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. 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. Arrive in daylight for a 360-degree view of the setting sun. 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. Enjoy boating, picnicking, camping, fishing and hiking. Inside, theres a 14 Meade Telescope. 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. 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. If your main goal is to observe the Milky Way, the Lava Falls, Big Tubes, and El Calderon trailheads provide some of the best seats there. Peter is extremely knowledgable! During the day, the owner provides plenty of fun activities, like horseback riding. This has made it a popular spot for stargazers, and star parties are held here on a regular basis. On a clear night, visitors can see thousands of stars blanketing the New Mexico sky. Then, be sure to explore the, Going Into These 5 Caves In New Mexico Is Like Entering Another World, 18 Fascinating Things You Probably Didnt Know About Carlsbad Caverns In New Mexico, Dont Miss The 7 Best Stargazing Events That Will Light Up The New Mexico Sky In 2023, Explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park Like Never Before On This Virtual Tour, Here Are The 10 Most Incredible Natural Wonders In New Mexico, Follow This 3-Mile Trail In New Mexico To Caves And Unique Rock Formations, This New Mexico Road Trip Takes You From The Underground Carlsbad Caverns To The Mountains Of Taos, Located Off The Beaten Path, This Tiny Oasis Is Hiding In Plain View At Carlsbad Caverns National Park In New Mexico, Capulin Volcano National Monument/Facebook, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Although its located north of Santa Fe, its still a great place for stargazing. . 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. Bring the family for a star party, as park rangers use the parks telescopes to look deep into the star-filled sky over the Monument. Hundreds of stars, and the milky way, are readily visible from the cities, but when you drive a short distance away from the lightsthe view is resplendent. To keep the area viewing-friendly, headlights and white light are not permitted after dark. If you have questions, call me at 505-577-7141. Located on the Plains of San Agustin, the Very Large Array is a world-leading astronomical radio observatory. Northern New Mexico, with its mountainous terrain, provides a good example of what . We meet regularly to share and improve our knowledge and understanding of astronomy, and the art and craft of stargazing. The primitive campground is a flat, dirt site. However, observers are permitted to setup scopes just outside the park's fenced area. Would definitely do this again.very educational, I appreciated his emphasis on some female astronomers as well! Besides stargazing opportunities, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument offers a ton of recreational activities. As well as being up to 99 percent free of light pollution, visitors to Dark Sky Parks are treated to ranger-led night sky programs that blend science, nature, and history. The night sky was breathtaking and peaceful. Actual tour length can vary due to group size, questions to address and viewing conditions. The explanations & telescope he has are outstanding. Best Times of Year to Go Stargazing in Albuquerque. The Monument, founded in 1916, protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites, a beautiful landscape, and the country's largest Civilian Conservation Corps National Landmark District. While theyre not offering tours due to Covid regulations, the Very Large Array provides a self-guided walking tour to explore large, informative signs and the base of one of the giant dish antennas. There are only 3 miles of road, but over 70 miles of hiking trails. It has over 242,555-acres of rugged landscape, so you have a plethora of spots to set your telescope. Address: 710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA. Similar to its western neighbor, Arizona, New Mexico is one of those states that is pretty much ideal for stargazing. The Domes (High Rolls, NM, United States) Re-energize on the wraparound deck of this remote dome situated in New Mexico. 4,146 Sq. Peter works hard to make the night special from start to finish and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the cosmos is very apparent. Campers set up a short walk from the main sky-viewing area which has hardened observation pads where people can set up telescopes. This post was originally published in June 2018, and was updated for accuracy in January 2022.Featured photo by Yelper_for_life via Flickr. If you want "real stargazing" on the East coast drive south from your home to the Outer Banks of NC ~ 5 hr drive. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was one of the most significant events in New Mexicos history. It has 27 radio antennas layed out in a Y-shaped array. Its sparse population, clear skies, and lack of humidity make it very easy to get a great look at the stars at night. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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. Very thank ful for this tour and Peters knowledge that he shared with us. You can go anywhere outside of Santa Fe including Hyde Memorial State Park and Cerrillos Hills State Park to see all the stars you can imagine. The park offers activities for every taste, including mountain biking, wildlife viewing, birding, and, of course, stargazing. Spend a night under the stars without having to worry about any light pollution at this state park. If one of those people was you Thank you! Keep reading to find out the best dark sky destinations in New Mexico and start planning your road trip! As such, its not difficult to find nice, dark areas at night to get a good view of the stars. The Visitor Center Parking Area is the best place to park your vehicle for stargazing at Capulin Volcano. . IDA-designated dark-sky park in northeastern New Mexico, near Clayton and Raton. Located north of Santa Fe, Hyde Memorial State Park is New Mexicos first state park and offers visitors clear views of the New Mexico night sky. 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. Quadrantids Meteor Shower, January 3rd. Each ticket includes a seat in our enclosed (heated) train cars, access to an outdoor open air flatbed car, a complimentary champagne welcome as the adventure begins, live music, and presentations by professional guides! Your email address will not be published. Besides preserving the monument, the site has excelled at preserving the quality of its dark skies. Your first thought may be that there is too much light pollution at the University of New Mexico for stargazing in Albuquerque. How to use stargazing in a sentence. Thanks to its privileged location in the northeastern plains, the park is far from the yellow haze of light pollution that obstructs night sky views. TIP: You can get a discount if you volunteer to help with the events. Browse the navigation bar to learn more about Astronomy Adventures. Sitting off of U.S. Highway 180, Cosmic Campground is a 3.5-acre site with an important astronomical heritage. Read our guide to New Mexico stargazing locations and plan your road trip. Milky Way viewing is notably excellent here, and it attracts astrophotographers left and right, year in and year out. Joshua Tree National Parkonly an approximate two-hour drive away from L.A.is by far one of the best places for stargazing near Los Angeles. El Morro National Monument is a prime spot for history buffs who want to revisit the relics of travelers who passed through it during their journeys. El Malpais National Monument is a large area of protected land thats full of lava tube caves, cinder cones, and sandstone bluffs. Actually, the desert near TorC is great, you just need to get out of town. This Albuquerque stargazing location is far from light pollution and provides excellent views of the New Mexico night sky. With over two-thirds of the monument protected as proposed wilderness, it is easy to find large swaths of land unhindered by light pollution. Where is your favorite place to watch New Mexicos stunning dark skies? Its one of the newest International Dark Sky Parks, earning its designation in 2021. Information about Star Parties and other events can be found on its website:Capulin Volcano National Monument. Check the, Capulin Volcano National Monument, New Mexico 88418, USA. Stargazing in New Mexico is an ancient and authentic experience. You can easily see this through the buildings orientations, internal geometry, and the petroglyphs they carved. Chaco is an IDA-designated dark-sky park. Take a rental RV on a road trip through New Mexico to catch some night sky treasures while stargazing. You can learn more about my mission here or read about me and the rest of the team here. Theres almost no light pollution to speak of, and the skies are nice and dark at night. Many people dont know that it is also an excellent place to go stargazing in New Mexico. Located near Abiquiu, hosts monthly dark night star parties. We get together regularly and spontaneously for dark skyobservingusing everything from the naked eye, to binoculars, to telescopes large and small. Today, Chaco Culture National Historical Park continues with the stargazing legacy Chacoan people left by protecting its naturally dark night skies. Browse this map for a few of the top spots to stargaze in Albuquerque, then read on to learn more about them. They have numerous telescopes, including a 20-inch Dobsonian inside a 15-foot dome and a Celestron C-14 on a Paramount GT-1100 mount. Our compact unit is a fully self-contained RV. We host, and are available to help you host, Star Gazes, complete with guided tours of the night sky and the opportunity to look through some of the Stargazers telescopes at some of the skys best seasonal offerings. 3 Beds. The Magdalena Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual Enchanted Skies Star Party about 20 miles from the array. 4. Dramatic ancient lava flows, towering cinder cones, and underground lava tubes are the first things that come to mind when thinking of the El Malpais National Monument. Evidence suggests that the ancient people who lived at Chaco watched the sun, moon, and stars too. Several factors affect stargazing. Went with a friend while we were visiting Santa Fe. Peter led our small group in a wonderful exploration of the gorgeous night sky outside of Santa Fe. Although conditions at all three units of the park are impressive, Gran Quivira offers nearly unobstructed views in all directions including that of mountain ranges up to 100 miles away. Join her on this journey to explore space right here on earth. While it was cold, there was a place to warm up, and the cold was definitely worth it--you don't get sky clarity like that without a price! Contact regarding upcoming events. 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