Located in the Texas State and spread over an area of 801,163 acres (324,219 ha), Big Bend National Park receives its name from the bend in a river that surrounds it. The park has national importance and as such is a protected area in the country. The park was named as an International Dark-Sky Park by the International Darkness Association, which has certified it as one of the only ten places on the planet for dark-sky stargazing. It also contains some of the darkest measured skies in North America. It offers panoramic views of thousands of big and bright stars, planets and clear outline of the Milky Way band on certain nights. The park also attracts its share of astronomers and amateurs on moonless nights.