Join the Sidewalk Astronomers for a Spring Star Party at Black Canyon Equestrian and Group Campground in Mojave national Preserve April 10th (some of the astronomers will arrive on the 9th for a shorter informal star party that night). There is a small 10 x 20 ft level cement pad for the telescopes, with room for perhaps 6-8 telescopes, so let me know if you are not one of the usual astronomers but plan to bring one - it will be first come, first setup on the pad, but lots of room next to your tent for setup. There is room for about 30 people camping (10-15 tents), with nearby first come first serve spaces at Hole in the wall campground. The spring sky is magnificent in a dark sky and Mojave National Preserve offers one of the very best and darkest (and closest to us) sites in the United States! Mars and Saturn bookend the beautiful constellation Leo the lion, while dozens of spring galaxies are easy to find in the dark velvet skies. The faint winter spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy will glimmer like a gossamer veil of stardust in the western sky after dark. Mercury and Venus will be visible low on the western horizon just after sunset, too. And to the south, naturalists will enjoy identifying the constellations Corvus the crow and Hydra the snake. For pictures, stories and desert tortoise videos from last years event: http://mojo.whiteoaks.com/2009/04/26/snakes-tortoises-and-stars/- end blurb The SW Herpetologists will on hand too, for night and day forays to see Chuckwallas, and other reptiles, if you are interested in that. There is room for RV's in the parking lot, pit toilets and even running water near the covered picnic table pavilion for dishwashing. We have established a relationship with the Mojave National Preserve park staff, the brand new Mojave Preserve Conservancy, and the National Park Conservation Association and there will be a great pot luck Saturday night all with these folks. (join these groups and help preserve this preserve. :-) I have it on good authority that this should be a great time of year to see the desert tortoises and high desert wildflowers and blooming cacti. :-) Link http://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm (click on map and campgrounds for more info and details.) This is a 200+ mile one way drive from near Monrovia. But the stars (and tortoises) are well with the journey. ;-) This weekend we're all scattering here and there for star gazing and so there is no "official" dark sky star party. If you crave a dark sky - we typically travel at least 100-150 miles one way to get out of the light dome of LA: Yucca Valley Andromeda Society Feb 13, Mar 13 Joshua Tree Lake/Campground at 2601 Sunfair Rd. about four miles north of the airport. Borrego Springs Feb 13, Mar 13 sponsored by ABDNHA Church Lane 1-760-767-3098 for directions Jane Houston Jones Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205 Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435 jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov What's Up For February - 400th Anniv of Galilean Moon discovery http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm