Over 100 people attended our November 5 Star Party and Centennial Celebration of the National Park Service. We had gentle weather and a clear night sky. We heard from the National Park Service about the wonders of the Preserve, and the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers of Pasadena set up their powerful telescopes to give folks a view of distant planets and galaxies. The next day, some folks headed out to the Joshua tree woodland for a hike on the Teutonia Peak Trail.
Old Town Astronomers of Pasadena prepare the telescopes for the Star Party at the Mojave National Preserve.
The event drew youth groups from Los Angeles and the Imperial Valley, and families from Las Vegas. For many, this was their first time in the Preserve. The Mojave is often a place people zoom through along the Interstate, but a trip to the Preserve quickly dispels the notion that the desert is a wasteland. This is what the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy is all about - educating the community about the unique beauty and ecological importance of the Mojave, and building a network of stewards for these amazing wildlands.
Youth setting up their tents at the Black Canyon Group Campground in the Preserve.
We are planning future events, but we cannot do it without your support. Please donate and become a member of the Conservancy. Your support will help us fund the travel of youth and school groups to the Preserve, stewardship programs, and more amazing Star Parties. If you can't donate now, sign up for our newsletter and stay tuned for information about the Preserve.
A photo captured through one of the telescopes set up at the November 5 Star Party by visitor Eric Staudenmaier. Checking out features of the universe many light years away from Earth at night is as amazing as gazing upon the spectacular desert landscape during the day.