OS -

I'm a bit surprised that the BWCAW is just now being added to the Dark Sky Sanctuary list.  Having Texas roots, you are probably aware that the Devils River State Nature Area (near Del Rio) was added to the list sometime back as #6.

Jimbo -

You might remember that on our BWCAW trip this year, I commented to you and Wally13 how clear the Milky Way had been the night before.  That definitely brought memories of earlier times (both in my youth and during the period that I was doing a lot of backpacking in the Rockies.  Nothing like being at 10,000 feet you make you feel that you could reach right out and touch the stars.  It is at times like that when you are truly aware how much light is emitted by stars -- enough so that you can still see some details of your surrounds in what would otherwise be classified as a pitch black night.

Being home during the August Perseid meteor shower, one of the passing meteors which appeared directly overhead was so bright I began to wonder if I would hear a sonic boom.  Wishful thinking I suppose.  Yet it was among what I would consider as one of my top 5 meteor observations of all time -- not the longest by any means, but definitely among the brightest.

dd