New Moon Stargazing and Meteor Event

Making Strides + Field Trips for GrownUps

We're doing another night under the stars!
On Friday, October 9, Making Strides is heading back out to Seismosaurus Trail in Ojito Wilderness for a New Moon Stargazing Night. This time we're also co-sponsoring the event with Field Trips for GrownUps, so we'll have people from both groups joining us.
And we picked a pretty great night for it.

🌑 THE NEW MOON
We'll be going out right around the October New Moon, which means very little moonlight interfering with the night sky. Once our eyes adjust, we should have some excellent conditions for seeing stars that normally disappear in the glow of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.

☄️ AND WE MAY HAVE SOME SHOOTING STARS
There are actually three meteor showers active during this part of October.
The Draconid Meteor Shower reaches its maximum around October 8–9, putting us right around its best viewing window. The Draconids are especially nice because they're an evening meteor shower, so we don't have to wait until the middle of the night.

The Southern Taurids are also active. They don't usually produce huge numbers of meteors, but they're known for occasionally producing some impressive bright fireballs.

The Orionids are active too. These are created by debris left behind by Halley's Comet, although their peak won't come until later in October.
We're not promising a sky full of meteors. But we'll have dark skies, multiple active meteor showers and a chance of catching a few shooting stars.

And even if we don't catch a single meteor, we'll still have the stars.

THE PLAN
Meet: 7:45 PM
Location: Rio Rancho Home Depot
Depart: 8:00 PM sharp
Arrive at Ojito Wilderness: Approximately 8:30 PM

Stargazing: Approximately 8:30–10:30 PM
Return to Rio Rancho: Around 11:00 PM
We'll try to carpool from Home Depot. We'll figure out drivers and passengers before we leave and take as few vehicles as reasonably possible.

THIS ONE ISN'T A HIKE
For our Making Strides people who haven't joined us for one of these before, we're giving the hiking boots a night off.

We usually park our vehicles just outside the Seismosaurus Trail parking area and set up our chairs and blankets right there in the parking lot.
No miles. No elevation gain. No wondering why David said something was "mostly flat."

We're just getting away from the city lights, setting up our chairs and looking up.
Bring a camping chair or blanket, warm layers, water, snacks, and something warm to drink if you'd like.

If you have binoculars, bring them. If you have a telescope, definitely bring it!

Please bring a flashlight or headlamp as well. A red-light setting is strongly preferred. Once we're settled, we'll keep regular white lights to a minimum so everyone's eyes can adjust to the darkness.

CO-SPONSORED EVENT
This event is being co-sponsored by Making Strides and Field Trips for GrownUps and will be posted in both groups.

If you're a member of both groups, please RSVP here through Making Strides. We're keeping the Field Trips for GrownUps spots available for people who are only members of that group so both groups have an opportunity to participate.
This event is weather dependent. We'll keep an eye on cloud cover and conditions as we get closer and make a call if we need to reschedule.
Bring a chair. Dress warm. Come hang out with us under a dark New Mexico sky.

See you under the stars!