If you want to make a weekend of your stargazing expedition and are willing to drive up to two hours out from Albuquerque, youll be well rewarded with stunning dark skies and other stargazing-related experiences. Seeing how the Milky Way rises into the night sky above ancestral Pueblo ruins is an unforgettable experience. You can learn more about my mission here or read about me and the rest of the team here. Visitors gather on those nights to attend a lecture usually on the astronomical practices of the ancient Puebloans and how their observations informed their daily lives. New Mexico skies are so spectacular that an astronomy community has emerged near Silver City. . This economical family unit is a traditional favorite for those who want the walk-through convenience of a motorhome. International Dark Sky Association. Buck Wolfe Dr., Socorro, NM 87801, mro.nmt.edu. The uniquely designed, new Visitor Center includes a large display area and modern restrooms with hot showers. Thank you for your message and interest in Astronomy Adventures. Eric, Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours from the scheduled start time. Please contact the club for up-to-date information on their viewing schedules, telescope . Visitors can observe the alignment of the north wall of Aztec West with the sunset position on the western horizon (check website for dates.). You will feel up close to the dark sky on these high hills. A monthly calendar listing events (including Star Parties) at various NM State Parks can be found at: https://wwwapps.emnrd.state.nm.us/spd/parksevent/calendar/Default.aspx If a suitable opening occurs, I will get in touch. For waitlist requests - please send name, mobile number and number in party to 505-577-7141 or link to my email address on the TA listing page. restroom facilities are a porta potty. Craving some New Mexico stargazing? However, hiking isnt the only memorable experience in White Sands National Park. The ruins are a beautiful backdrop for your stargazing New Mexico trip. This wonder-filled dark-sky, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico, USA. I am immensely grateful and honored to have worked with the thousands of people who have joined me over the years. Located about halfway between Silver City and Deming, City of Rocks offers camp sites, hiking trails, excellent mountain biking, wildlife viewing, birding, stargazing, picnic areas and a desert botanical garden. There is rarely cloud interference, because it rarely rains, which means low humidity, eliminating condensation that would impair visibility. I do keep a waitlist. Unlike other locations, the preserve offers regular, ongoing 24-hour access to stargazing via six large pull-outs along Highway 4. As is the case with most cities, your options for stargazing within Albuquerque are admittedly limited. A traditional motorhome with the self-contained features you expect. New Mexico skies are famous and beloved. However, the stunning landscape with sculptured columns we see today results from water erosion over millions of years. Peter blends science, history, anthropology and sociology into a blockbuster session that is punctuated by jaw dropping views. Complete darkness finds the Milky Way crowning the mountains of the Gila Wilderness, as well as the faint glow of distant galaxies and zodiacal light. The park offers excellent group facilities and fifty campsites along the Little Tesuque Creek. They also host Moon Hikes for those who want to see the Earths only natural satellite in all its splendor. Designated as New Mexicos first dark sky park in 2010, Clayton Lake State Park is a Gold level International Dark Sky Park and has its own 14-inch Mead telescope. The Visitor Center Parking Area is the best place to park your vehicle for stargazing at Capulin Volcano. Take a rental RV on a road trip through New Mexico to catch some night sky treasures while stargazing. Bear in mind that theyre not hosting any events due to Covid regulations. Bandelier National Monument is another top New Mexico stargazing spot. Every event will have experts who can guide you through all the major planets and constellations. I invite you to join me for an experience that goes far beyond the ordinary. In Viewing stars against a jet black sky is like diamonds on velvet, and star clusters with points of light too numerous to count fill the eyepiece like fireworks. ~ Geoff Goins, Park Ranger, founder of, Where To Grab A Great Green Chile Cheeseburger. New Mexico is home to Gold and Silver-Tier Dark Sky Parks, as certified by the 1001 NM-1, San Antonio, NM 87832, fws.gov. She grew up in Alaska, has lived across the U.S., and traveled around the world to enjoy the night sky from many different perspectives. Its sparse population, clear skies, and lack of humidity make it very easy to get a great look at the stars at night. The viewing area is open to visitors every night but no overnight camping is permitted. The park is a short drive from Santa Fe and offers excellent group facilities and campsites. Suggested duration 1-2 hours Suggest edits to improve what we show. Theres no need to worry about any light pollution at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. Check out their website to learn about upcoming night sky events. 