Each year, The Albuquerque Astronomical Society, in cooperation with the Sandia Ranger District of the USPS, presents a series of free public star parties in the relatively dark skies of the Oak Flat Picnic Grounds.

For 2004, TAAS has planned free public star parties for:

• May 8
• June 12
• July 10
• August 7
• September 4

Oak Flat is only 20 minutes from Albuquerque, but offers a viewing experience that cannot be matched in town.  The dark skies mean that "Deep Sky" objects like Galaxies, Nebula, and Star Clusters can often be viewed.  Events like this usually draw our "Big Guns", aka Really Large Telescopes, most over 6 feet tall, and yours for the viewing.

• Click Here for Hourly Weather Observations from Oak Flat

 • Click here for Photos of the August 2004 Oak Flat Event.

 • Click Here for the experiences of a TAAS Astronomer at Oak Flat

Some Rules of Thumb:

• Viewing begins at dusk
• This, and all TAAS events are free to the public,  
   but a donation jar will be located at the membership table.
• These events are subject to weather.  If it's cloudy, or windy, we may cancel.
• Bring the family, but please leave the pets at home. 
• Please tell the kids not to kick-up dirt.  Telescope optics just hate dust & dirt.
• Dress warm - Temperatures drop quickly after dark, even in summer.
• If there has been rain, there will also be mosquitoes. 
• Bring a flashlight - But keep it pointed down to avoid ruining everyone's night vision.  Better yet, cover the flashlight in Red Cellophane.  We often have this at the membership table.

To get to the Oak Flat Picnic Grounds from Albuquerque, head east on I-40, exit at Tijeras, head south on NM 337 about 9 miles and look for the big sign for Oak Flat.  Turn left off 337, and go about 1½ miles.  Oak Flat is on the left.  Follow the sign to the Juniper Loop Group Area.  We are set-up in a large open field next to the Juniper area.

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