New communities cater to amateur stargazers

Dedicated towns include Arizona Sky Village, Deerlick Astronomy Village

Space News

By Tim Gaynor

Updated: 8:45 p.m. ET July 24, 2007

ARIZONA SKY VILLAGE, Arizona - When night falls over the empty desert, retiree Jim Algots climbs the wooden steps to his observatory, dims the lights and rolls back the roof to reveal an ink-black sky.

Until dawn he can train his telescope on a rich field of stars, knowing that despite living in one of the most remote spots in the United States, he is very far from being alone.

The former laboratory technician is among scores of passionate astronomers who have beaten a path to Arizona Sky Village, a purpose-built community for stargazers in southern Arizona more than two hours drive southeast of Tucson.

Full article here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19940428/