Star Parties
Star Parties at the Etscorn Campus Observatory are currently suspended.
Magdalena Ridge Observatory hosts a number of star parties throughout the year for community members. Join us on the first Saturday of every month at the Etscorn Campus Observatory, at the annual Enchanted Skies Star Party, or become a member of Friends of MRO and schedule your own private star party!
Monthly Star Party Map to Etscorn Observatory Driving Instructions Annual Events Enchanted Skies Star Party The Enchanted Skies Star Party is a five day event held every October and located at Star Village (about five or six miles Northwest of Magdalena, NM). This event usually hosts over 100 people of all ages. There are tours of the Very Large Array and the Magdalena Ridge Observatory, guest speakers, star gazing, and several events in and around the town of Magdalena. Friends of MRO Seasonal private day tours and star parties are held for members of Friends of MRO. Request A Star Party-Temporarily Suspended If you are interested in either star parties or classroom presentations at New Mexico Tech or your location please contact For more information, please contact the NMT Physics Department at 575-835-5328. Star parties at New Mexico Tech will be hosted at the Etscorn Campus Observatory by the New Mexico Tech Astronomy Club. Visitors will be treated to a view of the night sky using several optical telescopes designed for direct viewing. Temporarily Suspended – Star parties at your location are also an option. We will bring the telescopes to you and provide information about the objects that are viewed. Might as well have a classroom presentation while you are at it. Classroom presentations are suitable for grades 4 through 9 and can be upgraded to include high school classes as needed. The currently available presentations include: Any one of these presentations can be completed in standard classroom period of 40 – 60 minutes. If we come to your location a star party would be a natural follow up. For more information, please contact the NMT Physics Department at 575-835-5328.
There is a star party at New Mexico Tech’s Etscorn Campus Observatory on the first Saturday of every month. The event starts an hour after sunset. If the skies are clear, attendants will get the chance to peer through a variety of telescopes at stars and planets with one of our guides helping to point you in the right direction (literally!). If weather conditions aren’t favorable, we have an indoor classroom perfect for listening to lectures or watching videos on astronomical topics.
Coming North on I-25 to Socorro, NM Use exit 147 to California street, proceed North to Bullock Blvd., turn left. Follow Bullock Blvd. to Olive lane. Turn right onto Canyon Drive, proceed up the hill to the stop sign at Buck Wolfe Drive, turn right and follow signs to Etscorn Campus Observatory.
Coming South on I-25 to Socorro, NM Use exit 150 to California street, proceed South to Bullock Blvd., turn right. Follow Bullock Blvd. to Olive lane. Turn right onto Canyon Drive, proceed up the hill to the stop sign at Buck Wolfe Drive, turn right and follow signs to Etscorn Campus Observatory.
Coming East on Highway 60 to Socorro, NM At California street turn left, proceed North to Bullock Blvd., turn left. Follow Bullock Blvd. to Olive lane. Turn right onto Canyon Drive, proceed up the hill to the stop sign at Buck Wolfe Drive, turn right and follow signs to Etscorn Campus Observatory.
local map
Driving Instructions
Coming North on I-25 to Socorro, NM
Use exit 147 to California street, proceed North to Bullock Blvd., turn left. Follow Bullock Blvd. to Olive lane. Turn right onto Canyon Drive, proceed up the hill the stop sign at Buck Wolfe Drive, turn right and follow signs to Etscorn Campus Observatory.
Coming South on I-25 to Socorro, NM Use exit 150 to California street, proceed South to Bullock Blvd., turn right. Follow Bullock Blvd. to Olive lane. Turn right onto Canyon Drive, proceed up the hill the stop sign at Buck Wolfe Drive, turn right and follow signs to Etscorn Campus Observatory.
Coming East on Highway 60 to Socorro, NM At California street turn left, proceed North to Bullock Blvd., turn left. Follow Bullock Blvd. to Olive lane. Turn right onto Canyon Drive, proceed up the hill the stop sign at Buck Wolfe Drive, turn right and follow signs to Etscorn Campus Observatory.
801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801