August 11, 2023  •  Perseid Meteor Watch near Mojave  •  Easy  •  Led by David Coppedge

The night before the annual Star Party (see next entry), join me in Mojave for dinner then a meteor shower. The Perseids peak after midnight Friday night. We will drive out to a remote desert location far from lights, and watch the natural light show. Expect to see about one per minute on average, some of them bright. No equipment needed; just your eyes to look up at the sky. Bring a folding lounge chair or blanket to lie down on. Those who wish can camp overnight (no facilities) and return in the morning. Don’t forget the Star Party on Mt Pinos on Saturday evening (see next event).

For instructions on the Perseid Meteor Watch, email: bwana@creationsafaris.com 

August 12, 2023  •  Annual Star Party on Mt. Pinos  •  Easy  •  Led by David Coppedge

Creation Safaris’ annual star party on Mt Pinos will feature Saturn high in the night sky, along with the usual treats: the Summer Triangle, M13 globular cluster in Hercules, colorful nebulae in the Milky Way, spiral galaxies, clusters, double stars, and a special treat this year: the Perseid Meteor Shower!

Optional hike begins at 3:00 p.m. and features great views from the top of Mt. Pinos. The hike is 1.5 miles each way, total of 3 miles.

Main event begins at 6:00 p.m. with Dave providing teaching about astronomy news and creation, and orientation about telescopes and what to see after dark. Bring a chair or pad to sit on. 

—> Note: the Perseid meteor shower may draw a bigger than usual crowd of people up to the mountain. If the parking lot at the top is full, and you see a long row of cars along the road, look for us at a turnout somewhere along the road. I will have a wood “Creation Safaris” sign where we are. Park where you can and join us there.

For directions, check the Nordic Base on Mt Pinos website. It’s about a 20-mile drive west of the Frazier Park turnoff on Interstate 5. Go through town and continue on, without making any major turns. The road winds up the mountain and ends on a parking lot where you should see cars and telescopes. Look for our Creation Safaris sign. If the lot is full, park on the road leading up to the lot. Actually, it’s easier leaving after dark if you park along the road right before the parking lot. Do NOT shine headlights or bright white lights in the viewing area after dark! This irritates the astronomers who need their eyes to remain dark-adjusted for viewing faint objects.

What to bring: water, warm clothes (altitude is over 8,000 ft), food and drink, red flashlight, chair. Binoculars can be helpful. A pad or lounge to lie down on may help for upward viewing. The nearest restrooms are 1/8 mile walk from the lot, so go beforehand. Bring your own TP, as sometimes the outhouses are not supplied. If you have a smartphone, try installing the app Google Sky Map beforehand; it can help you locate and identify objects.

Please arrive before 6:00 p.m. to give yourself time to prepare. The teaching time is a key part of this activity. Arriving late not only misses that key part, but also could irritate others with bright headlights, and you may not be able to find parking, either. You can leave the star party any time you need to, but the later you can stay, the better the viewing gets. Try to stay till at least 10:00 p.m. Rather than turning on headlights in the lot, have a friend guide you out with a red flashlight.

August 26, 2023  •  Annual Beach Trip (location TBD)  •  Easy  •  Led by David Coppedge

Trip report: The Beach Safari in 2022 was fun! A dozen people came and had a relaxing time. David gave a short lesson about the wonder of water for our planet and life. Watch for another Beach Safari next year.