Rockhound State Park
Sky Score 59/100≈ Bortle 3
Rockhound State Park is a protected area in New Mexico with a measured darkness of 79/100 (≈ Bortle 3) — a genuinely dark sky where the Milky Way is a bright, structured band. The best month to come is typically May, when about 83% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 48/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 52%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Rockhound State Park
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 67% | 58/100 |
| February | 68% | 59/100 |
| March | 65% | 57/100 |
| April | 77% | 64/100 |
| May ★ | 83% | 68/100 |
| June | 69% | 59/100 |
| July | 53% | 49/100 |
| August | 52% | 48/100 |
| September | 72% | 61/100 |
| October | 75% | 63/100 |
| November | 69% | 59/100 |
| December | 65% | 57/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Rockhound State Park
No lodging within 80 km — this is true wilderness. Plan to camp, or base yourself in the nearest gateway town and drive out for the night.
Nearby spots in New Mexico
- Provenance Cone — 32.3 km · Sky Score 64/100
- Pancho Villa State Park — 38 km · Sky Score 46/100
- City of Rocks State Park — 56.6 km · Sky Score 65/100
- Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument — 66.8 km · Sky Score 44/100
- Prehistoric Trackways National Monument — 71.3 km · Sky Score 47/100