Black Butte Lake Star Party

Join us for a four-night observing session in March. We've reserved exclusive access to a large group use area in the Buckhorn campground at Black Butte Lake, near Orland, California. We'll have a paved parking area big enough for a dozen or more RVs. Telescopes can be set up next to the RVs. There are tent-camping sites as well, and lots of open space.

Black Butte Lake is the perfect place for a star party. The skies are dark and comparable to Shingletown or Adin. (How dark is it REALLY?) Access is easy and the roads are excellent. Camping and RV sites are clean and spacious. Water, restrooms, an on-site dump station, wildlife and cooperative rangers all will contribute to a comfortable and pleasant stay. All lights will be controlled by the park rangers in the campground, so light pollution will be at a minimum.

Few places in California combine such pastoral character with dark skies and comfortable camping. And in spring, the rolling oak foothills will be carpeted with green grass.

Because of limits on the number of people and vehicles, this star party is private. Attendance is by invitation only! (How can I get invited?)

Time

  • Check-in on or after Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 12:00 PM noon
  • Check-out by 12:00 PM noon, Wednesday, March 17, 2010
  • New moon occurs March 15

Place

Cost

  • The group use area (Where's this?) is reserved...the fee of $400 for the site has been prepaid
  • We'll divide the cost equally between all attendees on a per-night, per-site basis (How's this?)
  • We'll mail you an admission pass before the star party

Directions

  1. From Sacramento drive north on I-5 to Orland
  2. Take CA 32 exit (619) and turn left on CA 32/Newville Rd
  3. Drive west 12.1 mi. to Buckhorn Rd. and turn left into Buckhorn area (Where's this?)
  4. Stop at gate and show your admission pass
  5. Continue past gate and take first right
  6. Pass through the gate (unlocked) and enter the group use area (Where's this?)

Facilities

  • A large 156' x 156' parking area at far end of group area for RVs and telescopes
  • Other RV and tent-camping sites are located throughout the reserved group area
  • One electrical outlet in the group area gazebo for recharging, but no hookups
  • Water is available in group use area
  • Dump station in the group area
  • One restroom in the group area
  • Other restrooms in Buckhorn Campground have sinks, power and showers (see Buckhorn Campground map)

Local Attractions

Attendees

  1. Jack and Beverly Sales
  2. Bruce and Jeanne Sayre
  3. Bill and Fran Thomas
  4. Keith Myers
  5. Jim Collins
  6. David Samuels
  7. Frank and Joan Dann
  8. Art and Terry Maxwell

Telescopes

  • Celestron C11 (Sales)
  • 22" binocular (Sayre)
  • 22" Dobsonian (Thomas)
  • Deep Sky Instruments RC10C 10" Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph  (Myers)
  • Deep Sky Instruments RC10C 10" Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph or Celestron C11 (Collins)
  • Meade 12.5" Lightbridge Truss Dobsonian(Samuels)
  • Meade 12" LX90 ACF Schmidt Cassegrain (Dann)

Weather

Worried about rain? Check these forecasts for nearby locations:

  1. 30-day forecast for Orland (by DRYDAY)
  2. 30-day forecast for Willows (by DRYDAY)
  3. 30-day forecast for Corning (by DRYDAY)
  4. 7-day forecast for Orland (by National Weather Service)
  5. 10-day forecast for Orland (by Intellicast)
  6. Jetstream position for west coast (by WeatherBank)
  7. Orland Clear Sky Chart (by A. Danko)
  

Photos

Most of these photos were taken in mid-October by Jack Sales. (What are these about?)