Prude Ranch observatory

Prude Ranch observatory refers to the dark-sky observing grounds of the historic Prude Ranch, a 3,500-acre guest ranch just outside Fort Davis, Texas, best known as the home of the annual Texas Star Party.

About Prude Ranch observatory

Rather than a single fixed-dome research facility, this is a working ranch with wide-open observing fields used by amateur astronomers. It sits about 6 miles northwest of Fort Davis and only 12 miles from the professional McDonald Observatory.

History

Since 1979, the ranch has hosted the Texas Star Party, one of the oldest and largest amateur astronomy gatherings in North America, drawing visual observers and astrophotographers back year after year.

Location & getting there

Prude Ranch sits at roughly 5,000 feet elevation within the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, a 15,000-square-mile protected zone, and its skies are rated Bortle Class 2 - about as dark as skies get in the continental United States.

Visiting Prude Ranch observatory

Outside of the annual Texas Star Party, when the ranch fills with guest speakers, observing programmes, contests and vendor displays, visitors typically come as ranch guests. Tours of the nearby McDonald Observatory are also commonly arranged from here. Check current details before planning a trip, since this is a guest ranch and event venue rather than a staffed research observatory.

See your named star from here

With some of the darkest skies in North America and telescopes on hand during star party season, Prude Ranch is a genuinely good place to search out the coordinates of a star named through Star Register. Name a star or check its exact position in the catalogue before you go.