Being new to the Bay Area, but not new to astronomy, I'm in the process of trying to decide where to go tomorrow to view the Leonids. Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm planning on picking a road that goes east, up in the mountains, and just driving till i find a good place to stop.

- Warren

 

The hills of Berkeley are pretty good. Or by Lawrence Livermore laboratory ... you can see lots of stuff in the sky.

 

Take Mines Rd south out of Livermore, then left on the only road that goes to the central valley to the top.

Also, south on 101 to Henry Coe Park, or south of Gilroy to Panoche pass, or further south on 101 to Fremont Peak State Park.

If you really want a trip (take a 4wd not a Honda), drive southeast from the town of Carmel Valley up the mountain to Chews Ridge fire lookout and the Mira observatory.

 

a good spot on the peninsula is in portola valley (near where we had lunch at the burger joint on the trip where we saw the ferraris.

If you go up Alpine, continue along until you see the school district on the left, there's a large field there, and at night it gets pitch black out there. I used to work there and the only time I could find my car at night was during a full moon!

otherwise, if you go up alpine and turn right onto Sand hill road, there's a little "park" area about 2 miles on the left where you can park and hike up to Windy Hill.

From what I was told, they keep the street lights low (non existant) in tht area because of the vicinity to Stanford's observatory...

~~*&^LAH

 

passleft,

Was that your best Sleepie impression?

~~** and so forth...

- Warren

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chroot
[B]Being new to the Bay Area, but not new to astronomy, I'm in the process of trying to decide where to go tomorrow to view the Leonids.

 

I'll be headed up to the top of Loma Prieta...

 

would it get too foggy in the santa cruz mountains? that's the only thing i'm worried about... I was thinking about heading up mt hamilton.

 

The fog wont be an issue... if it comes at all it will hang low to the ground and wont make it as high as we will be (~2500ft). Me main concern would be high clouds... that could be a show stopper.... but the local infrared sat pic looks pretty darn clear...

http://kauai.nrlmry.navy.mil/sat-bin/displ...OSAIC_SCALE=15%

BTW... a number of us are going to meet up at "The Summit" (Casa de 17) on 17 around 12:30 or so before heading up to loma prieta.

 

I'm going to loma prieta with the group.. ed yu coming?

get it? Ed yu?! FDLOL I kill me