He gave the stars By Lawrence Spohn, Albuquerque Tribune Online

This astronomy buff didn’t want to keep the sky to himself, so he chose to share it with Chaco Canyon visitors.

No household name, John Sefick nevertheless is having a large impact on visitors to this remote national park in northwestern New Mexico.

Thanks mostly to him, Chaco Canyon boasts the only observatory in a national park. Despite its isolation, the park is visited by nearly 14,000 people per year – a number that has surprised even its most ardent proponents. …

park officials were enthusiastic and provided the additional construction and operating funds to get the observatory opened by 1999. The decision had ripples, he said, spurring much more modest astronomy programs at other dark sky national parks, notably in southern Utah.

Sefick said he feels especially good about his gift when he has the opportunity to return to Chaco, as he did last month, to use the telescopes and watch the excitement first-hand. He’s said it was “the right idea at the right time at the right place.”

Chaco’s dark sky is officially listed as “a natural resource,” warranting park service protection….