New Mexico Eclipse
Events and Viewing Sites
All of these locations will offer safe ways to view the eclipse along with other activities. Go to each site’s webpage or call for details.
Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE, Albuquerque
https://www.cabq.gov/balloon | https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/events/annular-eclipse | 505-768-6020
Live broadcasts by NOAA and NASA.
Coronado Historic Site | 485 Kuaua Rd., Bernalillo https://www.newmexicoculture.org/historic-sites/coronado-historic-site | 505-867-5351
*More Information below.
El Malpais National Monument | 1900 E. Santa Fe Ave., Grants https://www.nps.gov/elma/index.htm | 505-876-2783
Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum of Albuquerque | 1701 Mountain Rd. NW, Albuquerque https://www.explora.us | 505-600-6072
Admission for activities in Rotary Pavilion.
Gutiérrez-Hubbell House Open Space | 6029 Isleta Blvd. SW, Albuquerque https://www.nps.gov/places/gutierrez-hubbell-house.htm | 505-350-5117
Look for Eclipse Parking signs.
Jemez Historic Site | State Route 4, Jemez Springs https://www.newmexicoculture.org/historic-sites/jemez-historic-site | 575-829-3530 *More Information below.
Johnson Field at the University of New Mexico | 2401 Redondo Dr. NE, Albuquerque https://recservices.unm.edu/facility-info/facility-location.html | 505-277-0178
NASA science balloon launch.
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History | 601 Eubank Blvd. SE, Albuquerque https://www.nuclearmuseum.org | 505-245-2137
Admission for activities in Heritage Plaza.
New Mexico Museum of Space History | 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo https://www.nmspacemuseum.org | 575-437-2840
*More Information below.
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science | 1801 Mountain Rd. NW, Albuquerque https://nmnaturalhistory.org | 505-841-2800
*More Information below.
NM Public Lands Information Center / Caja del Rio (Bureau of Land Management) - Location TBD
https://publiclands.org | 505-954-2003
Open Space Visitor Center | 6500 Coors Blvd. NW, Albuquerque https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/open-space-visitor-center | 505-768-4950
Pueblo of Acoma’s Tribal Complex | 33 Pinsbaari Dr., Acoma 505-552-9787
Petroglyph National Monument | Western Trail NW, Albuquerque https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm | 505-899-0205
Viewing sites include the Visitor Center, Volcano Day use area, Rinconada Canyon trail, and Boca Negra Canyon trail.
Placitas Community Library | 453 Hwy 165, Placitas https://placitaslibrary.com | 505-867-3355
Rio Grande Nature Center Nature Center | 2901 Candelaria Rd. NW, Albuquerque https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park/rio-grande-nature-center-state-park | 505-344-7240
$3.00 per car; free solar glasses for the first 400 people.
Rainbow Park Observatory | 301 Southern Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho https://www.rrastro.org/Observatory/Observatory.html | 505-430-9604
Santa Fe Children’s Museum | 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe https://santafechildrensmuseum.org | 505-989-8359
Santa Fe Botanical Gardens | 715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe https://santafebotanicalgarden.org | 505-471-9103
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge | 7851 2nd St. SW, Albuquerque https://www.fws.gov/refuge/valle-de-oro | 505-248-6667
Snacks and music included.
Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area Visitor Center | 2424 Hwy 47, Belen https://valenciaswcd.org/whitfield-wildlife-conservation-area | 505-864-8914
*Details for New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs Sites
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
Balloon Fiest Eclipse Science Talks
The Museum’s Space Science educators and scientists will present a series of talks before the big day on Oct. 14. Find out why eclipses happen, what is special about this one, and most importantly, learn how to view it safely. Talks are included with Museum or Planetarium admission. Find out more here: nmnaturalhistory.org/events/balloon-fiesta-eclipse-science-talk-0?instance=0
Solar Family Afternoons: Monday, Oct. 9 – Friday, Oct. 13. Noon to 3:00 p.m.
(NOTE: Museum is closed Tuesday, Oct. 10)
The Museum’s Space Science educators and scientists are planning special afternoons each day during the week before the eclipse. Join us for talks led by visiting NASA and NOAA scientists along with family-friendly educational activities.
