Roland's Astro Corral (RAC)

Roland's Astro Corral (RAC) is a dark sky site located on a private ranch in the Pawnee National Grasslands.  The rancher has given permission to members of the Longmont Astronomical Society access to the property on dark sky weekends to observe with our telescopes. Light domes from Fort Collins and Denver area obscure perhaps 30 degrees of the sky in the southwest to the northwest. Dark sky views in all other directions are very good. A pretty good site though perhaps a bit dusty. A working corral though, so watch where you step! Limitting magnitude here is around 6.3.

Weather Conditions

NOAA Weather Forecast (Briggsdale)

Directions to the Site

Drive north on I25 to Fort Collins and take the Ault exit (269) and head east on Colorado 14 for 32.5 miles . Note after you pass Milepost 171, start watching for a north-south gravel road.  The turnoff is just before Milepost 172. Keep in mind that County Road 69 is not marked with any signs.  Turn left (north) on county road 69 - after the turn you will see a country road marker and "Not a Through Road" sign.

Drive slowly north on County Road 69 for 3 miles.  This is open range; cattle may be on the road.

You will pass a small windmill and stock tank on your right. At the cross road, turn right (east) on County Road 96 and drive 0.7 miles to a corral which is on the left (north) side of road.