Pajarito Astronomers Host Monthly Dark Night Stargazing at White Rock Park

Roughly 30 volunteer and professional astronomers from the Pajarito Astronomers club set up telescopes at Dara Jones Soccer Field at Overlook Park in White Rock on Saturday evening, March 21, opening the first Dark Night stargazing session of the 2026 season to the public at no charge.

The event, a partnership between the club and Los Alamos County Parks, Recreation and Open Space, is the first in a series running monthly from March through November. Sessions are scheduled for Saturday evenings near a new moon, when Los Alamos County turns off all athletic field lights at Overlook Park to reduce light pollution. A typical Dark Night draws between 15 and 50 visitors looking through 4 to 6 telescopes.

Saturday's program offered views of planets, colorful double stars, galaxies, gaseous nebulae, open star clusters, and globular star clusters, along with a guided constellation tour of the night sky. Observing ran from sunset through no later than midnight, weather permitting.

Dara Jones Soccer Field serves as the starting point for 2026 Dark Nights. The club's website notes that later sessions in the season may shift to Spirio Soccer Field, also within Overlook Park, once renovations to that field are cleared for public use. Prior years' events have been held at Spirio Fields, and past notices have advised visitors approaching that field at night to use parking lights rather than headlights when pulling in or out.

The Pajarito Astronomers also recommends attendees carry a red flashlight. Red light preserves night vision in a way that white flashlights do not, making it easier to navigate a dark field without washing out the view through a telescope eyepiece.

Founded as a club of approximately 30 professional and amateur astronomers drawn from across northern New Mexico, the Pajarito Astronomers charge annual dues of just $20 per family or household. Members receive monthly astronomical events calendars from Abrams Planetarium and a club newsletter covering both sky events and club news. Beyond the Dark Night series, the club sponsors public talks in Los Alamos featuring invited speakers on topics across space science, astronomy, and astrophysics.

The full list of 2026 County-Sponsored Dark Night dates has been accepted by Los Alamos County Parks and Recreation, though any session can be canceled for weather. Visitors planning to attend a future session should check the Pajarito Astronomers website for the current schedule and any weather-related updates before heading out to Overlook Park.