Placitas Star Party on November 1

Unfortunately, bad weather derailed the final Stargazing in the Manzanos event on October 4. But you'll have another chance to browse a "telescope buffet" at the annual Placitas Star Party on Saturday, November 1.

Take a short drive out of town, away from city lights, and view planets and deep-sky objects such as nebulas and galaxies through a variety of telescopes. The event is co-hosted by The Albuquerque Astronomical Society (www.taas.org) and the Las Placitas Association. It is FREE and open to the public. Viewing begins at sunset, around 6:15 p.m., weather permitting.

To get there, take I-25 north from Albuquerque to exit 242. Go east on Highway 165 toward Placitas for 2.3 miles until you reach the Homestead Village Shopping Center, on the north side of the highway. Park in their lot. Telescopes will be set up along the dirt road just east of the parking lot.