summertime.star party

Meteor Showers

Usually the Perseid Meteor Shower is the best show of the year, unless there is a full moon present. New moon / no moon conditions are best for viewing meteor showers. This year we luck out!

Meteors also called falling or shooting stars occur when the Earth passes through debris fields left by passing comets. What we are witnessing when we see a shooting-star is a small piece of interplanetary matter, called a meteor, entering the Earth's atmosphere and 'burning up' at a height of about 100 km. While most look white, some can appear blue, green, yellow, orange, or red. Some may even explode at the end of its visible flight. Most showers produce about 20, or so, meteors per hour but there are showers which can produce hundreds of meteors over a period of less than an hour. Such shows are, unfortunately, very rare. Meteor showers are named after the constellation from which they appear to radiate.

viewing

All you need to observe these celestial displays are a dark sky, a way to stay comfortable, and a little patience. Light pollution or moonlight will drastically reduce the number of meteors you see, so plan accordingly. This is a perfect time for a camping trip. A dark site with an open expanse of the sky is supreme. After all flashlights are out & you get away from the campfire light - give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the dark. Settle in, look up, and relax.

Keep campfires low or do without one all together for this evening of stargazing. Make yourself comfortable with a reclining lawn chair, sleeping bag, coffee or hot chocolate. Have plenty of snacks on hand along with good music and the company of other stargazers. Remember keep your eyes turned toward the assigned NE direction of the sky.

tips:

Start your watch no earlier than midnight or 2 a.m. or preferably later. The hour or two before dawn should be best of all. If camping, as ridiculous as it seems, bring a portable alarm clock with you. For most people this will be a 'wake early & view' not a 'stay-up-late & miss it' project.

Plan Ahead! Meteor showers are the perfect time to plan your outdoor trips. Time to reserve that special cabin in the mountains or think about a camping adventure in the high desert, mountains or countryside.

Great Viewing Spots

First off ­ Get outta the City!
Light pollution from large cities ruins most all night skies. If you are gonna drive out, might as well camp out. Get a cabin in the mountains or reserve a room in your favorite remote central coast retreat. Most of the time the coastal regions may have too much moisture in the air for optimum viewing. The inland areas such as the Mountains & Deserts are the best spots

Coastal	Desert	Mountains	Country
coastal fog can sometimes spoil your stargazing fun, but if you are lucky...warm westerly winds could kick in for a clear night	could be a little warm & toasty out here in mid summers heat, but if your like it hot, this is the place to be	perfect time of year for mountain visits, warm days, cool nights. whether its a cabin or camp out your sure to see the best stars up high	warm country nights with hot days are to be expected. visit your favorite wine country region, stay in a cute little bed & breakfast
.	.	.	.
Cambria	Borrego Springs	Idyllwild	Plymouth
Big Sur	Red Rock SP	Huntington Lake	Calistoga
Solvang	Joshua Tree	Fawnskin	Lakeport
Mendocino	Panamint Springs	Bridgeport	Napa
Ferndale	Guadalupe Cyn.	Kernville	Volcano
Trinidad	Anza Borrego SP	Sequoia NF	Walker
Los Padres NF	Mojave NP	Sierra NF	Stanislaus NF

Camping with Space!

By August, Summer is almost over & another year is about to pass you by..... & you have yet to go camping this season? Now is the time. End of the summer clearance sales for great gear deals; Warm nights; Plenty of great destinations await you. Below are some of the best places in California to camp out and see the stars without the typically crowded campgrounds. Venture out to primitive sites down dirt back roads and be as secluded as you want. Don't forget your free fire permit.

Los Padres National Forest -This land is not densely forested, so finding a good clearing or meadow is easy. Plenty of dirt roads to explore. from Close by Los Angeles, but far enough away from the city lights.

suggestions: Thorn Meadows, Rancho Nuevo or Tinta camps, off Interstate 5 West of Frazier Park - Lockwood Valley Rd. plenty of backroads off into wilderness, remote backroads near Big Sur coastline.

Inyo National Forest -The area here is so far from major city lights, great stargazing country.

suggestions: The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is located in high elevation at 7000 feet+ and the uncrowded park makes for perfect viewing & visiting. The Eastern side of the Inyo NF just west of Bishop offers Coyote Creek - 4 wheel drive vehicles only....plenty of views, meadows & lakes.

Sequoia National Forest -This prime forested are provides plenty of open spaces also, Plenty of old logging roads / dirt roads to primitive camp along. Just remember your fire permit.

suggestions: Dome Rock lookout, plenty of room @ Kennedy Mdws, & Jeannie Lakes Wilderness area near Sequoia& Kings Cyn national Parks.

Cleveland National Forest
- Close to Southern California but far enough from the cities.

suggestions: Julian, camp in Laguna Mtns. or Indian Flats campground near Warner Springs

San Bernardino National Forest
- Close to all of Southern California, some city lights may effect viewing.

suggestions: camp primitive style at Thomas Mtn, near Idyllwild area or backpack into Deep Creek Hot Springs east of Fawnskin.

Sierra National Forest - Western side of the Sierra, Escape the heat well above the Central Valley.

suggestions: Shaver & Huntington Lake, Lakeshore, Mono Hot Springs area.

Stanislaus National Forest - The mid-Sierra's best kept secret. From Sonora Pass all the way to Twain Harte.

suggestions: Clarks Fork Road, all the camping opportunities you could want with plenty of great river fishing, awesome views, ultimate seclusion, & even dirt back roads accessing remote meadows.