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My goal is to purchase large tract of acreage (possibly 100+ acres).
Let me and my spouse worry about the price
To any one living in the area or familiar with NM, can anyone tell me where is the most ideal place to experience the darkest night skies that are so bright they give you a shadow!
This website may interest you. Several families interested in astronomy who live in close proximity in southern New Mexico and are pooling their resources.
Try along Rt 60 West of Socorro. I am uncertain about the light pollution from Magdalena and the VLA. I do not know where you are now but most of rural NM is darker than anywhere else except the deepest parts of Utah and Nevada. Light pollution is taking away the night. I miss it.
Additional suggestion. There is a organization called (IIRC) the "Dark Sky Association" that has maps of the astronomical "seeing" conditions for the country.
The conditions, even in very rural areas, can be degraded by improper (IMHO) yard and barn lighting. Also IMHO lighting the outside of your home only assures that the potential burglars will not trip over something and sue you for their injuries.
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