Noon to 3:00 p.m. Hands-on activities for all ages about the sun, walk on the Moon on our one-of-a-kind moon map, make simple eclipse viewers, observe the sun from our observatory
Noon – 1:00 p.m.: Eclipse Planetarium show: Eclipse: The Sun Revealed
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Short talks about the science of eclipses by astronomy educators, NASA and NOAA guests, and solar scientists.
October 14:
Join us for the big day. View the eclipse. Participate in family activities. Talk to our special guest Solar scientists and eclipse experts. Check back to our website for more details as October 14 nears.
NM Museum of Space History
The Great Southwest Star Party: Saturday, October 14th, 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
The Great Southwest Star Party 2023 will take place on the campus of the New Mexico Museum of Space History on Saturday, October 14th. This year’s event will feature viewing of the annular eclipse, speakers, workshops, the grand opening of our new observatory complex and an evening star party. Come join us for a day of observing, learning and comradery. This year’s event will be hosted by the Museum, the Museum’s Astronomical League, NMSU-A and the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation. The event is free and open to the public (not including the Museum and Theater).
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Public viewing of the annular eclipse at the observatory complex
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Astrophotography gallery open, 2nd floor.
12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: 2nd floor talks, content TBD, slots available for 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30.
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Observatory Complex dedication ceremony.
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.: public star party.
Coronado Historic Site
Eclipse Watch Party: Saturday, October 14, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Coronado Historic Site has everything you need to enjoy seeing the eclipse: an arts and crafts fair and comedy! Oh, and there will be eclipse-viewing glasses, too. Staff will bring visitors on special, astronomy-themed tours of the site throughout the day.
For more information, contact Elisabeth Stone at elisabeth.stone@dca.nm.gov
Jemez Historic Site
Saturday, October 14, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
See the annular eclipse nestled in beautiful Jemez! Visitors to Jemez Historic Site can expect an arts and crafts fair, comedy, storytelling, food vendors, and live music throughout the day. And from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., observe the night sky with astronomers and staff. There will be eclipse-viewing glasses made available.
For more information, contact Marlon Magdalena at marlon.magdalena@dca.nm.gov
Eclipse Resources
NASA: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/home
American Astronomical Society: https://eclipse.aas.org
Great American Eclipse: https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com
Time and Date: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse
What is an annular eclipse?
An annular eclipse is one of two varieties of solar eclipse, which occur when the moon moves between the Earth and sun. By sheer coincidence, the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, but it’s also about 400 times closer to the Earth, so both the moon and sun appear roughly the same size in the sky.
However, the moon’s orbit is oblong, so the distance between the Earth’s surface and moon changes continuously. Sometimes, the moon is just far enough away that it can’t quite cover the entire sun, creating an annular eclipse, where a ring of the sun’s surface is still visible around the moon. While it’s a different effect than a total eclipse, where just the sun’s corona is visible, the “ring of light” effect associated with an annular eclipse is a true sight to behold!
What makes this one special?
Solar eclipses are always rare and special events for those living in the path of the moon’s shadow. However, a series of coincidences specific to the October eclipse will make it an historic event for New Mexico.
First, it will be on a very similar path as another annular eclipse in 2012. Having two nearly identical eclipses only 11 years apart is quite the coincidence. On average it takes 375 years for eclipses of the sun pass over the same parts of the Earth!
Secondly, this annular eclipse just happens to be occurring during the last Saturday of this year's Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, one of the busiest days of the year in New Mexico’s largest city. The eclipse is occurring during the mid-morning, right after the planned mass ascension. So, the best place to see this eclipse is from where hundreds of thousands of people are coming for a completely different reason!
When will it occur?
The eclipse will begin at approximately 9:15 a.m., while annularity starts at 10:34 a.m. With Balloon Fiesta’s second-to-last mass ascension slated to begin around 7:00 a.m. (weather permitting), the combination of hot-air balloons and an annular eclipse should be a special sight to behold for those watching in Albuquerque!
How can I view it safely?
Because the sun is not fully obscured, there is no point during an annular eclipse where it is safe to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection. The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science has eclipse glasses for sale at the museum’s gift shop.
Where can I watch it?
The eclipse will be visible across much of New Mexico, including Santa Fe and Roswell. However, Albuquerque is among the best-positioned places in the country to view the eclipse, as the centerline for the eclipse is centered on northern Albuquerque. There will be viewing sites set up all over the city and state, so keep an eye on this website for one near you!
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