ALAMOSA COUNTY — SLV GO! and dark sky partners the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Complex and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve invite everyone to a Star Party at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge. The Star Party will be held from 8 p.m. to approximately 10:30 p.m. tonight, Sept. 8. The gathering is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Dani Robben, who coordinates the Sangre de Cristo Dark Sky Reserve Initiative with SLV GO!, will discuss the importance of the preservation of dark skies beginning at 8 p.m. Robben, who is on the board of Dark Sky Colorado will also talk about what is happening at the state level to protect dark skies.

At 8:30 p.m., stargazers will be treated to a constellation tour. At 8:45, the stargazing and telescope-viewing extravaganza kicks off with scopes and naturalists from Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

The Sangre de Cristo Dark Sky Coalition, whose aim is to promote the preservation of night skies SLV GO! initiative has been spearheading the effort by working to achieve an “International Dark Sky Reserve” designation from the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). The purpose of this project is to protect and steward the region’s night sky through responsible lighting policies and public education. SLV GO! and partners believe this designation will be an asset to the region in terms of human health and safety, wildlife and ecosystem vitality, and the local economy. If successful, the Sangre de Cristo Dark Sky Reserve will be one of the largest official areas protected from artificial light in the world.

The reserve will encompass the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, Rio Grande and San Isabel National Forests, public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and will include parts of eight counties in south-central Colorado including Alamosa, Saguache, Chaffee, Fremont, Custer, Huerfano, Las Animas, and Costilla counties. 

In 2020, the Town of Crestone was recognized as a Dark Sky Community by the International Dark Sky Association and is one of twenty communities to be recognized, Great Sand Dunes National Parks and Preserve is a Dark Sky Park. Crestone Mayor Kairina Danforth will attend the star party and discuss the quality of the town's night sky, and the efforts there to protect them.

As of press time, the skies are predicted to be clear, and, "This should be a great time to get everyone out together under the night sky and really take in the magic of the dark skies in the Valley. We will realize how special it is, and how important it is to preserve it,” said Robben.

The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge is located at 9383 El Rancho Lane, Alamosa. To get there, drive east of Alamosa for approximately 3.5 miles, turn right on El Rancho Lane, drive 2 miles across the cattle guard, and follow the road all the way to the old visitor center parking lot. The sunset hike scheduled at 7 p.m. is limited to the people who signed up in advance and is full. All other activities begin at 8 p.m.

Recommended
• Dress warmly
• Leave pets at home
• Bring a headlamp or flashlight. Please use only red lights after dark (red cellophane covers will be available).
• Bring binoculars if you have them and be prepared to have a great, fun time.