Frequently Asked Questions

What will I see?
A variety of night sky objects will be visible. Exactly what is offered to view depends upon the time of year and conditions during our session. Often, we can view some of the planets that share our solar system. Then, there are the deep sky objects. Some of them like nebulae, supernova remnants, stars and star clusters, are within the Milky Way Galaxy while other objects are much more distant.

What do these objects look like?
To the human eye, celestial objects appear very different than what one might expect based upon images from the Hubble Space Telescope or books. Our vision is not very sensitive to dim objects. Deep sky objects like nebulae and other galaxies have a subtle, almost ethereal quality challenging the limits of our perception.  Planets and many stars on the other hand, will reveal color views and are sure crowd pleasers. There is nothing like the thrill of seeing the rings of Saturn in ‘real time’!!

What kind of equipment do you use?
My main telescope for night sky tours is a 20 inch (.51 meter) aperture Newtonian reflector. It collects over 5,000 times more light than the unaided human eye. When pointed straight up, it is taller than most people, but one or two steps up on my sturdy contractor’s ladder brings the eyepiece within easy reach.

For larger groups I bring along additional telescopes ranging from 4 to 8 inches aperture. Having extra equipment allows me to acquire more than one object at a time and gives my guests a smorgasbord of the sky.

When do the tours start and how long do they last?
Astronomy Adventures start times vary by season. In winter, I may begin at 8PM. In summer, I may have to wait until almost 9:30PM before it is dark enough. When possible, I like to continue with the night sky tours as long as folks are interested and want to keep viewing. Generally, I find that folks seem satisfied after about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Do you provide transportation?
No, I do not provide transportation. My main dark sky site is located 15 miles south of the intersection of Interstate 25 and NM State Hwy 14 – the Turquoise Trail New Mexico Scenic Byway, also known as Cerrillos Road within Santa Fe city limits. Because most folks rent a car to use during their trip to New Mexico, this issue is usually not a problem. Plus, because each party has their own car, they can leave when they are ready rather than wait for a group departure via bus or van.

I need directions to the dark sky site. How do I get there?
Once your booking has been confirmed by payment, I send on a comprehensive set of driving directions.

What is your background?
I have been a student of the sky since childhood. I believe that because my astronomy knowledge is from a grass-roots level it makes what I share with people at my night sky tours more accessible, interesting and fun. My approach to astronomy is that the night sky belongs to all of us. It is not just for the highly trained and educated professional scientists to explore. Anybody can experience the magic of the heavens. All one needs to do is look up.

How large a group will I be observing with?
As people contact me with dates in mind, I request that they be open to observing with other folks who may be visiting Santa Fe around the same time.  I try and keep observing groups to a manageable size (4-10 people) so that everybody gets enough eyepiece time. I find that if the party is too small, the ‘juicy’ questions may remain unasked. If you are interested in booking a tour exclusively or for a special occasion, please let me know. A supplemental charge may apply. I reserve the right to cancel an Astronomy Adventure if there are fewer than 4 people booked.

The weather doesn’t look promising for a tour tonight. Are you still going ahead as scheduled?
Absolutely!! I keep a very close watch on weather and sky conditions. Often what looks threatening and overcast during daytime rapidly clears up soon after nightfall. Of course, no one can guarantee completely clear skies, but I can guarantee that if I don’t set-up and the sky does clear – we won’t see a thing! In the unlikely event there is severe weather expected, I will be in touch to cancel or reschedule the tour.