Black Rock Desert group sets sights on meteor shower event
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Tue, 07/31/2012 - 4:45pm
Event Date:
Repeats every day until Sun Aug 12 2012 .
August 10, 2012 - 5:00pm
Event Date:
August 11, 2012 - 5:00pm
Event Date:
August 12, 2012 - 5:00pm The Perseids meteor shower is one of the more famous meteor showers and never fails to give a stellar performance. This natural event lasts an entire week in our region and seeing it in the darkest of skies promises not to disappoint viewers. Friends of Black Rock will set up camp on August 10-12 and invite their members and the surrounding community to come and be amazed at the wonders of the universe. Join in the camp-out on the Black Rock Desert playa, also designated public lands and add to your summer adventures.
As a local nonprofit organization, Friends of Black Rock / High Rock Canyon is dedicated to managing the cultural and ecological resources of the Black Rock Desert region fostering a Leave No Trace experience. By hosting a camp-out during the peak of the Perseids, they are encouraging people to understand what the night skies bring and that the desert is a very special place to have that experience with your family or alone.
Campers will be able to see up to 50 meteors per hour, especially on the peak nights of Saturday and Sunday. The surrounding hot springs is open for public use and visitors will also be encouraged to explore the several Conservation Areas. Staff and board members will be present to answer questions and provide information about the region on the weekend.
"The Black Rock Desert is one of the perfect places to catch the Perseids Meteor Shower," says Will Roger Peterson, the Friends of Black Rock's Vice President of the Board, "it's the largest campground in the world. You have a clear view of the sky with a visible horizon in all directions." Will Roger and Friends of Black Rock, have been camping out on the desert for over nine years to watch the Perseids. These desert lovers and for many others know that this time serves as an opportunity to get away from their normal life in the city and have solitude. "I love to get out there in the middle of the playa and just plug out. No cell phones, no computer. The place itself is so powerful that it makes you smaller. Self-importance is out of the question."
Since the Black Rock Desert is so remote, Friends of Black Rock/High Rock advise campers to arrive prepared. Temperatures can soar up to the hundreds during the day so ample water and shade is necessary, while warm clothing and blankets are recommended for the cold nights. Of course, comfortable chairs and other camping necessities should not be forgotten.
Friends of Black Rock / High Rock is a 501.c.3 nonprofit organization which assists the Bureau of Land Management and other organizations manage the resources of the Black Rock Desert region and educates the public to foster stewardship to preserve its unique character.
For more information on the event and a recommended camping gear list, visit www.blackrockdesert.org or call 775-557-2900.
Camp coordinates: N40.84428 W119.13412 or approximately 6 miles north on West track starting from 12 mile, then 3 miles due East.
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