The Huachuca Astronomy Club (HAC) and Coronado National Memorial will co‐host a Star Party from 7 to 9 pm on Friday, April 8, 2016. This special evening event, celebrating our beautiful dark night skies in southeastern Arizona, will begin around dusk at Montezuma Pass at Coronado National Memorial. The knowledgeable members of HAC will set up telescopes in the parking lot at Montezuma Pass for the public to view the night sky, including Jupiter and its moons, far‐away galaxies, and distant nebulae where stars are born. A park ranger will give constellation tours throughout the night, exploring popular constellations and tracing the human histories and imaginations that have been written in the stars.
Montezuma Pass is located three miles west of the Coronado National Memorial Visitor Center on East Montezuma Canyon Road/Forest Road 61. The last two miles are unpaved. The graded forest road is narrow in sections as it switchbacks up the canyon to the summit parking lot. Restrooms are available at Montezuma Pass, but no other amenities. Parking is limited so carpooling is recommended.
Visitors are encouraged to dress in layers, as nights at the pass can be cool. Please minimize flashlight use to preserve night vision. If available, visitors should use a red night vision flashlight or consider covering a standard flashlight with red cellophane or brake light tape.
Come enjoy the clear, high‐desert skies with the Huachuca Astronomy Club and park rangers at Coronado National Memorial!
For additional information please contact Christopher Bentley at 520‐366‐5515 x2310 or visit our listing of ranger‐led programs on the official park website: http://www.nps.gov/coro/planyourvisit/calendar.htm