Got a neat email last week from an amateur astronomer in the Bay Area, whose organization is scouting out new locations with lots of dark sky (hi Tony!) While Lake Shastina isn’t perhaps the best place, I’m sure there’s somewhere out here that would suffice. We have amazing seeing in Siskiyou County — if you haven’t seen the Milky Way draped across the sky like a vast jeweled scarf, you simply haven’t lived, in my biased little local opinion.

The idea of a star party nearby is thrilling — it’s all I can do to not leap in the Blazer of Doom and head out looking for suitable spots. (I may yet cave in.) It’s been years since my last glimpse through a telescope, and there’s few experiences I can think of that fill me with awe so much as seeing Jupiter, Saturn and Mars with my bare eyes. Saturn’s rings. Jupiter’s moons. The Moon’s craters, deliciously close, in sharp relief.

(If they only need two-thirds of a sky, the Old Ski Bowl would be SO. FANTASTIC. FOR. STARGAZING. O_O; )

(Oh my. I’m fangirling. I really hope this guy writes back, or calls, or something. I’m giddy. Can’t help it.)

Dark skies are a dying breed in this country; I feel extremely fortunate to have ample amounts of them outside my door. I hope this works out! STAR PARTY!!