This is PERFECT for the astro-types. This is the old parking lot for a boat launch inside a small state park whose lake has been drying up; rendering the boat launch derelict. It’s well inside mag6 skies and I’ll bet they’d have little problem with tents on the edge of the parking lot. I don’t see any lighting at all from the satellite view. This place would be all but deserted except for those looking to plant a scope on some prime dark-sky pavement.
Cue the “Still Alive” jokes; it’s in Black Mesa State Park…
/adding this to my list of weekend trip destinations, only 3 hrs from the house…
Very close! They use Camp Billy Joe which is actually a short ways outside the park. I think it’s used as a youth camp during the summer.
That’s about 7 hrs from me, but it’s been on my list for a long time. It’s a long shot as far as availability for me, but if you’re interested in company, let me know when you start thinking about going.
Sucks to be you guys. I can find severe darkness easily within a two hour drive from home. NM & west TX skies are so dark, you can see the glow of El Paso over the horizon 75 miles out on I-10. Of course, the mountains can block things low in the sky, but they also block light pollution and give a several thousand foot elevation bonus.
One of the darkest places on (accessible and land-based) earth is in Scotland, a few hours north of me. I’m already making plans to go up there in the summer for some astrophotography 😀
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