Sat. October 5, 2024 at 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.  •  College Star Party on Mt. Pinos  •  Easy  •  Led by David Coppedge and Brody McGrath

This event will take place on one of Southern California’s best locations for stargazing: Mt Pinos near Frazier Park. It will feature a cast of stars! See the Milky Way high overhead, fall constellations, the beautiful M13 globular cluster in Hercules, colorful nebulae, spiral galaxies, clusters, double stars, planets (Venus and Saturn!) and more. Psalm 19:1 says that “The heavens declare the glory of God,” and you will see why! It’s rare these days for city dwellers to see many stars. The weather forecast is looking good, so this is our chance to see the heavens like the shepherd boy David did.

An optional hike begins at 3:00 p.m. and features great views from the top of Mt. Pinos. The hike through a beautiful forest is 1.5 miles each way, total of 3 miles. Those taking the hike should plan to be back before 6:00.

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. Dave will also take your questions about astronomy and the Bible.

DIRECTIONS
Allow 90 minutes driving time from Santa Clarita, in case of traffic on the I-5, which is unfortunately not rare. It’s good to be early anyway to enjoy the fresh mountain air and forest.

For directions, check the Nordic Base on Mt Pinos website. From the Frazier Park turnoff on Interstate 5, it’s about a 20-mile drive from the freeway to the viewing site. Go past the town of Frazier Park (one signal) and continue on Frazier Mountain Park Road (becomes Cuddy Valley Road), without making any major turns (do NOT turn toward Pine Mountain Club). The road winds up the mountain and ends on a paved parking lot where you should see cars and telescopes. Look for our Creation Safaris sign.

Important: After dark, please do not shine headlights or bright white lights in the viewing area. This irritates astronomers who need their eyes to remain dark-adjusted for viewing faint objects. Violators are likely to hear loud shouts “Turn off the lights!” – don’t be that person. Red lights, however, are easier on the eyes and don’t ruin night vision.

WHAT TO BRING
Have warm clothes in your car (altitude is over 8,500 ft). The temperature up there can vary from comfortable to very cold, so have extra layers to put on as needed. Bring a red flashlight, or cover the lens with red cellophane; prepare this beforehand. Some snacks and drinks will be provided, but bring water and any extra food you want. Bring a chair or pad to sit on. 

Note: The nearest restrooms are 1/4 mile walk from the viewing site at a walk-in campground, so go beforehand. Bring your own TP, as sometimes the outhouses are not supplied; we will have some available. Some of the gas stations at the freeway exit have restrooms; we recommend you stop in there before driving up.

Optional: If you have a smartphone, you might enjoy installing the app Google Sky Map beforehand; it can help you locate and identify objects. Binoculars are also helpful to have. A pad or lounge to lie down on may help for upward viewing.

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 seeing your 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 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. Rather than turning on headlights in the lot as you leave, have a friend guide you out with a red flashlight.

We hope to see you October 5 for this mountaintop experience!