Our next Star Party is on Feb 21st, starting at 6pm at Santa Margarita Lake Marina!
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.
Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453. Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/
Arriving at the park: We highly recommend that you arrive before dark! Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are a CCAS member arriving for our ”Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is up to one hour before sunset.) Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.
Telescope area: The telescope area is at the south end of the parking lot beyond the San Luis Rowing Club building.
Telescope operators: Please park vehicles in two rows, ensuring that a clear lane remains open on either side of the equipment & vehicles. If you’re new and would like help setting up your telescope, please arrive at least a half hour before sunset so we can help you before it gets too dark.
Attendees not setting up telescopes: Please park in the northern half of the parking lot with headlights facing towards the parking lot exit and away from the telescope zone. Groups: If you have a group of ten or more people, give us a “heads up” that you’re coming with a big group so we can be prepared!
What to Bring & Know: Dress warm, wear sturdy shoes, and bring your sense of wonder. Optional but nice to have include binoculars, a lawn chair and blanket, and curious questions for our astronomers. Please DO NOT bring small children (5 yrs and under), animals, white lights (including car headlights – turn them off when you are nearing the group!). There is no cell service, internet, or power at this site. Alcohol and smoking (including vaping) is not permitted. Bathrooms are 50 feet from the site near the Rowing Club.
Our star parties are open to the public and held on the weekend closest to the new moon (when possible). We ask that everyone adhere to some basic CCAS and SLO County Parks Department guidelines:
- No white lights after dark. Please use only minimum red lights. (This includes HEADLIGHTS!)
- No alcoholic beverages, smoking, or vaping at stargazing activities.
- To maintain a safe observing environment, no small children (0-5 yrs) and no animals.
- Wear good shoes, you will be walking around in low light near expensive equipment.
- Do not bring laser pointers if you’re not operating a telescope. Prolonged use of lasers for pointing at objects in the sky is bad star party etiquette and detracts from the enjoyment of the night sky by others.
- It is imperative to avoid trip hazards around the telescopes and adjacent areas. Please stow loading ramps and equipment cases inside your vehicle or under tables and tripods. For the safety of your equipment and park visitors, we recommend marking tripod feet with glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark tape or subtle red illumination. If you are setting up a screen/projector for public use, make sure to shield all sides from other telescopes or setting up near the end of the line of telescopes.
Thank you for helping us make this an enjoyable evening for everyone!