TAC Observing Sites

Try this link for page of south bay frequented Clear Sky Charts

Site Description
Blue Canyon

More Information *

Description: Airport site used by the Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society.
Use Policy: Restrict Access by SVAS Members and Guests only per USFS Special Use Permit
Owner: USFS under permit to Placer County
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Paved
Lat: N39 15.528
Lon: W120 42.472
Elev: 5271 ft.

Blue Ridge

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Description: North of Vacaville. A wide parking area where there's room for about 5 cars and scopes.
Use Policy: Public access
Owner: Solano County
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Dirt
Lat: N38 24.5480
Lon: W122 06.47
Elev: 2500 ft.
Road Map
Bonny Doon Airport

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Description: Private property. Only available on Santa Cruz Astronomy Club arranged nights.
Use Policy: Only open when the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club is hosting a star party.
Owner: Private property TAC Site Liaison: Santa Cruz Astronomy Club
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: #### ####
     Moonrise/Moonset: #### ####
Astronomical Twilight: #### ####
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Gravel
Lat: N37 04.317
Lon: W122 07.721
Elev: 2000 ft.
Road Map
Chabot

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Description: A public observatory and planetarium.
Use Policy: Must be a registered volunteer. See their web site: http://www.chabotspace.org/volunteer/default.asp
Owner: City of Oakland
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Paved
Lat: N37 8191
Lon: W122 1819
Elev: 1460 ft.
Road Map
Topographic Map
Coyote Lake

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Description: Lake-side county park near Gilroy.
Use Policy: Anyone can use it for observing at night. No reservations are re
Owner: Santa Clara County
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Paved
Lat: N37 05.567
Lon: W121 32.550
Elev: 970 ft.
Road Map
Deep Sky Ranch

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Description: Private property east of Paicines
Use Policy: Private property. By invitation only.
Owner: Kevin Ritschel (deepskyranch at gmail dot com) TAC Site Liaison: Kevin Ritschel
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Dirt


Del Valle Reservior

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Description: A lake-side park near Livermore.
Use Policy: By reservation. Only on announced nights.
Owner: East Bay Regional Park District TAC Site Liaison: Bruce Jensen
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Varied
Lat: N37 35.900
Lon: W121 41.400
Elev: 1350 ft.

Dinosaur Point

More Information *

Description: Parking lot adjacent to San Luis Reservior.
Use Policy: ---- IMPORTANT ---- DO NOT go to Dinosaur Point without reading the rules, found via the link "More Information" to the left of this section.
TAC Site Liaison: Albert Highe
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: Click for Los Banos, California Forecast
 
Surface: Paved
Lat: N37 03.90
Lon: W121 10.217
Elev: 648 ft.

Fiddletown

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Description: Private property near Fiddletown.
Use Policy: First timers should caravan with a previous visitor, free access after that.
Owner: Bob Kestner TAC Site Liaison: Steve Gottlieb
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Gravel
Lat: N38 29.502
Lon: W120 39.800
Elev: 2565 ft.

Fremont Peak

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Description: A mountain-top state park, with a 30 in. reflector in a club-owned observatory.
Use Policy: Park closes 1/2 hour after sunset except for approved after-hours activities; E-mail the ranger in advance with observing intent - dedavis at parks . ca . gov , include vehicle type and license plate. $4.00 Park Use Fee.
Owner: The State of California TAC Site Liaison: Jamie Dillon
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Paved
Lat: N36 45.655
Lon: W121 30.169
Elev: 2750 ft.
Road Map
GSSP

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Description: Private property on which the Golden State Star Party is held.
Use Policy: Only once per year for TAC's annual star party, the Golden State Star Party (GSSP). You must register with GSSP to attend.
Owner: Frosty Acres Ranch TAC Site Liaison: Richard Ozer & GSSP Committee
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: #### ####
     Moonrise/Moonset: #### ####
Astronomical Twilight: #### ####
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Varied
Lat: N41 8.06221
Lon: W120 580675
Elev: 4400 ft.

Garland Ranch

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Description: A parking facility in Carmel Valley used by the MIRA Observers Group for public star parties.
Use Policy: Park has public access for daytime use only; parking facility is always open but normally used only during scheduled events.
Owner: Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District TAC Site Liaison: Jim Bartolini
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Gravel
Lat: 36º 30.5’ N
Lon: 121º 46’ W
Elev: 185 ft.

