Aerial view of the Village looking south in 2014. Deming is 20 miles to the SE, while Silver City is 30 miles to the NW.
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A good combination of isolation and the amenities offered by small cities.
Tom and Jeannie Clark, NMAV founders.
A Google Earth view of the area. To the NW along US Hwy 180 is Silver City. Deming lies to the SE.
A typical open lot. The Real Estate agent working the site is Totsie Slover of Deming Realty. 575-494-0899
Butterfield Plat Map with Owners and Affiliations
The tiny rest area has full-cut-off lighting. Except for two small lights on the side of the building, the
rest area is non-obtrusive
A couple of local residents
The all sky photo, with the NMAV in the center, shows the minor light domes visible from the site
Oct 2012 A couple of photos from our first star party. The weather was perfect and, if you had been here, you would never want to observe from any other place!
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Attendance was around 20 astronomers. All brought goodies to eat, and we made coffee and cider.
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The weather was perfect, and the seeing excellent. The temperature was around 65 at sunset, and went to 47 by the time the last scope was packed up.
Vandy and Gary Starkweather purchased 17 acres and built a retirement home. They currently have 3 domes under construction.
Fog in the desert? It rained the night before. The Florida (pronounced flor EE da) Mountains are seven miles south of Deming - 27 miles from the NMAV.
This photo shows Tom and Jeannie Clark's 24' dome nearing completion Jan 2013.
Noted mirror maker Mike Lockwood delivered the refurbished mirror for the Clark's 42" Dob.
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Look at that sky.
Bill Nigg recently opened his "Jackwabbit Observatory." (Note: the local jack rabbits were not amused)
If you've spent any time in the southwest, you know the sights and places to visit are endless and spectacular.
Surprise, surprise! A rare snowfall. It does snow here when winter storms are passing through. The snow usually lasts until sunrise. Normal winter temperatures are 25-30 at night and 50-60s during the day. In the desert any moisture is appreciated.
A field trip to see the petroglyphs that are in the Pony Hills, just south of Cook's Peak, a few miles from the NMAV. The old Butterfield Trail runs through the valley below the petroglyphs.
