Oasis could be looking to skies

Oasis State Park is being considered as a possible location for the final of four observatories being built by the New Mexico State Parks.

The state parks department started the Reach for the Stars program in 2004 to promote the night skies of New Mexico as cultural resources, according to Marti Niman, New Mexico State Park’s public information officer. She said there is lot of interest in astronomy from the public, and state parks are a perfect setting to build these observatories.

Two observatories have already been constructed, one in the City of Rock (southeast of Silver City) 2005 and the other at Clayton Lake state parks in 2006. 

Another observatory has been approved for the Heron Lake State Park (south of Dulce and Chama).

The completion date of the Heron Lake observatory or the start date for the fourth observatory is not known at this time, Niman said.

A proposed building location at Oasis State Park has been scouted and submitted to the offices in Santa Fe, according to Oasis Park Manager Jim Whary.

The observatories are built in areas where there is less chance of light pollution interfering with the telescope. Large cities produce a lot of light pollution that would affect the performance of the observatory, Niman said.

“We are hopeful that Oasis will be chosen, and it is all a matter of waiting now,” Whary said. “The park has already been retrofitted with night sky friendly lighting to prevent light pollution.”

The cost of Clayton Lake State Park observatory was $90,000, however, the cost can vary being site specific, officials said.  Observatories include a 12 foot by 16 foot steel building with a retractable roof housing the telescope. An additional 8 foot by 8 foot concrete pad installed near the observatory for visitors to place telescopes for additional viewing, Niman said.

The funding for these observatories is made possible by New Mexico’s gross receipt taxes , Niman said.

“New Mexico has some of the most beautiful night skies,” Niman said. “These observatories can be used by park visitors and schools for learning year round.”