Mount pinos CA dark sky observing end April 2011

Hi All,

Was just wondering if anyone in SoCal have any observing information about the site in Mount Pinos. I just moved from the land down under to LA for work and was curious to check Mount Pinos out the last weekend of April (new moon weekend) and possibly the weekend after that (first weekend of May). When do people usually go there (like the weekend of the new moon and the weekend after) and is it a safe spot to observe from? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Darren

Darren Wong said:I just moved from the land down under to LA for work and was curious to check Mount Pinos out. When do people usually go there and is it a safe spot to observe from?

The observing site on Mount Pinos is a large parking lot at the 8,200 foot level used by cross-country skiers during the winter. From Spring to Fall, there is no snow there and for years it has been the preferred dark sky site for Southern California amateur astronomers. As the communities to the north as well as the south of the mountain have grown, the dark skies are not as pristine as they once were, but they are still among the best readily accessible from the L.A. metropolitan area.
For obvious reasons, summer weekends near the new moon are the most crowded times on Mount Pinos, and it may be difficult for late arrivals to find an observing site. Make sure that you arrange to arrive before darkness falls, not only to find an observing site but to avoid the ire of other observers disturbed by your headlights. Daylight Savings Time hours will help.
Safety? The road climbs the large mountain gradually and a reasonably competent driver should not find it difficult or dangerous. As concerns the fact that you will be among strangers, I have never heard of any untoward incidents there, but the site is accessible to anyone. However, it tends to be too remote a location for anyone who isn't going there for astronomical observing, and once your neighbor has set up his 20-inch dobsonian or other large and/or expensive equipment it is unlikely that he/she is up to no good.

Darren,

Mt. Pinos is a popular place for observing for the LA area.

Also consider the Goat Mountain Astronomical Research Station. It is the ten acre site belonging to the Riverside Astronomical Society. Details are at: http://rivastro.org/ras_landers.html

Alex

Hi Darren,
MT Pinos is a good spot, with reasonably dark skies and a good solid parking lot to set up. There are portapotties for restrooms, not the greatest but serviceable.

In recent years it has become more crowded and there is more car traffic at night than in the past. It is best to go on Friday and spent the night for Saturday and leave Sunday. If you arrive on Saturday, it should be early or you may find it difficult to get a spot.

I have been going there for a while and no problems with anyone really. Nothing violent or disturbing has occurred though there have been a few tipsy people rooming around after dark looking through scopes.

It gets quite cold, so make sure you take VERY warm clothing in layers. No water or food, so take those as well. You can sleep in your car, van, trailer or motorhome or even a cot outside. But you can not set up a tent on the lot, but there is a campsite about 100 yards away that you can.

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