of a nebula on Estes&#8217;s telescope (Copyright 2026 by KSAT &#8211; All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Estes knows his stuff, and he\u2019s got the pictures to prove it. His passion for outer space and telescopes dates back to junior high. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">As he\u2019ll tell you, stargazing requires dark skies, and that\u2019s exactly the reason he moved to rural Kendall County. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cIt measures light pollution. It measures how dark the sky is,\u201d said Estes, describing his other instrument: a dark sky meter. <\/p>\n<p>A dark sky meter which measures light pollution (Copyright 2026 by KSAT &#8211; All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Estes has been keeping track of light pollution for almost a decade, and he\u2019s noticed an increase. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">While Kendall County is still dark enough to look at the stars, it faces a tough road ahead. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cIf we can stop the light pollution from occurring in the first place, it\u2019s much easier to stop it before it happens than once it\u2019s already happened,\u201d said Estes. <\/p>\n<p>Jack Estes searches for stars with his digital telescope (Copyright 2026 by KSAT &#8211; All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Kendall County\u2019s growth, as a county that\u2019s technically part of the San Antonio metro, increases its light output on a daily basis. The Dark Sky designation would allow the county to stipulate how any new lights are installed. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cIt allows us to regulate car dealerships, and outdoor billboards, and all these things that are just wasteful,\u201d said Estes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">They\u2019d also work with developers to make sure lights are pointed downward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cSo much of it is just wasted light coming from everybody\u2019s backyard,\u201d said Estes. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Kendall County is in the early stages of the application, but hopes to receive its designation within the next few years. <\/p>\n<p>Daily Forecast<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kiwhtN\">KSAT meteorologists keep you on top of the ever-changing South Texas weather.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2026 by KSAT &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STORY HIGHLIGHTS DARK SKIES INCREASINGLY RARE: Light pollution is a growing problem HILL COUNTRY FIGHTING BACK: Several Hill&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":678582,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5133],"tags":[5229,35531,7202,7203,358,10431,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969,313,35099],"class_list":["post-678581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-america","tag-kendall-county","tag-san-antonio","tag-sanantonio","tag-texas","tag-texas-hill-country","tag-tx","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa","tag-weather","tag-whatever-the-weather"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116284808510623471","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=678581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/678582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=678581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=678581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=678581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}