What a reduction that cooler temperatures are lastly right here. It’s a welcome change of seasons and an ideal probability to comfortably discover the very best dark-sky locations within the Southwest. Whether or not you’re headed to the sunny Southern California coast or gathering with winter Texans on the Gulf Coast, the preferred winter snowbird journeys are sometimes full of stargazing beneath crystal-clear skies.
A Brief Record of the Greatest Darkish Sky Locations within the Southwest
The Southwestern desert has inky-black starry skies all 12 months. However in the event you’re a climate wimp like me, exploring them in fall and winter is rather more interesting. As an astronomy fan, I get pleasure from planning our travels across the Worldwide Darkish-Sky Affiliation’s Darkish Sky Web site Listing. It’s a fantastic useful resource for finding North America’s darkest skies and likewise features a checklist of dozens of Darkish Sky Parks close to widespread winter snowbird locations. My favourite locations in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas embrace:
Arizona: Saguaro Nationwide Park
The Milky Manner over Saguaro Nationwide Park. Getty Pictures
Should you cover from winter in Arizona, take a break out of your normal spot and head south to Organ Pipe Nationwide Monument. Situated two hours west of Tucson, Organ Pipe will not be solely an Worldwide Darkish Sky Park, however can also be an Worldwide Biosphere Reserve. The twin designation signifies that together with a peaceable keep beneath Southern Arizona’s darkest skies, you can too expertise one of many few intact, undeveloped slices of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. It’s a two-for-one deal that takes your breath away with the starriest skies at evening and untouched desert surroundings by day. There’s a country, RV-friendly campground contained in the monument, however Ajo Heights RV Park affords full-hookup comforts simply minutes from the park entrance.
alifornia: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Time-lapse {photograph} over Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Getty Pictures
Few snowbird locations are higher than California. Regardless of the numerous brilliant lights obliterating the evening sky in massive cities like Los Angeles, the state has a surprisingly giant variety of darkish sky locations for RVers. Certainly one of my favorites is situated south of Palm Springs at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Many snowbirds flock there through the spring wildflower season, however California’s largest state park can also be a fantastic spot for cool, snug stargazing in fall and winter. The park makes probably the most of its Darkish Sky Park designation. Throughout snowbird season from December to March, park rangers steadily host evening sky star events that provide you with loads of methods to dive deeper into astronomy and our place within the universe. There’s a country RV-friendly campground contained in the park, however I like staying in consolation at The Springs At Borrego RV Resort & Golf Course. It’s an expensive residence base simply minutes from the park entrance.
New Mexico: The Cosmic Campground
The thick band of the Milky Manner over New Mexico. Getty Pictures
Should you’re flying south for winter by New Mexico, take a brief detour to the Cosmic Campground Worldwide Darkish Sky Sanctuary within the Gila Nationwide Forest. This particular RV-friendly boondocking spot is certainly one of solely 14 licensed Worldwide Darkish Sky Sanctuaries worldwide. Situated about 1.5 hours north of Silver Metropolis, you received’t even need to journey far to get pleasure from one of many few locations on the planet with exceptionally darkish, starry nights. Because the campground has no shade bushes, fall and winter are nice instances to go to. What’s even higher is that you simply don’t want a reservation for this first-come, first-served campground with just a few conveniences like degree parking for giant RVs, picnic tables, hearth rings, vault bathrooms and concrete telescope statement pads that make it straightforward to arrange your stargazing tools and look at the nightly present.
Texas: Large Bend Nationwide Park & Surrounding Space
The Sphinx formation at evening in Large Bend Nationwide Park. Getty Pictures
In all our travels within the USA, I’ve by no means camped beneath darker skies than alongside the Rio Grande River. Situated midway between the evident lights of El Paso and San Antonio, the Large Bend Area is without doubt one of the finest locations for a one-of-a-kind celestial expertise. Whether or not you’re fortunate sufficient to attain a campsite reservation inside Large Bend Nationwide Park or go for the opposite rustic campgrounds simply exterior, the lengthy drive to get to this a part of the nation is all the time well worth the effort. Simply don’t go with no tank filled with gasoline, all of the groceries you’ll want and a willingness to glide. Chances are you’ll or might not have hookups, and it’s virtually sure that you simply’ll be with out dependable mobile or web connectivity in most areas. Should you’re on the lookout for extra fashionable conveniences, simply park about an hour north on the Misplaced Alaskan RV Park in Alpine.
Tips on how to Make the Most of Darkish Sky RV Locations
Having fun with the very best darkish sky locations within the Southwest requires a bit etiquette in the event you’re round different observers, and a few frequent sense while you’re alone or in a bunch.
Getty Pictures
- Get to your stargazing vacation spot earlier than darkish. Whether or not you’re tenting out beneath the celebrities or headed to a star celebration gathering on foot, you don’t need automobile headlights to impede everybody’s evening imaginative and prescient, together with yours. Arriving earlier than darkish additionally provides your eyes time to naturally alter to the approaching darkness.
- Use a purple filter over your flashlight lens. You should purchase a flashlight designed for evening use, but it surely’s simply as straightforward to stop private mild air pollution by wrapping a sheet of purple cellophane across the finish and securing it with a rubber band.
- Ask others round you if it’s OK to make use of synthetic mild. Even a purple flashlight can intrude with pictures and telescope statement.
- Maintain campfires to a minimal, in the event you make them in any respect. Campfire smoke blots out twinkly stars simply as a lot as a flashlight. You’ll get a clearer image of evening skies with no campfire.
- Be careful for wildlife. Whether or not you’re taking a hike or tenting out, loads of nocturnal critters are in your neighborhood. Scorpions and snakes come out at evening, so maintain a detailed eye in your arms, ft, children and pets.
You’ll by no means lookup on the evening sky the identical approach when you get a style of the Southwest darkish sky locations. In case your interior astronomer is craving to return out, the web site Go Astronomy is a good useful resource to study extra concerning the world’s oldest science of stargazing.
