Viewing is done in a mountain valley - called Uspallata - about two hours outside of Mendoza .The best place to stay is the Gran Hotel Uspallata. Uspallata is a ski area, and the hotel is like a lodge. It even has a youth hostel attached to it. The rates are moderate, the food is good and cheap and the accommodations spacious but not luxurious. It’s walking distance from downtown Uspallata. The hotel has bicycles for its guests, tennis courts, and there is hiking and rafting and horseback riding nearby. GAMA also has a local observing site equivalent to our Larch Mountain about 25 minutes outside of Mendoza that the members of the club may be able to take you to.

Their seasons are opposite of ours, so their best viewing season is during our winter, their March is like our September and vice versa. GAMA has worked up a southern skies “Messier list” and other observing guide to help you make the most of your observing nights (which, by the way, can be cold). We encourage you to contact the GAMA group and go if you can. The club is made up of serious observers whose knowledge of the southern skies is excellent and whose passion for the stars is as strong as yours is. If you have any questions, contact the RCA Sister Club Liaison Jan Keiski.

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