"Knock Your Socks Off" Stargazing at City of Rocks

Tour of incredibly dark skies just a 30 minute drive from Silver City

Image of Silver City area night skies, from Google images

This past weekend, my friends and neighbors, Dom & Sherry attended the Silver City Astronomical Society's Stars-N-Parks event, routinely held on the 3rd Saturday of each month.

Dom was enthusiastic in his recommendation. He said the presenter, Matt Wilson, was an excellent instructor and, making a big circle with his arms, that the telescope was huge. Sherry said that it was so impressive to see the rings around Saturn.

Have you ever had a friend point to a constellation and expect you to find it? Has it ever worked? Usually a dialogue of "Do you see...?" "What? Where?" follows until by some chance you stumble upon the constellation in question which happens to look light years away from the spot that finger still seems to be insistently indicating.

Since I have always had trouble finding constellations with the naked eye by finger-pointing friends, I was impressed when Dom mentioned that Matt used a laser pointer to direct the group's attention to various constellations in the night sky - it is so dark you can see the laser against the star-field. Nobody had a problem finding the exact constellation.

Dom and Sherry decided to camp at City of Rocks Saturday night. The tent campsites there are only about $14.00 a night. But you could also go to the Faywood Hot Springs , which is right next door to City of Rocks, for a soak in their natural hot spring fed pools. If you didn't bring camping gear you can still make a night of it; there is lodging available at Faywood as well.

On their website, The Astronomical Society recommends for the Stars-N-Parks Events:

There is a $5 day fee to go to the City of Rocks. It's a half hour drive, but the skies down there are darker than in and around Silver city. Viewing starts around sunset. Be sure to dress warmly, take warm drinks with you, and use red flashlights. If it is after dark, please approach with your car's parking lights on only. The observatory is behind the Orion Group Campsite.

The presentation lasts approximately an hour.

Sounds like a great night; I'm going! Oh, and make sure to bring an extra pair of socks.

Next Stars-N-Park dates for Fall, Saturday nights, 2014:

• 20th September
• 18th October
• 22nd November
• 20th December

For more information on visiting City of Rocks State Park check out the Gila Wilderness Site and City of Rocks at Stateparks.com or the City of Rocks Astronomy Presentations Facebook page.

An astronomer takes a look at the night sky with a "good-sized telescope" at City of Rocks State Park. (Journal). By New Mexico State Parks UPDATED: Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 10:26