Arizona Sky Village

I heard from another AstroMarter that Arizona Sky Village is a good place to go observing for a few days. It definitely seems to be a very dark site. It is a long drive from LA, and I was wondering if anyone has ever been there and could provide info and details on the observing there. There seems to be a few places to stay, but I was interested in the observing sites and I wanted to make sure that anyone can go there (or is some kind of special permission required).

Thanks,
Richard

Richard,

My understanding of the ASV is that it is a private residential development geared towards astronomers who live there on a permanent basis. I don't see anything anywhere where they have accomodations for visiting astronomers unless you happen to know someone who lives there. It isn't like the Star Hill Inn that used to be in Sapello, NM and was a B&B type environment.

Steve

I visited the area last month and saw both ASV and the newer dark-sky developments (Rancho Hidalgo and Granite Gap) across the border in NM. The area is in a grey/black zone on the Bortle scale, and Sky brightness (using a SQM-L) measured 21.89 -- about as dark as anyplace in the continental U.S. The climate is high desert (elev. 4500 ft.), so the air is also dry and transparent.

ASV still has a couple of building lots for sale, but as others noted, several owners offer rentals for visitors and that is the only practical way to observe in the otherwise closed community. Over in NM, numerous observatories are under construction along with permanent residences and some triplex time-share rentals. Unlike the ASV, lots for the houses are separated from the area reserved for observatories and RV pads. This makes sense as Granite Gap and Rancho Hidalgo are billed as more than just a place for astronomy and the developer also expects to draw birders, rock hounds, model rocketry enthusiasts, and other eco-tourists into the mix.