Cowboy Spring Wilderness Study Area
Cowboy Spring Wilderness Study Area is a protected area in New Mexico with a measured darkness of 93/100 (≈ Bortle 2), among the very darkest measurable skies in the American Southwest, the Milky Way casts visible shadows on moonless nights. The best month to come is typically May, when about 85% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 56/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 50%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Cowboy Spring Wilderness Study Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 63% | 65/100 |
| February | 66% | 68/100 |
| March | 67% | 68/100 |
| April | 78% | 77/100 |
| May ★ | 85% | 82/100 |
| June | 70% | 71/100 |
| July | 48% | 54/100 |
| August | 50% | 56/100 |
| September | 72% | 72/100 |
| October | 77% | 76/100 |
| November | 69% | 70/100 |
| December | 64% | 66/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Cowboy Spring Wilderness Study Area
Each place below is rated for the darkness at its own doorstep, stay dark, and the sky is yours from the parking lot.
- Check availability →
Adams Ranch Guest House
38.5 km away · darkness at hotel: 89/100
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Nearby spots in New Mexico
- Big Hatchet Mountains Wilderness Study Area 29.5 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Alamo Hueco Mountains Wilderness Study Area 32.6 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Gray Peak Wilderness Study Area 37.8 km · Sky Score 69/100
- BLM 40.3 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Pancho Villa State Park 98.8 km · Sky Score 46/100