Henry W. Coe State Park

I will be visiting Henry W. Coe State Park (http://www.coepark.org/) this month and had a few questions for people who have visited there:

1. How dark are the skies?
2. How are the horizon's?
3. How is the park in the day?
4. Where is the best place to observe in the park?
5. Is observing suitable from the campsites?

For people who haven't visited the park:

1. What are some semi challenging DSO's?
2. What are other good observing sites in California?


Thanks,
Zack

Hi Gordon,

Thank you very much for the information! Next time I have more driving time, I'll definitely go there

Zack Aderan said:

I will be visiting Henry W. Coe State Park (http://www.coepark.org/) this month and had a few questions for people who have visited there:

1. How dark are the skies?
2. How are the horizon's?
3. How is the park in the day?
4. Where is the best place to observe in the park?
5. Is observing suitable from the campsites?

For people who haven't visited the park:

1. What are some semi challenging DSO's?
2. What are other good observing sites in California?


Thanks,
Zack

Zack, Coe has very good dark skies for observing. The park is the second largest state park (by acreage) in California. Anza Borrego being the largest. The San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) has (or at least used to have) events there from time to time. I've camped here a half dozen times over the years. In summer it is hot, hot, hot, dry and dusty.

Camping comes in two varieties - close to the parking lot and HQ walk-in "group" campsites, and primitive back country hike-in campsites. Most observing takes place at the HQ lot or at the group campsites. The hike-in sites are fairly remote and the terrain is very steep and rutted. If you're fit and have a lighweight backpackable rig, you could go for it, but you'd not be taking a big Dob to any of the primitive campsites.

In the same general area, the preferred dark sky observing site is Fremont Peak. There's a 30" Dob in an observatory there owned by one of the regional astronomical groups, drive-in campsites, and astronomy-friendly rangers and staff.

I've given a couple of links for both parks, below.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=561

http://www.coepark.org/

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=564

http://www.fpoa.net/

Lastly, here's another good resource for northern California observing is "TAC" or "The Astronomy Connection", linked below.

http://www.observers.org/

Regards,

Jim