Southwest Observing Locations and Astronomy Clubs

Having just returned from a month's vacation in the Southwest, I'd like to share some information in regard
to various dark-sky parks and local astronomy clubs.

The state parks each have a small office, showers, electricity outlets, etc. They are also regularly patrolled by park rangers. I recommend setting up your scope in the areas designated “primitive”, because they have the least light pollution from nearby cars or RVs.

Arizona:

Gary Myers
c/o StellarCAT
Sierra Vista, AZ
[email protected]
520-432-4433

As some of you know, Gary is the maker of the ServoCAT drive for Dobson scopes. He also has several acres of land available for observing. On an average night, you can see down to the 7th magnitude, near the zenith. Minor light domes from nearby Sierra Vista.
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Huachuca Astronomy Club
http://www.hacastronomy.com/

P.O. Box 922
Sierra Vista, AZ 85636
Contact: Ms. Jeanne Herbert
(520) 366-5690

(Sierra Vista is about 70 miles south of Tucson.)
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Tucson Amateur Astronomy Assoc.
http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/

P.O. Box 41254
Tucson, Arizona 85717
520/792-6414
[email protected]
or Liz and John Kalas at 520-620-6502
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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/organ_pipe/national_monument.html

10 Organ Pipe Drive
Ajo, AZ 85321
520-387-6849
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Barringer Meteor Crater
http://www.meteorcrater.com/

Physical Address:
Interstate 40, Exit 233
Winslow, AZ 86047 USA

Mailing Address:
Meteor Crater Enterprises, Inc.
P.O. Box 30940
Flagstaff, AZ 86003-0940 USA
800-289-5898
[email protected]
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New Mexico:

City of Rocks State Park
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/cityrocks.htm

P.O. Box 50
Faywood, NM 88034

Park Manager, Ken Abalos
(575) 536-2800
[email protected]
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Villanueva State Park
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/Villanueva.htm

PO Box 40
Villanueva, NM 87583

Park Manager, Frank Gutierrez
(575) 421-2957
[email protected]
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The Albuquerque Astronomical Society
http://www.taas.org/

PO Box 50581,
Albuquerque,NM 87181-0581
Contact: Melissa Kirk
Phone: 505.254.8227
Email: [email protected]
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Datil Well Campground
http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/socorro/datil_well_campground.html

(I didn’t visit this one, but was told by several people that it has the darkest skies in New Mexico.)

Contact:
Socorro Field Office
Bureau of Land Management
901 S. Highway 85
Socorro, NM 87801-4168

(575) 835-0412
(575) 835-0223 FAX
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Southern California:

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
San Diego County, California
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638

760-767-5311
[email protected]

(I stayed in the area called Little Blair Valley.)
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Roy Troxel,
Harford County Astronomical Society

Roy,

Thanks for the info! I used to live in Socorro and may go back for an SW observing vacation one of these days. Your list sure would be helpful to anyone thinking about going out there.

Too bad you didn't make it to Datil - it is very dark there.

K. Michael M.

My understanding is that Florida has incredibly good seeing due to steady skies. How is the southwest in that respect? I would think that the low humidity would lend to large temperature shifts after nightfall and create rather unsteady skies. Any first-hand experiences out there? Thanks.

Regards,

Mark

I've been to the TSP, NSP, and a many other star parties and Bryce Canyon NP in southwest Utah has the darkest skies I've seen anywhere. It's at 8,00 feet with NO lights or pollution, and surprisingly steady skies. The park scientist measured the clarity at mag 7.4. His job is to travel to National Parks and work with them on astronomy programs.

bob