Milky Way Arch

I learned some valuable lessons shooting this. Overall, I am very happy with the Milky Way arching over the satellite dish, but the camera cropped out the ground (my fault, in-camera setting that I didn't know I had set).

I'd love to go back and take another crack at this.

Marc

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Leah and I got an early start (more on that later). We got back to the hotel in time to wake up Catherine and Ian and catch a breakfast. We then drove about an hour north and east from Socorro to visit the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument - a string of 3 Pueblo settlements with some Spanish Missions.

First was Abo. We had the place to ourselves, even the visitor center was closed.

Next up was Quirai. There was a nice overlook with snow-covered mountains in the background.

Afterwards we did Gran Quiriva. We went back the way we came to have a nice lunch in Mountainair at the Shaffer Hotel. All in all, it was a nice day tracking down some sites that I passed on my way to White Sands that I wanted to more fully explore. Mission accomplished.

Now to the early start. Socorro is about an hour from the Very Large Array, which I have been past several times now. I knew it was a dark sky location and we wouldn't have to contend with moonlight washing out the stars.

So we loaded up and made the drive. As in my previous trip, it was COLD. We left Socorro at about 40*F and it was 21*F at the VLA.

Cheers,

Marc

Box Canyon, NM

For our first vacation in what feels like forever (yay - Bataan is done!) we drove north to Socorro, NM. The winds were ripping, but that didn't stop us.

This little canyon will get a visit early tomorrow morning to see the Milky Way core, assuming the clouds cooperate. For today, Leah and I hiked up from the arroyo floor. Catherine and Ian walked down the arroyo - we found them from our perch up high.

Afterwards, Leah and I went to explore a cave on the opposite wall of the canyon. Along the way, we found this weird tree made out of rocks - at least, we think it looks like a tree.

We got snowed on shortly after this photo. It was still 50 or so where we were, it was just cold enough at altitude to give us some snow. New Mexico really is a strange (enchanting?) place.

Cheers,

Marc