Charles Ross spent 50 yrs building Star Axis naked-eye observatory in New Mexico

https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/ reports the area rates a 2 "average dark sky" on the Bortle scale, just short of an "excellent" score of 1. It's location halfway between Santa Rosa and Las Vegas, New Mexico is as far from populated areas as you might think.

non-paywall: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/arts/design/charles-ross-...

good luck if that startup gets to put up hundreds of space mirrors for nighttime daylight

Dr.Becky had a good rant about it this week in the middle of her episode lol

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr52wOlyOaM

her knowledge + enthusiasm is infectious, love it