New Mexico Astroimaging Trip - Casitas de Gila, New Mexico
May 6-9, 2005
The Summer Milky Way
Casitas de Gila, New Mexico
May 6th - May 9th
Below you will find numerous photographs taken during our trip to a group of wonderful southwestern adobe guesthouses located outside of Silver City called Casitas de Gila.
Casitas de Gila is located about 30 miles NW of Silver City at the base of the rugged Mogollon and Pinos Altos mountains at an elevation of around 4800ft. The five individual casitas are surrounded by a high desert environment of pinyon pine and cactus and have some of the darkest skies I've ever experienced... mag 7.3+! The Guesthouses are owned by Mike and Becky O'Connor who were very gracious and wonderful hosts! Thank you Becky & Mike!
For our visit we met up with several friends including Jim & Karen Janusz from Palm Desert, California, Richard & Sharron Payne from Phoenix, Arizona, Scott & Alisa Hammonds from Atlanta, Georgia and Vince Bert and his girlfriend Mary from Solana Beach, California. All the photos on this
page were taken with a Canon EOS 20D digital SLR with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens.
Jen poses among a forest of covered telescopes on Friday afternoon
Jim and Richard with two refractors & a schmidt camera
Desert Sunset Light
High Desert Landscape
Blooming Cactus
Golden Poppy
Jen & Karen in Silver City
Local Silver City artist
All dressed up for Cinco de Mayo week in Silver City!
To the office..........
Our Casita
Our Casita w/mountain
Casitas with covered telescopes
Karen hiking near the casitas
Chris & Jen (nice shot Karen!)
Vince and Mary relaxing in the sun!
Nellie the dog
Clear desert skies, a few Corona's and your woman....nothing better!
Vince setting up his 20" f/4.5 truss dob
Jim with his three women... :-)
The guys pose next to the Astro-Physics 7" f/7 EDF
L to R: Scott, Chris, Jim, Richard & Vince
The Whole Casita Gang
L to R: Alisa, Scott, Chris, Jen, Vince, Karen, Mary, Jim, Sharron & Richard
NOTE: Astrophotos taken during a wonderfully clear three nights will be posted shortly! Stay tuned....
All text and photos are © Copyright Chris Cook.
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