What is the best place in the world for star watching in OC? (Anaheim: credit card, campsites)

[autumnsky]

Do you know where? I live around the city Garden Grove area. Any place for star watching? I want to see the stars clearly too.

Thanks.

[ocexpo]

Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim Hills during their summertime night events.

[EscapeCalifornia]

There's way too much light pollution in OC. You're going to have to get away from it to see anything which means getting into the canyons (Silverado, Modjeska, etc) or even better, heading over the mountains into a rural part of Riverside county.

[anwahp]

Hi good day
Hi everyone i am a newly member on this forums .I don't have any idea where is this. And I don’t think how to go there. Where is it? I wish to go there. Where is it?
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[MIKEETC]

I don't think you can satisfactorily observe the night sky unless you have crystal clear skies (i.e. no moisture in the atmosphere) and no/low light conditions. The only places this wil generally occur will be the mountains or the desert. Even the mountains in the OC may not be far enough from the urban light pollution unless you're looking straight up. Give it a try and see what happens. However, I think the urban glow will be ever present on the horizon.

To really get no/low light conditions where you don't have any light interference on the horizon, consider the desert. It's a drive but worth it.

For me, the test is whether I can see the Milky Way Galaxy clearly. If I can't, there's too much light or too much moisture in the air.

[zenjenn]

I grew up in OC and loved star gazing and going to watch meteor showers.

IMO, you have to get out into the desert to really get a clear view. If you can, go to Joshua Tree - if you can't - just drive east until you are away from the sprawl (an hour or two at least), and pull over somewhere.

I was living in Fullerton when the Hale-Bopp comet was around - you could see it but it wasn't anything impressive. While it was still near, I went to Ohio to visit my husband who was working in Sandusky, near Cleveland. NO COMPARISON! The comet was immensely more impressive in Sandusky and even in the heart of Cleveland.

I had a similar experience with Hyakutake comet - I was at UCLA at the time and in Westwood you could barely detect it was a fuzzy star. My friends didn't even believe me that I was pointing out a comet, and we practically drove to Valencia to even be able to clearly see it was a comet.

[punkrocker27ka]

Casper's Regional Park. It is off the 74 Ortega Highway. It is fantastic at night. My astronomy class took a field trip out there and the stars were magnificent. I highly recommend.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by punkrocker27ka

Casper's Regional Park. It is off the 74 Ortega Highway. It is fantastic at night. My astronomy class took a field trip out there and the stars were magnificent. I highly recommend.

Is it legal and safe to be there at night?

[recycled]

Of course. Many people use the Caspers Regional Park campsites most weekends. There are 30 or more campsites. Campsite fees are pretty reasonable and the rangers keep a close watch on things.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by recycled

Of course. Many people use the Caspers Regional Park campsites most weekends. There are 30 or more campsites. Campsite fees are pretty reasonable and the rangers keep a close watch on things.

Ok. I've never been to Caspers but I know some parks close at dusk so I wasn't sure.