By Dena McClung
The Denver Astronomical Society is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Douglas County’s Open Space and Natural Resources department for a members-only program at Sandstone Ranch on Saturday, October 19. The event will show off the dark skies at the ranch, as well as help train and encourage members to get involved in future DAS public events. Bring your telescope and learn from some of DAS’s public outreach enthusiasts how easy it is to share your passion about astronomy with the public.
More details will be announced soon, and sign-ups will be through the DAS member portal. Those participating should plan to arrive before dark to set-up telescopes and the event will last until moonrise at around 10:30 p.m. All members are invited join us for this unique opportunity to observe the skies, and are further encouraged to become public outreach volunteers. Douglas County Open Space volunteers will be joining to help out and are keen to learn about astronomy as well.
Located just 40 miles south of Denver, the 2,037-acre property is nestled in the foothills of the Rampart Range, west of Larkspur. Bordered on all sides by ranches and open space, there are few adjacent homes, making it a great location to observe the heavens. The nearby mountains screen out the majority of light from Denver and Colorado Springs, allowing the Milky Way and thousands of fainter stars to be seen.
The event will take place at the unoccupied house on the ranch’s property. Adjoined by a level concrete patio on two sides, it boasts views of the northern, eastern and southern horizons. More space is available on the lawn and around the building as well for those who do not need power. Open Space staff and DAS volunteers on site will be there to facilitate entry and exit to the property.
Sandstone Ranch is a working ranch with cattle, horses, goats, a donkey and hay fields. Streams run through the property and wooded areas, including some dense stands, populate the edges of the property in many places as well as iconic chimney-shaped sandstone outcroppings. Deer, elk, birds of prey and other wildlife are frequently seen making their way through.
Though Douglas County is still in the process of determining how to manage this property in the long run, Open Space staff and volunteers are providing guided access to the ranch for groups during specific events. Through the work of DAS members Doug Reagan and Cliff Simpson, a handful of DAS members were invited to visit the property on August 7, to explore the possibility of providing volunteers with telescopes for stargazing events like the one coming up on October 19.