Stjärnskådarnas sabbatical

Sadly necessary preface: All available dates are on the calendar. All bookings must be completed through the Vrbo website. There will never be any exceptions. Messages reflecting ignorance of this paragraph will be ignored.

Phew. Okay, now the fun stuff.

Our little house was one of hundreds built by the Phelps-Dodge mining company to house the workers at its New Cornelia copper mine between 1916 and 1985. We recently completed the first phase of a long term renovation plan and it's ready for people to enjoy.

This former mining town turned artist colony is emerging as a base camp for outdoor adventurers, astrophotographers, and everyone else who wants to revel in the remote beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

The town's burgeoning scene includes live music and dance shows, literature and art presentations, open air markets, and a growing range of artisanal culinary offerings, all with a Sonoran Desert twist that is unique to Ajo.

Phoenix and its metropolitan amenities are two hours away by car, and the laid back culturepalooza of beautiful Tucson is only a 2.5 hour drive along scenic AZ 86.

If you're feeling the need to get your beach on, bring your passport and pop down to the former fishing village and current resort town of Puerto Peñasco, a two hour jaunt across the Mexican border to the Gulf of California (don't forget to buy Mexican car insurance in Ajo before you go).

As beautiful as the desert is, Ajo's greatest natural attraction is its dark night sky. More than a hundred miles from the nearest major city, the absence of light pollution allows Ajo visitors to see the night skies of their ancestors. The backyard of the house is on the lowest fringe of Bortle 4. Bortle 3 is a five minute walk, and Bortle 2 is a five minute drive. (You'll need camping gear and a 4WD vehicle to enjoy Bortle 1.)

The property is slowly being optimized for amateur astronomy, because its owner hopes to spend his winter nights that way upon retirement. In the meantime, you can enjoy its already ample charms.