Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is located 8 miles (13 km) south of Alamogordo, New Mexico. A local astronomy club, the Amateur Astronomers Group of Alamogordo, New Mexico, hosts monthly star parties in the park. With the Sacramento Mountains as a backdrop, the state park includes the historic Oliver Lee Ranch House, year-round camping in the Chihuahuan Desert, and oasis pools in Dog Canyon. At an elevation of 4,400 feet (1,341 meters), the park offers an easy hike on the Riparian Nature Trail or a strenuous trek up Dog Canyon Trail.
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.