Sky Quality Meter Installed
If you’ve ever been out at Blue Hole Regional Park at night, you already know, the sky here is kind of a big deal. But up until now, that’s mostly been something we felt, not something we could actually measure. That’s changed. We recently installed a Sky Quality Meter (SQM) at the park, which gives us a way to track how dark (or bright) our night sky really is over time.
The meter measures sky brightness using a standard unit astronomers use.
What is important is what it helps us do:
- Track changes in our night sky over time
- Understand how light pollution is affecting the park
- Compare our skies to other places in the Hill Country
- Make better decisions about lighting and conservation
Basically, it gives us real data to back up something we already care a lot about.
This project was funded through the Hill Country Alliance Night Sky Preservation Fund, which supports projects across the region that help protect dark skies. That includes things like improving outdoor lighting, educating communities, measuring sky quality (like what we’re doing here). We were one of several communities selected this year, and we’re excited to be part of that bigger effort. Dark skies don’t happen by accident, and they don’t stick around without some effort.
Having this meter helps us:
- Keep track of long-term trends
- Catch changes early
- Be more intentional about how we manage lighting in the park
And at the end of the day, it helps protect one of the things people love most about being here. Now we’re not just appreciating the night sky, we’re actually keeping an eye on it.
SQM at Blue Hole Regional Park.