Enchanted Skies Star Party
Held each October during the new moon at the Center
Star Parties are held for amateur astronomers - looking for dark skies to gaze at the stars through their telescopes - many home made.
TheEnchanted Skies Star Party has been one of the premier star parties in the Southwest for many years. Some of the events
and observing sessions enjoy the dark skies of the Jornada del Muerto from El Camino Real International Heritage Center.
The Center proves to be an excellent location - easy to get to via I-25, with no man-made lights to contaminate the pitch dark
skies.
Click on photos to enlarge
The Star Party at the Center began Saturday evening with a chuckwagon dinner of home made barbecued beef. For those attendees
from outside the Western states, this always proves to be a real treat.
Near the Center's entrance, attendees sat on bales of hay and chairs to listen to live western music as they enjoyed their chuckwagon
dinner - and waited for the sun to set.
Some of the telescopes brought by attendees are impressive instruments - such as this 30-inch reflector. When looking at objects high
in the sky, the step ladder is used to reach the eye piece!
At sundown, attendees enjoyed campfire talks by G.B. Cornucopia, National Park Service, on how New Mexico's early Indians viewed the
sky, and by Paul Harden, ECRIHC Foundation Board, on the history of El Camino Real and the monument.
Telescopes were erected along the south side of the Center building and on the ampitheater deck. At sundown, attendees
gave their telescopes a final check for the night's observing.
The setting new moon made for a spectacular sunset as viewed from the Center.
Updated: 24 Oct 2008 ESSP
