SENATE MEMORIAL 107

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE JUNE 4, 2017 "COSMIC CAMPGROUND DAY".

     WHEREAS, the cosmic campground was designated as the first international dark sky sanctuary in the United States by the international dark-sky association; and

     WHEREAS, the cosmic campground international dark sky sanctuary is a three-and-five-tenths-acre site in the Gila national forest in Catron county in western New Mexico, located between the Gila wilderness and the blue range primitive area in Arizona, on land managed by the United States forest service; and

     WHEREAS, the international dark-sky association is a United States-based nonprofit organization incorporated in 1988 by founders David Crawford, a professional astronomer, and Tim Hunter, a physician and amateur astronomer; and

     WHEREAS, the mission of the international dark-sky association is to preserve and protect the night-time environment and the United States' heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting; and

     WHEREAS, the cosmic campground is situated in an exceptionally dark part of the lower forty-eight United States; and

     WHEREAS, the cosmic campground has one of the darkest natural night skies on earth, and the distant horizon offers a three-hundred-sixty-degree unobstructed view of the night sky, with the low hills surrounding the site helping to obstruct unnatural light; and

     WHEREAS, the nearest significant source of artificial light to the cosmic campground international dark sky sanctuary is more than forty miles away and across the border of neighboring Arizona; and

     WHEREAS, the cosmic campground is an island of astronomical viewing surrounded by millions of people in Phoenix, Albuquerque, Tucson, Las Cruces, El Paso and Santa Fe; and

     WHEREAS, the cosmic campground features a very basic infrastructure to support campers, who can access a few modern conveniences, such as wi-fi network connectivity by a cell tower; and

     WHEREAS, the cosmic campground international dark sky sanctuary will provide a place to gaze in wonder at the vast expanse of a natural night sky and offer visitors from around the United States and the world an opportunity to enjoy one of New Mexico's unmatched wild places;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to declare June 4, 2017 "Cosmic Campground Day" in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that congratulations and recognition be extended to the cosmic campground for its designation as the first international dark sky sanctuary in the United States; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the United States forest service and the international dark-sky association.

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