Anza-Borrego Desert Stargazing Forecast – July 2025

Golf, restaurant and Ram Shack operations will pause as crews prepare the course for the season ahead.

Limited-time summer promotion encourages families to explore wolf conservation and education in Julian.

By Dennis Mammana Week of July 5-11, 2026 There's a constellation in our night sky right now that is somewhat unknown to stargazers. Despite being huge — it's the 11th-largest in all the heavens — it has no stars brighter than the North Star, so you won't find it easily without a pretty dark sky. Its name is Ophiuchus (oh-fee-YOU-kuhs), and if you'd like to find it this month, you'll need to get away from the city lights and gaze midway up in the southeast shortly after dark. Ophiuchus (the serpent-bearer) represents Aesculapiu, the ancient Greco-Roman god of medicine, healing and physicians, and its brightest star is named Rasalhague, which is Arabic for "Head of the Snake Charmer." Draped from one side of Ophiuchus to the other lies Serpens — the only two-part constellation in the heavens — with its head on one side (Serpens Caput) and its tail on the other (Serpens Cauda). I admit that it requires quite an imagination to find these star groupings, but once you do, you'll know them forever. In fact, you may even recognize this shape, especially if you've ever searched online for the name of a physician. Quite often, you'll find the image of two serpents wrapped around a vertical staff that appears topped by a round knob and is flanked by wings. It's known as the "caduceus," and since 1902, when the U.S. Army adopted it as the insignia of its Medical Corps, it has been the familiar emblem of the American medical profession. Many medical associations — including the World Health Organization — use what some consider to be the "correct" and traditional symbol of medicine: the staff of Asclepius, with a single serpent encircling a staff. Either way, people have long associated the serpent with medicine. Once you find its stars, you'll see that Ophiuchus lies along some of the thickest star clouds of the Milky Way. If you've managed to get yourself to a rural location with a non-light-polluted sky, you'll have little trouble finding the hazy band of the Milky Way passing near this constellation, along with the bright reddish-orange star Antares (the heart of Scorpius, the scorpion) just to its lower right. Be sure to take binoculars with you so you can scan this celestial region. Here you'll find countless "faint fuzzies" (as amateur astronomers affectionately call deep-sky objects). Many of these are star clusters — collections of dozens, hundreds or even thousands of stars held together by gravitation — and interstellar nebulae, where stars and planetary systems are constantly forming. Now, while you're gazing at the stars of Ophiuchus, here's a little tidbit to wrap your head around: This constellation is not one of the official signs of the zodiac, but it should be. Why, you ask? Because the sun spends three times as many days in front of the stars of Ophiuchus as it does in Scorpius. So why, then, is this constellation missing from the official zodiacal signs in horoscope tables? Your guess is as good as mine. Just remember, if you were born between Nov. 29 and Dec. 17, you're not a "Scorpio" or "Sagittarius," as you might have thought. You're actually an Ophiuchan! Make of that what you will... Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com . Learn More About Borrego Springs

January 20, 1977 Xmas circle 25 years old By VIRGINIA DeMARAIS Under the supervision of A. A. Burnand Jr., the $10,000 Christmas Circle fountain was nearing completion 25 years ago this month. The fountain is in memory of J. A. Di Giorgio, pioneer agricultural developer of Borrego Springs. Other events twenty-five years ago: Lucy Hillyer of Borrego Springs is the new president of the North San Diego County Chamber of Commerce. Bill DeMarais was installed as president of the Borrego Springs Kiwanis Club. Other officers are L. W. Lindherr, vice-president; Fred Gardner, treasurer and Roy Gentel, secretary. Membership of the club is 32. The Cliff Boren Construction Company of San Diego has completed three new homes. Hal Martinez reports a start on a three-bedroom home for William Sanderson near the Desert Lodge. Harry LeClaire, tract manager for the Borrego Springs Company, reports 20 parcels of land sold during the holidays, totaling $50,000. Work has started on straightening Banner Summit Grade, reports Hugh Woods, vice-president of the Highway 78 Association. The Borrego Springs Square Dance Club is meeting at Hoberg’s Desert Resort. Wick Hauser is caller and teacher, Dick Wear – manager. Girl Scout Troop 441 of Borrego Springs serenaded the valley with Christmas carols, under the supervision of Mrs. Ralph Bell, Girl Scout leader, and Mrs. Charles Broeske, assistant. Mrs. Lola LeBard has started construction of a house and trailer court at Sunny Acres on Split Mountain Road. Borrego starts the new year with 18 telephones in the valley. Cover girl for the recently published Redbook Magazine is Dolores Smith Dalzell, daughter of the Borrego mail carrier, George C. Smith. Chamber of Commerce president Hugh Woods reports discussions at meeting of possibility of a bank by Perry Burnand, and suggestions and ideas on promoting television reception in the valley. Birdies are not eagles! Our typewriter slipped when we said W. D. Johnston got an eagle 3 on the par 4 18th hole at De Anza in the last edition. It was, of course, an eagle 2. A review of 1961 A review of 1961 indicates several construction projects: Bill Furlong’s El Patio Shopping Center; a new Post Office; Norman Gilbert’s Building Service Center; the new Road Department Station on Borrego Valley Road; a nearly completed drive-in cafe for J. J. Svoboda; a new swimming pool and remodeling of six units at La Casa del Zorro; a swimming pool added at the Park ’n Plunge; Sun and Shadows, grown to four duplex units and a swimming pool; seven new homes at De Anza Desert Country Club and construction started on expansion of clubhouse; a new subdivision “SunGold” opened by Carlson-Corey Co. This has been sale month: the Borrego Pharmacy was sold to Arthur Holzman, Hacienda del Sol sold to Donald King-Ellison, Borrego Village sold to Thomas Beaudry, Ed Rogers took over the painting business of Denis Such, the Chevron Station was taken over by Hugh Woods, the Union Station sold to Jack Barling. New openings were the Carlson-Corey Realty Company, the Marga-Reta Remembrance Shop, the Bottle Shop, the Bantam Market, and the Lazy V. Cafe. Service seminar Eleven local men recently were given certificates for attending a special electronic ignition service seminar sponsored by J & R Auto Supply in Borrego Springs. The seminar was designed to familiarize them with the new automotive electronic ignition systems, according to John A. Bowley of J & R. Besides Bowley, participants included Ted Townsend of Borrego Automotive; Joe Romas and John Guelke of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park; Billy Lawrence and Thomas Heiser of Borrego Springs Fire Department; John Petrich, Union 76 station; Paul Dellostrillo, Earl Cartier and Dale Cartier of Cartier Mobile Service; Angus Smith of De Anza Country Club, and Henry Barling Jr., Borrego Springs Dump Truck Service. Ewe goes to L.A.  The body of the Bighorn sheep ewe that was found in possession of a man on Montezuma Grade was donated to the Los Angeles County Museum and will become part of a diorama there. Salton Sea steady The Salton Sea water level (-229.3 feet) has remained at that level from Sept. 30 to early December, according to Craig Engel, manager of the State Parks Department Salton Sea Area. Engel said this indicates that “perhaps the water monitoring, higher water rates and fines imposed by the Irrigation District are working.”

Borrego Springs is part of the newly redrawn 48th Congressional District, making the race directly relevant to local voters.