Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher and Senior Editor Michael Bakich stand by a 30-inch f/4.4 Starmaster Dobsonian reflector in Arizona Sky Village's Rancho Hidalgo before the night's observing marathon got underway.
Arizona Sky Village developer Gene Wilson lives here.
Magazine Editor Dave Eicher poses with ASV developer Gene Turner.
Belt of Venus
Two members of the night's observing party, Adam and Tracy Clayson.
Stewart Wilson discovered Comet Wilson-Hubbard (1961 V) in 1961 while piloting a Pan Am 707 en route from Honolulu to Portland
A view from inside one of the houses under construction at Arizona Sky Village shows the Chiricahua Mountains in the background. Credit: Astronomy, David J. Eicher
Michael Bakich and Gene Turner look down the covered shaft of an abandoned copper mine at the entrance to the Rancho Hidalgo site. Credit: Astronomy, David J. Eicher
Abundant holes in the rock formations revealed evidence of ancient Native Americans grinding food with stone tools. Credit: Astronomy, David J. Eicher
This little gem red cactus jumped out from its dusty surroundings. Credit: Astronomy, David J. Eicher
Michael Bakich shows the splendor of the area in which we searched through several ancient caves. Credit: Astronomy, David J. Eicher
Another cave shelter reveals artifacts from ancient Native Americans scattered across the shelter’s floor. Credit: Astronomy, David J. Eicher
A beautiful little cactus adorns the desert floor. Credit: Astronomy, David J. Eicher
Gene Turner stands beside one of the rock caves used by ancient Native Americans between 800 and 2,000 years ago. Credit: Astronomy, David J. Eicher
A careful look around the floor of this cave revealed numerous stone chips and several tools that had been worked by Native Americans in antiquity. Credit: Astronomy, David J. Eicher
Legendary astrophotographer and frequent contributor to Astronomy magazine Jack Newton. Credit: Astronomy, Michael Bakich
Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher and Gene Turner peer into a cave. Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher sits on a boiler. Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher prospecting Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher blogs it out. Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher talks with Adam Clayson and astrophotographer Jack Newton. Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
A barrel cactus Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
A mine car Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
Loy Guzman prepares the great feast. Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
A lizard! Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
A ladder to nowhere Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher stands in front of the November 2008 issue, on sale at the Portal Cafe in Portal, Arizona. Credit: Astronomy, Michael E. Bakich
Looking for silver ore and turquoise among the old ruins of Hachita, New Mexico, a ghost town from the 1880s. Credit: Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher
Ruined buildings in Hachita have stood since the mines closed decades ago. Credit: Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher
Careful — open shafts abound here. Credit: Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher
Looking out over turquoise country. Credit: Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher
A hole surrounded by stones marked the lair of a tarantula — we declined to see if anyone was home. Credit: Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher
A simple monument marks the position where Geronimo surrendered in Skeleton Canyon, near Rodeo, New Mexico. Credit: Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher
A 90-minute underground tour in Bisbee, Arizona, shows visitors part of the workings of the Copper Queen Mine, one of the most famous copper mines in the world. Credit: Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher
All done: Having survived the Copper Queen, Astronomy Editor David J. Eicher comes up for air. Credit: Astronomy magazine
