New Star Party in New MexicoPosted By Thom Walczak |
This came in to our club, just passing it along
The National Public Observatory will be hosting a three-day star party
under the expansive skies of rugged Southwestern New Mexico in an isolated
state park this fall.
In conjunction with New Mexico State Parks, the NPO-sponsored party
called the City of Rocks Stars-N-Parks Party will be held on October 3, 4
and 5, 2002 at City of Rocks State Park.
City of Rocks has remarkably pristine skies considering the impact of
two small cities with uncontrolled outdoor lighting within a 30-mile radius.
Silver City and Deming haven't had a major impact because of their limited
populations and the mostly open and empty desert between them and the park,
NPO President John Gilkison said.
The location of the park and the timing of the event just before the New
Moon combine to offer participants 27 hours of 6.5-magnitude dark skies
during observing hours, and access to rugged outdoor attractions ranging
from the boulders of the City of Rocks SP, to the mountainous Gila Cliff
Dwellings, and rock collecting in the rocky desert of Rockhound SP.
NPO officials are hoping to host extended star parties at the City of
Rocks SP on an annual basis.
We think the NPO City of Rocks Stars-N-Parks Party will be a great
success, and that it will grow year after year to become a major fall astro-
nomy star party in the desert Southwest, Gilkison said.
The fee structure for the party is very reasonable and all participants
will receive a complimentary one-year membership in the NPO. Respond early
to reserve your campsite.
The NPO, while a national non-profit organization, is based in Radium
Springs, N.M. The organization has been working with state parks since 2001
successfully hosting the Stars-N-Parks astronomy outreach program each month
at Leasburg Dam State Park. This year the program was expanded to three more
state parks: Elephant Butte SP, Rockhound SP and City of Rocks SP, on a
rotating schedule. The programs typically attract between 30 and 40
observers. The Solar Eclipse program, held on June 10 at Leasburg SP,
attracted about 60 participants.
The public will be invited to the park for the regular Stars-N-Parks
outreach program on Saturday, October 5. The three-day star party takes the
Stars-N-Parks program to the next level and supports the NPO mission of:
Supporting Astronomy Education, Dark Skies, and Quality Astronomy
Experiences for ALL.
We're building on the success of the Stars-N-Parks program and
celebrating what we¹ve accomplished at the same time, Gilkison said.
For Registration Contact: NPO, P.O. Box 19, Radium Springs, NM 88054
or John Gilkison at 505-527-8386 or Email: [email protected]
The National Public Observatory will be hosting a three-day star party
under the expansive skies of rugged Southwestern New Mexico in an isolated
state park this fall.
In conjunction with New Mexico State Parks, the NPO-sponsored party
called the City of Rocks Stars-N-Parks Party will be held on October 3, 4
and 5, 2002 at City of Rocks State Park.
City of Rocks has remarkably pristine skies considering the impact of
two small cities with uncontrolled outdoor lighting within a 30-mile radius.
Silver City and Deming haven't had a major impact because of their limited
populations and the mostly open and empty desert between them and the park,
NPO President John Gilkison said.
The location of the park and the timing of the event just before the New
Moon combine to offer participants 27 hours of 6.5-magnitude dark skies
during observing hours, and access to rugged outdoor attractions ranging
from the boulders of the City of Rocks SP, to the mountainous Gila Cliff
Dwellings, and rock collecting in the rocky desert of Rockhound SP.
NPO officials are hoping to host extended star parties at the City of
Rocks SP on an annual basis.
We think the NPO City of Rocks Stars-N-Parks Party will be a great
success, and that it will grow year after year to become a major fall astro-
nomy star party in the desert Southwest, Gilkison said.
The fee structure for the party is very reasonable and all participants
will receive a complimentary one-year membership in the NPO. Respond early
to reserve your campsite.
The NPO, while a national non-profit organization, is based in Radium
Springs, N.M. The organization has been working with state parks since 2001
successfully hosting the Stars-N-Parks astronomy outreach program each month
at Leasburg Dam State Park. This year the program was expanded to three more
state parks: Elephant Butte SP, Rockhound SP and City of Rocks SP, on a
rotating schedule. The programs typically attract between 30 and 40
observers. The Solar Eclipse program, held on June 10 at Leasburg SP,
attracted about 60 participants.
The public will be invited to the park for the regular Stars-N-Parks
outreach program on Saturday, October 5. The three-day star party takes the
Stars-N-Parks program to the next level and supports the NPO mission of:
Supporting Astronomy Education, Dark Skies, and Quality Astronomy
Experiences for ALL.
We're building on the success of the Stars-N-Parks program and
celebrating what we¹ve accomplished at the same time, Gilkison said.
For Registration Contact: NPO, P.O. Box 19, Radium Springs, NM 88054
or John Gilkison at 505-527-8386 or Email: [email protected]
