Tierra Del Sol Dark-Sky Observing Site

Public Star Parties are held during the dark of the moon at the Association's observing site at Tierra Del Sol.The schedule for these parties maybe found in the Events section of this website. The Club's 22-inch LippRitchey-Chretien reflector, as well as its newly acquired 8-inch D&G refractor, are available for club members and hosted during Public Star Parties for visitors.

SDAA Member John Rains hosts the 22-inch Lipp telescope at a recent Public Star Party. The telescope is open for viewing on every star party weekend.

Observatory Director Jim Traweek periodically hosts a training class. You must be a member for one year to qualify as a host, but anyone can attend the class. Hosting the telescope on the Public Star Party nights has several advantages--it gives you an opportunity to get to the site and use this fabulous instrument; an opportunity to interact with other club members; and most important, it provides one of the most valuable services the SDAA provides--bringing the night sky to the public. The look on a neophyte’s face or the glint of shear joy in a child’s eye when they see the massive instrument for the first time, and then get to look through it at the wonders of the heavens, cannot be described. It must be experienced first hand. If you are interested in hosting or are a host, contact the Observatory Director.

Tierra del Sol site access, rules, and lock combinations are in the newsletter sent to all members. Hosts on public nights and members are responsible for seeing that the last person out locks the gates, turns off the electricity and water pump, secures the bathroom, and empties the trash. See the Contacts section of this website for the number of the telephone located in the Men's Room at Tierra del Sol. The SDAA Yahoo! Group maintains a database of members with cell phones who will accept calls while they are out at the site and are willing to provide on-the-spot assessments of weather and atmospheric conditions.

A panoramic view of the Tierra del Sol public pads area, showing the north and south pads and parking areas.

Private pads, areas where contributing members can have a private setup area, are located in a separate portion of the Tierra del Sol property. To get on the private pad list, send an e-mail to the Private Pads Chairperson ( or see the Contacts section of this website). If you have a private pad, consider sharing it with another member. Click here for photos of the Private Pads.