The Seventh Annual Central Nevada Star Party
Sponsored by the Tonopah Astronomical Society
September 22th through September 25th, 2011
Last year was just fantastic so let's do it again!
The sixth annual CNSP was a great success last year so we will do it again at the same place. The skies were as dark as ever and this time we actually measured the darkness and the results were impressive. The highest we measured was 22.05 and measurements taken recently this year about twenty miles from the site were above 23 with a high of 23.17!
Check out the site at Jonathan Tomshine's Dark Sky Finder web site.
Join us for The Seventh Annual Central Nevada Star Party! We will be gathering at Monte Cristo's Castle at an altitude of 5160 feet in the middle of the dark skies of Central Nevada. Monte Cristo's Castle is located two miles off of US95/US6, 24 miles north of Silver Peak and 37 miles west of Tonopah, Nevada.
Join us at the star party where you are not camping on top of your neighbor and you can set up right next to your tent or RV.
Join club member Chip Winkler on Saturday morning for a hiking tour of the geological wonders of Monte Cristo's Castle.
This is a proposed state park that our members have visited during the day for BBQ's and have had several star parties and it never disappoints. The Milky Way with numerous dark lanes blazes from horizon to horizon and galaxies, nebulae and star clusters were clear and steady.
The down side to having a dark site free of light pollution is that this is a primitive site. There is no water available, so bring your own. There are no garbage facilities so what you haul in, you will have to haul out. We will be bringing in portable toilets But they will not be arriving until Thursday so do not show up before then unless you have your own facilities. We will be accepting donations to cover expenses. If you plan to attend this star party please email the webmaster so we will know how many people to plan for. If you do not want to camp, lodging is available in Tonopah about 37 miles away. Tonopah also has several restaurants, a Scolari's grocery store, a hospital with 24 hour ER and medical clinic, numerous gas stations and museums.
About campfires. First and safest choice is to use a propane stove. If you do not have a propane stove use a charcoal briquettes grill. As a last resort, a campfire is acceptable provided a) There is no wood available at the site. You will have to bring in your own. b) Have a shovel and a bucket of water available to douse the fire if needed. Remember that we are out in the middle of the desert and fire fighting resources are limited if a brush fire should get started.
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We can fit a lot of telescopes in the amphitheater at Monte Cristo's Castle |
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North end of the amphitheater looking south |
Directions
From the Gazebo in the Best Western Hotel in downtown Tonopah, drive north on US95/US6 34.1 miles to Esmeralda County mile marker 25. The mile marker will have an ES and a mile number on it. Nevada State Route 265 goes to the south and heading north is a dirt road going towards the Monte Cristo Range. Turn right onto the dirt road. Drive 2.0 miles and you are at the viewing area.
If you are coming from southern California get on US 395 and take it to Bishop, California. From Bishop get on US 6 and take that about 75 miles to where it meets US 95. Turn right and follow US 95 until you reach Esmeralda County mile marker 25. The mile marker will have an ES and a mile number on it. Nevada State Route 265 goes to the south and heading north is a dirt road going towards the Monte Cristo range. Turn left onto the dirt road. Drive 2.0 miles and you are at the viewing area.
From northern California or the Reno area. Drive to Reno and take Interstate 80 east to Fernley. Get off at he second Fernley exit and get on US 50 heading east. Go about 30 miles to Fallon and turn south onto US 95 heading towards Hawthorne. Hawthorne is about 75 miles from Fallon. Continue through Hawthorne and about 60 or 65 miles past Hawthorne is Esmeralda County mile marker 25. The mile marker will have an ES and a mile number on it. Nevada State Route 265 goes to the south and heading north is a dirt road going towards the Monte Cristo range. Turn left onto the dirt road. Drive 2.0 miles and you are at the viewing area.