Stargazing in the Sacramento Mountains
Stargazing in southeastern New Mexico mountains - it’s a great place to enjoy the night sky. The Sacramento Peak Solar Observatory is in Sunspot, NM, and The Southwest Institute for Space Research, founded by Alan Hale, the co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp, is in Otero County.
Some of my favorite things to do in the summer include lying on my back and just soaking in the bright stars that I can enjoy there but not in the Dallas metroplex where light pollution obliterates all but the most resolute heavenly bodies. It’s a challenge to find meteorites or satellites here, but very rewarding in the mountains, where they are frequent. Every time I see the big dipper, I remember lying in the riding ring on my rain poncho (the horses had definitely been there that day) listening to my Girl Scout camp director tell us Indian legends about the constellations.
I love watching the phases of the moon. In the mountains it is so bright you can hike up the canyon by its light. And when it is new, it is so pitch black you can’t see your hand in front of your face.
When would tell time to go to bed when you could see Delphinus between the trees on the hill.
Our favorite constellations and things to watch and talk about were Sagitarius the teapot, The Milky Way the steam, Scorpio the Scorpion.
I can’t wait for summer!
