Comal County Friends of the Night Sky (CCFNS) in February received a 2026 Night Sky Preservation Fund grant from Hill Country Alliance (HCA) that will help it buy equipment needed to measure growth-light pollution affecting Hill Country skies.
Funds will be used for Sky Quality Meters which measure the brightness of the night sky, automatically recording data over time.
This information is analyzed and shared with regional and national dark-sky organizations to develop a broader understanding of light pollution trends.
As growth, new development and construction continue across the Hill Country, changes to the nighttime environment are increasing noticeable to residents and visitors alike, CCFNS said in a statement.
“Collecting objective, non-invasive data that reflects real night sky conditions is essential for CCFNS to investigate how much light pollution is getting worse or improving across our skies,” board member Colette Von Hanna, Ph.D, said.
“Light pollution leads to the reduction in the rural character of our neighborhoods, the inability of many of our residents and visitors to see the beauty of the Milky Way, and the negative impacts on wildlife and human health and security.”