Grant Ranch

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Description: County park on Mount Hamilton Road (highway 130), home to HVAG.
Use Policy: Available to HVAG members by prior arrangement, available to others only on scheduled nights.
Owner: Santa Clara County
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Varied
Lat: N37 19.770
Lon: W121 42.921
Elev: 1705 ft.
Road Map
Henry Coe

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Description: A state park near Morgan Hill.
Use Policy: Phone 408 779-2728 or e-mail ranger John Verhoeven at jverhoeven@parks.ca.gov to arrange use overflow parking lot. Lot is 1/2 mile before park headquarters, just past a cattle crossing. If you arrange for use of lot, post on TAC to reduce calls to the rangers. Pay $8 day use fee at ranger's headquarters.
Owner: The State of California TAC Site Liaison: Jim Van Nuland
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Gravel
Lat: N37 11.250
Lon: W121 33.016
Elev: 2600 ft.
Road Map
Topographic Map
Houge Park

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Description: A city park in San Jose, home to SJAA meetings and public observing events.
Use Policy: Lights extinguished only on scheduled SJAA observing nights.
Owner: City of San Jose
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Paved

Road Map
IHOP

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Description: BLM land near Union Lake Reservoir up highway 50, turn just before White Hall.
Use Policy: None
Owner: BLM TAC Site Liaison: None
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Dirt
Lat: N38 47.800
Lon: w120 24.600, 5000
Elev: 5243 ft.
Road Map
Topographic Map
Lake San Antonio

More Information *

Description: A county park and reservoir. Site of the annual CalStar star party.
Use Policy:
Owner: Monterey County Parks
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Dirt

Road Map
Lake Sonoma

More Information *

Description: An Army Corps of Engineers facility and park near Cloverdale.
Use Policy: Open to the public. Call ranger in advance if arriving after dark - Main office: 707-433-9483. The Rangers office phone# is 707-431-4511. You can use this # to request unlocking of parking lot entrances (e.g. Lone Rock) for observing. Ranger "Mike" can be reached at 707-431-4520.
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface:

Road Map
Montebello

More Information *

Description: A gravel parking lot near Skyline Drive, west of Palo Alto.
Use Policy: Permit and reservation required. Permit-holder must be present.
Owner: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District TAC Site Liaison: James Turley
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0553 1828
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Gravel
Lat: N37 19.533
Lon: W122 10.733
Elev: 2284 ft.
Road Map
Topographic Map
Mount Lassen

More Information *

Description: A national park east of Redding.
Use Policy: Bumpass Hell and Devestated Area parking lots open to all park users. Road open from July through September.
Owner: National Park Service
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: 0552 1831
     Moonrise/Moonset: 1211 0146
Astronomical Twilight: 0425 1959
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Paved


Topographic Map
Mount Tamalpias Pantoll Ranger

More Information *

Description: A paved, reasonably dark parking lot at the Pantoll Ranger Station, Mt. Tamalpias State Park.
Use Policy: This is a public area and camping/motorhomes are permitted for a small fee. Self-registration. Astronomers are unmolested, generally, by the park rangers. They enjoy looking through the scopes.
Owner: State of California TAC Site Liaison: Robert English
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Paved
Lat: N37 54.219
Lon: W122 36.2442
Elev: 1458 ft.
Road Map
Topographic Map
Mount Tamalpias Rock Springs

More Information *

Description: Site of SFAA star parties and monthly private observing sessions.
Use Policy: Only SFAA members are allowed to remain at the star party after the Rock Spring gates are closed.
Owner: State of California TAC Site Liaison: Robert English
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Paved
Lat: N37 54.6642
Lon: W122 36.7782
Elev: 1949 ft.
Road Map
Topographic Map
Pacheco State Park

More Information *

Description: A state park near Pacheco Pass on highway 152. Potentially very dark and clear.
Use Policy: Contact Ranger (209/826-6283 or 209/826-1196) to arrange night use.
Owner: State of California
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
       Sunrise/Sunset: #### ####
     Moonrise/Moonset: #### ####
Astronomical Twilight: #### ####
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Gravel


Topographic Map
Plettstone

More Information *

Description: By invitation only. Invitations are posted regularly on the TAC mailing list. Driving directions are available by request.
Use Policy: Private property located in the Sierra Foothills near Mariposa.Contact Michelle Stone at litebkt at gmail dot com.
Owner: Michelle Stone TAC Site Liaison: Michelle Stone
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: Weather
 
Surface: Varied


Rancho Canada del Oro

More Information *

Description: County Park
Use Policy: Rancho Canada del Oro is available for astronomy only on nights scheduled with the Open Space Authority. For more information, contact TAC's site liaison at tyggeln at gmail dot com
Owner: Open Space Authority TAC Site Liaison: Chistopher Kelly
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface:

Road Map
Unlisted Site

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Description: A placeholder for people who want to post OIs for somewhere not listed.
Use Policy:
TAC Site Liaison: (none)


Surface:


Willow Springs 3000

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Description: Private property east of Paicines, at 3000 feet in the Diablo Range
Use Policy: Private property. By invitation only.
Owner: Bob Ayers TAC Site Liaison: Bob Ayers - astroayers at gmail dot com
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Dirt


Young Observatory (Angwin)

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Description: Parking lot adjacent the observatory at Pacific Union College.
Use Policy: Open to anyone who wants to observe on Fridays when school is in session. Other days if pre-arranged with site liaison.
Owner: Pacific Union College TAC Site Liaison: Otis Finley
Clear-Sky Clock: [Clear Sky Clock]
Weather: NOAA Weather
 
Surface: Dirt
Lat: N38 34.55
Lon: W122 27.00
Elev: 1800 ft.
Road Map
Topographic Map

If you have useful additional information about one of these observing sites, or would like to suggest another Bay-area observing site, plaese send e-mail to the TAC Webmaster.