The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex spreads Bortle 8 light pollution across a huge area, but rural North Texas darkens to Bortle 4 within an hour, and the Texas Hill Country to the south-west reaches Bortle 3. Dedicated observers head further to the Big Bend region — some of the darkest skies in the continental US. North Texas weather is variable, with humid Gulf air and spring storms, but autumn and winter high-pressure systems bring clear, stable nights. At 32.8°N, the southern sky is well placed for summer Milky Way views.