• 2:00 pm — Solar Telescope for Early Arrivals: Dr. John Keller (University of Colorado Boulder, Fiske Planetarium) sets up his solar telescope so early arrivals can safely observe our nearest star.
• 4:00 – 6:00 pm — Arrival & Settle In
• 6:00 pm — Community Dinner: Pasta, salad, and garlic bread. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
• 7:00 pm — Opening Welcome: Hosts from CDTC, the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, and Dark Sky Land come together to set the weekend in motion. Includes a screening of CDTC’s Labor of Love film and an introduction to the Astro-Wilderness Corridor.
• 7:45 pm — The Cosmos and the CDT: Astrophotographer and CDT thru-hiker Zack Stockbridge on what the night sky has to offer those who walk beneath it.

The evening’s pop-up stations are built for wandering, looking up, and joining whichever conversation pulls you in. Drop by any or all.

Around the Circle:

• DSL Sensory Lab — an immersive space for experiencing the night sky through the senses
• Pop-Up Gallery & Information Desk — featuring local artists and astrophotographers
• Dark Sky International Table — resources for becoming a dark-sky advocate where you live
• Video Lounge — short films and visual storytelling
• Community Tent — hot cocoa and conversation
• NRPE Activity: What do the dark skies look like to you? with Katie Mancilla
• Video Booth — share your own dark-sky story for our growing collection
• Latino Outdoors Family Activity: build a real (or invented) constellation from marshmallows, pretzels, and toothpicks
• Spiritual & Cultural Significance — the importance of the cosmos to Native communities, with Corey and the El Malpais Storytellers

Center of the Circle — Astronomers & Telescopes:

• Dr. John Keller (University of Colorado Boulder, Fiske Planetarium)
• Zack Stockbridge (CDT thru-hiker and astronomer)
• Michael Peter Robinson (Pie Town astronomer)
• Daniel and Chizuko Heyer
• Lee Maisel (local astronomer)

• Early, Early AM — Special Visitors: A pre-dawn window to catch comets, planets, and other celestial guests passing through. Specific viewing depends on what’s overhead that morning.
• Breakfast on Your Own: Pop into local Pie Town favorites like the Gathering Place.
• 11:30 am — Lunch and Learn with Lee Maisel: The Dark Skies of Catron County — a local astronomer’s tour of the night sky right above us.

• 1:00 – 2:00 pm — Birds and Dark Skies: Brian Dolton of the Southwest Bird Alliance introduces our avian neighbors and explains why dark skies matter for migration, navigation, and survival.
• 2:15 pm — Dark Skies of the CDT: The Intersection of Wonder and Worship: CDTC and NRPE explore how to protect the night sky where you live, including the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting from DarkSky International.
• 3:30 pm — Heaven and the Cosmos: Rob Lorenz, S.J., Outreach Officer for the Vatican Observatory, returns to share how the cosmos and the Catholic Church are deeply connected.

• 4:00 – 6:00 pm — Planetarium Presentation with Bob Birket: Step inside the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s mobile planetarium for an immersive look at the universe.
• 6:00 pm — Group Dinner & Community Pie! Green chile stew (chicken and vegetarian/GF options), tortillas, and salad — prepared by the CDTC crew chefs. Plus pie, of course.
• 7:00 – 9:00 pm — Drop-In Time: Visit the DSL Sensory Lab, refill your cocoa, and settle in before the second night’s astronomy circle begins.

A second night under the stars, with telescopes set up around the circle and short, sky-driven talks timed to what’s actually overhead. Two local Dark Sky Land astronomers join the lineup, alongside returning astronomers from Friday night.

Center of the Circle: Telescope viewing and timed lectures based on the night’s celestial opportunities.

Interactive stations continue around the perimeter — drop in wherever the night takes you.

• 8:00 – 10:00 am — Breakfast on Your Own
• 10:00 am — Non-Denominational Service in the Park: Led by Canyon Metzler (Datil, NM).
• Noon — Saying Goodbye

For those staying longer or looking to extend the experience, the area around Pie Town offers some of the most memorable dark-sky and CDT day-hike opportunities along the trail.

Visit the Very Large Array (Magdalena, NM) — Open Saturday and Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm. $10 admission.

• VLA Saturday Tour
• VLA Sunday Tour

Hike a section of the CDT — Nearby segments include:

• Zuni Acoma Trail
• Chain of Craters
• Highway 12 / CDT Aragon Trailhead

Explore El Malpais National Monument