I live in Albuquerque and within 2 hours you get the darkest skies you can imagine. Put that together with the average elevation and the dryness and the views are spectacular.
replyI grew up in southern NM, near White Sands, and the skies were so dark and vibrant that the Milky Way band is visible and prominent, and thousands of stars dot the night sky.
replyMy parent's first date was going stargazing in the desert!