Activities | Night Sky | Observatories
moon.stargazing
Meteor Showers
I saw a bunch of shooting stars, Is there a meteor showers going on right now? When's the best time to see stars this season? What weekend should I go camping? Now you can plan your outdoor excursions around the nights sky's shows. Most meteor showers from North America can be seen in the later part of the year. The Perseid Shower is usually is the most noted summertime display. Leonid & Geminid Showers also are good shows. Check out the charts below for best viewing & perfect timing.
Meteor Showers - Viewing from California
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WILL PAY FOR METEORITES
A rural Montana couple says
it's willing to pay up to $10,000 for actual meteorites. Marlin
Cilz and his wife Debbie own a company called the Montana Meteorite
Laboratory in Malta, Montana. They tell the Great Falls Tribune
that they will pay up to the ten grand price at a payout of $10
per pound.
Mr. Cilz has been collecting
meteorites since childhood. He cuts, polishes and etches the
rocks and then sells them to universities and other collectors
around the world. Cilz notes that even though meteorites are
small, when the enter they atmosphere they come crashing in with
a sound that resembles a freight train.
He tells would-be meteorite
hunters that most of the space visitors are dark and smooth and
can be attracted to most magnets. They are usually rust-colored
brown or black and some have shallow depressions in them as if
caused by a human thumb ... were the material actually soft at
one time. Cilz says that too many people have come in contact
with meteorites and think they are just plain rocks. Many farmers,
clearing their fields, have stacked them into piles as "discards."
He says that the largest one he has purchased weighed 400 pounds.
The Cilz' labs can be reached
at 406-654-2192.
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Mystery of Meteors
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Good Areas
to Watch the Skies
Choose an area at least 40 miles from a major metropolitan city. Even sprawling suburbia street lights can be over powering. Gotta get away from the light polution.
Pick a secondary road just of the local mountains highway. Pulling off the main drag just a quarter of a mile will help cut down on car headlights and the noise from passing traffic. Pick a level spot to park on the side, preferable in a wide section of the road. Next to a meadow or clearing is your best bet.
Open skies with very little trees around is preferred. Higher elevations (5000' +) will be colder temperatures at night ...where mid elevations (3000'+) should be perfect with countryside oak terrain & minimal tree coverage. Most of the California reservoirs are perfect areas for such night sky watching. Plus the deserts make perfect spots in the winter months... when the viewing is prime.
Make a night of it!! Be sure that you bring your binoculars, tripod, telescope, tarp.
And some additional comfort items: music, picnic food & beverages, sleeping bags, blankets, chairs.& hell, may as well throw in that inflatable mattress (for sheer luxury).
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perfect spots:
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Picnic dinner or Sunset appetizers
Pine Creek Rd. in San Diego County
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Full Moons 
When the moon is close to full, it's a great time for night hikes or mountain biking around desert roads at night. The bright reflection makes it difficult for star gazing, but it is perfect for checking out the moons surface with a telescope.
Get moon phases for your desired timeframe http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html
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Photo Credit © Jan Alexander |
No Moons / New Moon  When there is no moon visible in the dark sky it is considered a new moon. This is the best time to see the stars because of the lack of moonlight in the nights sky. Just like the full moon, there is one new moon per month, approx. 15 days from the full moon date.
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Great Spots for StarGazing:
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