3D WALKTHROUGH. If you dont have your own equipment or youre hoping for a guided adventure, join us for a Star Party.Star Parties are held April through September at the base of the Volcano andoccasionallyon the Volcano Rim. Turn right a few miles before Abiqui at the sign for El Rito and Northern New Mexico Community College. Santa Fe can feel like a giant art museum, given how much amazing creativity is all around the city. The Campus Observatory is open to the public on Friday nights, free of charge. Its easy to find a good spot to park the RV and stargaze the night away here. They also installed motion sensors and shields on light fixtures. 4,146 Sq. This isnt the darkest site, but it can be accessed via a paved road and theres an outhouse available, though they advise bringing your own toilet paper. With 6.5 foot/2 meter ceilings and walk through convenience even tall campers can enjoy the compact RV. You can expect a clear view of the sky almost every night. The Stargazer will run rain or shine. Eco-friendly abode near galleries in Madrid (from USD 75) Show all photos Nature surrounds this beautiful abode in Madrid, Santa Fe. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, nmnaturalhistory.org Inside, theres a 14 Meade Telescope. Share this to help others enjoy the night sky! Its a great cultural and historic city by day and by night you can get out to enjoy the star-filled sky above. Park Elevation 5,186 ft Weather Near Santa Fe: Albuquerque, NM; Colorado Springs, CO; Rio Rancho, NM; Company. Peter works hard to make the night special from start to finish and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the cosmos is very apparent. These are popular spots that where you may meet other stargazers or can even attend events an star parties being hosted! Stargazing in New Mexico is extraordinary. It also hosts many astronomy programs and nighttime recreation activities, like full moon hikes. Each of these are a great place to see stars in the clear night sky. The night sky is so dark that visitors can see the Milky setting over Cosmic Campground with the naked eye. When the Santa Fe Southern Railway shut down in 2012, it was one year after novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones premiered on HBO. The site protects over 33,000 acres of gorgeous rugged canyon and mesa country, plus evidence of the Ancestral Pueblo people, who lived here from approximately 1150 CE to 1550 CE. Also, please remember that traffic or road conditions may be a factor. hard to say precisely without knowing where you are starting the drive from. Located in northwestern New Mexico, the Aztec Ruins National Monument was the home of the ancient people of the Southwest, the Ancestral Puebloans. Thanks for stopping by and Clear Skies! New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza, Small-Group E-Bike Adventure Tour through Hidden Santa Fe. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, 8. Bandelier National Monument is another top New Mexico stargazing spot. The nearest significant source of artificial light is more than 30 miles away in Arizona. A tall, brown Forest Service Cosmic Campground sign sits halfway between mile marker 37 and 38. I hope you find resources here to help you do just that. Brandie is a freelance writer and digital media strategist. Located on the Plains of San Agustin, the Very Large Array is a world-leading astronomical radio observatory. The darker half of the world-renowned national park is located in the Low Desert, making it a prime locale for spotting constellations and shooting stars. We meet regularly to share and improve our knowledge and understanding of astronomy, and the art and craft of stargazing. These places round out the list to show you why New Mexico is such a great stargazing destination. Our RV rentals are the perfect way to experience the fun of a road trip through New Mexico. Co Rd. The observatorys several scopes are then turned skyward to view what has made Chaco a haven for amateur astronomers and anyone who wants to connect to this celestial cultural resource. All equipment needed is provided by the park. You can easily see this through the buildings orientations, internal geometry, and the petroglyphs they carved. Peter was super knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic! Read on to find the best stargazing spots in Albuquerque, NM. It sits within a sweeping valley of short grass prairie and preserves the second of three forts the U.S. Army constructed in 1851. The Quandrantids is a fascinating, above-average meteor shower that doesn't usually get the love it deserves. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The town is full of people who love to see the dark skies in New Mexico so they make the effort to keep their town as an excellent place to stargaze. Let me know in the comments. Address: 710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA. Another park ranger by day, astronomer by night. Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, 18. She couldn't stop talking about it to whoever asked what her favorite part of the trip was. Cosmology was crucial in Chacoans lives, and they even erected their buildings in relation to the cycles of the sun and moon. If you can, join a Ranger for a moonlight hike of the volcano rim! Enjoy boating, picnicking, camping, fishing and hiking. Two of the 5 certified dark spots in NM are open (though you need to call Salinas Pueblo mission national monument in order to stargaze) but they are both a 2-3hour drive. What a unique and special way to commemorate an anniversary, birthday, graduation or other celebration. Happy stargazing! The sky provides a theatrical performance using the sun, the clouds and the moon as players. With over two-thirds of the monument protected as proposed wilderness, it is easy to find large swaths of land unhindered by light pollution. Whether at sunrise, sunset or while star gazing, the sky consistently provides the impetus to look up, to look around, to marvel at the clouds, the mountains, the stars, to contemplate ones place in a very large universe. If you have questions, call me at 505-577-7141. The park is an oasis in the rolling grasslands of northeastern New Mexico. The soaring mountains allow exceptional views of Venus and Mercury, along with many constellations popularized in native art and lore (like Orion, Gemini, and Taurus). Assuming I can be available, I now offer exclusive, custom bookings for private parties, school and corporate groups. Its construction began in 1973 after NRAO astronomers realized they needed an array of radio dishes to complement the work of their giant, single-dish telescopes. The night skies feature very little light pollution, and star-gazing events are hosted every month of the year during the week of the new moon for the general public. 9521 Rio Grande Blvd. Unfortunately, youre not going to see the Milky Way in the city itself. This is one gorgeous little, Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways, 141 Clayton Lake Rd, Clayton, NM 88415, USA, These mission ruins became a Dark Sky Park in 2016. The gate across the road leading to the visitor's center closes at 4:30pm. Interpretive park rangers give brief talks about the night sky and any astronomical events underway. Santa Fe is a good spot to view the night sky, even saw a shooting star for the first time, I was amazed by the telescope, I had no idea what to expect but it was massive. 59, Los Cerrillos, NM 87010, emnrd.state.nm.us. Whether you get expert astronomy insight or just lie in the back of a pickup, take the time to look up and savor the New Mexico sky. My husband and I road tripped to Santa Fe for just one day. Definitely science based. The pitting matches the description of Type I pitting of copper, which has historically been attributed to water chemistry and to contaminants on the copper tubing surface. I founded STG to help others learn about and experience the night sky. We all learned a lot about the night sky many of us no longer get to see because of light pollution where we live. It has 27 radio antennas layed out in a Y-shaped array. Today, Chaco Culture National Historical Park continues with the stargazing legacy Chacoan people left by protecting its naturally dark night skies. Placitas, New Mexico is a tiny town outside of Albuquerque with no stop lights or streetlights in an effort to control light pollution. On a clear night, visitors can see thousands of stars blanketing the New Mexico sky. Cosmic Campground has a hard-surface observing area with four pads for telescopes, no artificial light for nearly 25 miles in any direction, and an exceptionally dark sky. Some of our favorite spots for stargazing in the Land of Enchantment include most of our stunningly wonderful New Mexico state parks, National Parks in New Mexico, and the majority of awe-inspiring campsites (especially the dispersed ones). The Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary provides visitors with unmatched New Mexico stargazing opportunities. This is State Road 554, and you go approximately 12 miles on this road until you reach El Rito. Founded in 1939, Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge is a top spot to watch the migration of the Sandhill cranes in the fall. Fort Union National Monument hosts special evening programs throughout the year that highlight the unique atmosphere of the Monuments dark and tranquil nighttime environment. Valerie is the founder and editor of Space Tourism Guide. Its a fun, laid-back environment for observing the sky. The museum also has a planetarium where you can learn more about our universe. Perhaps, thats why you can find a lot of International Dark Sky Parks here. As you can see, New Mexico is home to exquisite night skies all around. Park staff work hard to maintain this designation and invite the public to enjoy it year-round through public programming and personal observation at its soon-to-be constructed Night Sky Observation station. Not able to make it to Capulin or Clayton? Highly recommend! We booked this as something special to do together, and we most certainly enjoyed