I've dabbled in amateur astronomy off and on since I was a kid. I grew up in rural Louisiana with dark skies (milky way easily visible, etc, and far enough south to catch Omega Centauri over the southern horizon, etc.). I've attended several Nebraska Star Parties which is held at Merrit Lake south of Valentine, Nebraska -- which has REALLY dark skies. People really really don't know what they are missing. I am hoping Nebraska doesn't screw up the dark skies we have.... Many places have started to become progressive in combating light pollution -- with more efficient/downward pointing street lamps, etc. I was a fan of globular clusters when I was active in astronomy.....

The light domes of the Houston region are hard to get away from in the surrounding wildernesses, 4 or 5 on Bortle’s scale. West Texas is fantastic, though.