Tom, if your students are in ABQ, it might be convenient for them to go to
the UNM Campus Observatory. Nearly every Friday night while UNM is in
session, the UNM astronomy students open up the dome to the public for free
viewing, plus there are amateur astronomers from the ABQ club there who set
up a variety of telescopes next to the observatory. Here's the hot line to
call on Fridays to find out if they're open that night: (505) 277-1446.

The ABQ club also does free stargazing events in the Manzano Mountains at
Oak Flat Picnic Area. The last date for 2009 is Saturday, September 12.
Starts at sunset. Directions at:
http://home.comcast.net/~friesend/abqsky21dec/oakflatdirections.pdf

I can't speak to the Etscorn event schedule, but I do know the big event
there is the Enchanted Skies Star Party. There's a modest charge for that
multiple-day event. I went last year and really enjoyed it. Here's that
website: http://enchantedskies.org/

Finally, there is a public astronomy program at Bosque del Apache on October
10 at 7 p.m. It's called "A Scavenger Hunt in the Night Sky." That's all I
know. If I get more info, I'll pass it along on the listserv.

Happy gazing!
Karen

*********************
Visit my stargazing blog for beginners at
http://whassupinthemilkyway.blogspot.com
Check out STAR-HOPPERS, weekend workshops in astronomy, at
www.astronomyworkshops.org



----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Wofford" <tomwof@...>
To: "News from the Astronomy Club" <astronews@...>
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 11:58 AM
Subject: [astronews] question: public observing nights


>I attended the public star party last year during the Festival of the
>Cranes, but I will probably miss that this year (unless you could be
>persuaded to do one on Friday night as well as Saturday). However, the
>Etscorn Observatory web site says that several public observing events are
>held throughout the year. When are they? I teach an astronomy lab at CNM
>for non-science majors, and I'd like to inform my students of opportunities
>for guided observation.
>
> Tom Wofford
> ---