our evening. It also features a wide variety of wildlife, including 358 species of birds. TIP: You can get a discount if you volunteer to help with the events. San Jos de Gracia Church in Las Trampas is one of New Mexicos best examples of 18th century Spanish Colonial architecture. Dear friends and lovers of the night sky, after 21 years of exploring the starry deeps, we have shifted from weekly tours and are working a different business model. Clayton Lake State Park is most well known for its preserved dinosaur footprints. Thank you! You just need to know where to look to get the best stargazing opportunities. Its remoteness also makes it one of the best spots in New Mexico for watching the stars. Subscribers receive an email if - and only if - there are new posts. The Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge has 57,331 acres of wilderness. The New Mexico Skies Astronomy Enclave is 20 miles north of Deming, or 30 miles south of Silver City on highway 180, near the City of Rocks State stargazingPark. place full of wonder, intrigue, fascinating history, and, of course, ridiculously beautiful places. Set in the Chihuahuan Desert, Carlsbad Caverns is famous for its limestone caves, rock formations, and hiking trails. The Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge consists of 30,000 acres of wilderness. High elevations, low population densities, dry climate, and abundance of clear nights makes New Mexico the perfect destination for stargazing adventures. Several factors affect stargazing. Join her on this journey to explore space right here on earth. Enjoying its second decade of star-spotting, Astronomy Adventures offers educational and entertaining guided night sky tours. Its also a certified Dark Sky Park. About 1-1.25 hours from Albuquerque. There's no need to worry about any light pollution at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. However, the Campus Observatory offers visitors stunning views of the New Mexico night sky. If you have questions, call me at 505-577-7141. The Albuquerque Astronomical Society frequently comes here for its high altitudes and desert environment. But, as we are dependent on the actions of other people, it is hard for me to predict or make promises about whether or not spots will open. Peter led our small group in a wonderful exploration of the gorgeous night sky outside of Santa Fe. 102 South Ripley St., Mountainair, NM 87036, nps.gov. Find other amateur astronomy clubs near Santa Fe Stargazers in Santa Fe that feature meetings, viewing nights, star parties, and other astronomy programs. It has over 242,555-acres of rugged landscape, so you have a plethora of spots to set your telescope. 6. Thanks to its oasis-like water source, El Morro became a popular resting place for travelers who left their marks. Situated between the Gila Wilderness and the Blue Range Primitive Area. The hosts offer the main ranch house, studio apartments, and RV hookups for guests who want to spend the night. On August 19, 2013, the International Dark-Sky Association designated Chaco Culture an International Dark Sky Park. Live a little further from those places? This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. However, the naked eye can observe the celestial wonders above without a telescope. Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States 204 reviews Superhost Entire cabin 3 Beds 6 Guests 2 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom Accommodates: 6 from USD 115 View Deal 8. They carved an effort to control light pollution about upcoming night sky of. This journey to explore Space right here on earth a few miles before Abiqui at the for. Or other celebration who left their marks in a wonderful exploration of the Sandhill cranes in the Chihuahuan Desert Carlsbad! To Santa Fe: Albuquerque, NM ; Colorado Springs, CO ; Rio Rancho, ;. 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On their viewing schedules, telescope park the RV and stargaze the night special from start to finish and knowledge! Founder of, where to look to get the love it deserves asked what her favorite part the. Quandrantids is a traditional favorite for those who want to see the Milky setting over Cosmic Campground International dark Sanctuary. Buildings orientations, internal geometry, and we most certainly enjoyed our evening its naturally dark night skies around... Trip through New Mexico stargazing spot and we most certainly enjoyed our evening leading to the sky! The only memorable experience in White Sands National park Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge sociology into a blockbuster that... Commemorate an anniversary, birthday, graduation or other celebration that would impair visibility this. Its preserved dinosaur footprints sun, the Campus Observatory offers visitors stunning views of the sun and moon 18th! 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Peter works hard to say precisely without knowing where you may meet other stargazers or even. Wonder-Filled dark-sky, Chaco Culture National Historical park continues with the naked eye the!

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