There are two outreach events for April 2025
- April 25
- Once again, the club is supporting the Santa Fe Conservation Trust “Night Sky” event:
- Location: the Conservancy’s Galisteo Basin Property, 268 Thornton Ranch Road, near Lamy. The access (Thornton Ranch Road) is the same as before, but the public parking area and the exact observing site will be slightly different — we will be directed on arrival.
- Time: Plan to arrive at 5:45 to 6:00 pm. The public admission and food/drink concessions will open at 6:30. Sunset is 7:45. Event ends at 9:30 pm. No, this does not leave much observing time after astronomical twilight, but all views will be appreciated (weather permitting, of course).
- Parking: We’re allowed to drive to the observing site to unload equipment, but will then be directed to the ‘inside’ parking area. As before, this is different from the public parking area, so be sure to identify yourself as a Stargazer to get in. And also as before, those without high-clearance vehicles may not wish to drive the last part, and can get a shuttle service from the public parking area. Take-down, loading, and shuttle out will begin after 9:30, so it may be close to 10 when you’re headed home.
- Reward: If you help out, you’ll get tickets for free food and drink, and the great pleasure of sharing your enthusiasm for the night skies with a lot of interested folks! Similar events in the past have drawn over a hundred attendees.
- SF Conservation Trust Night Sky – Santa Fe Stargazers
- April 26
- The second of our back-to-back outreach events this month is at Pecos National Historical Park on Saturday, April 26.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. arrive to set up; 7:30 gates open to visitors. Sunset is 7:46 and there will be a ranger talk during twilight. We’ll be able to show bright objects (Jupiter, binary stars, etc.) starting around 8:30, and astro. twilight is over by 9:18. The event will end at 10:30, giving us a good amount of time for deep-sky objects.
- Parking: As usual, we can drive to the observing field behind the Headquarters building to unload, then park near Headquarters. If you have to leave early, it’s best if you can avoid driving through the observing area before the 10:30 finish time.
- If you expect to be participating and bringing some equipment, please let Albert Shultz know so he can give the Park a rough headcount. Final details, including weather cancellation protocol, will be communicated during the week of the event.
- Night Sky At Pecos NHP – Santa Fe Stargazers