Just a few miles away the Arizona Sky Village (ASV) has become established as one of the best astronomy communities in the country. It enjoys clear, dark skies for over 300 nights per year and has a waiting list of astronomers wanting to own property there. We expect Rancho Hidalgo to build on the success of the ASV. Its skies are every bit as good as the ASV and it will benefit from similar lighting and planning controls to ensure the skies remain unspoilt. Within a few weeks of being advertised the first phase of land released for astronomy had been sold out. This bodes well for future land values which are sure to rise when platt approval is granted and astronomers start to build homes and observatories.

Absence of light pollution and clear, dry high-desert air combine to give some of the best skies on the continent. Familiar constellations disappear against a background filled with stars. The Milky Way stretches from horizon to horizon and zodiacal light stands out brightly after sunset. Many deep-sky objects usually requiring binoculars are easily visible to the naked eye. With over three hundred clear nights each year there is no wonder that leading astronomers are moving into the area and the community is growing. And the other attractions of desert life, peace, tranquility, horse riding, nature and the great outdoors make it so much easier to persuade a partner that it's a good place to live or have a holiday home.

For more information on the quality of the skies you can read about the ASV on its US site and its UK site.