Starry night vistas that include unfettered viewing of meteor showers and the Milky Way are one of the reasons our guests and we are in love with Sea Ranch. The Sea Ranch, with its dedication to being a dark sky region, is why we always recommend to our guests: bundle up, step outside, and look upward to the night sky.
And tonight would be the perfect night to do exactly that!
Why Book Your Stay at Sea Ranch in October
The annual Draconid meteor shower peaks tonight, Friday evening (Oct. 8, 2021), two days after the new moon.
Usually, it’s a modest show of light streaking across the skies with only a few meteors per hour. Experts aren’t predicting that a close pass through the debris will happen this year. So expectations for a dazzling Draconid storm are low. But there is hope that this year’s Draconid meteor shower promises to offer a better light show given the absence of bright moonlight from the new moon. As a result, more meteors may be visible in the night sky.
And the best part of this night sky event is even the kids can enjoy it before bedtime! This year it occurs just after nightfall.
Same Time Next Year
The Draconids occur when Earth plows through the stream of debris shed over the eons by Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. The shower is typically active from October 6 to October 10 every year. It is also the time of year that our coastal fog tends to stay offshore. So odds are even better the night sky will be visibly filled with streaking stars.
Night Vistas Intentionally Preserved
Guests and residents at Sea Ranch, unlike 99 percent of all Americans and Europeans, are blessed. We frequently enjoy views like the one captured above by photographic artist and resident of Sea Ranch, Paul Kozal.
No Light Pollution
Sea Ranch’s starry night vistas are intentionally preserved, which makes us unique to our global brothers. All lighting along the 10-mile stretch is low and downward facing. This helps to assure light pollution is minimized. The Sea Ranch community’s philosophy of “living lightly on the land” also extends to the heavens, to preserve our starry night vistas. You’ll find all this is in stark contrast with more than than 80 percent of the planet’s land areas whose night skies are polluted by man-made light making the Milky Way virtually invisible.
Maps Locate Starry Night Vistas Around the Globe
Fabio Falchi’s research at the Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute (ISTIL) in Thiene, Italy, led to a new world atlas in 2016. Published in Science Advances, his research quantified the global impact on our night skies for every region in the world. Click here to view his maps.
Modern Light Pollution
Light pollution is no longer merely an annoyance for astronomers. The artificial brightening of the night sky is profoundly altering a fundamental human experience — the opportunity for each person to view and ponder the sky above in evening hours.
No Light Pollution a Must
As a guest at any home in Sea Ranch, you will be asked to keep shades pulled at night time. You’ll not see any street lights, all business lights and home lighting must be shaded or downward pointing. Because of that, the experience of night sky viewing is still available at Sea Ranch- intentionally.
Tips to Sky Viewing at Sea Ranch
When viewing from Abalone Bay be sure to bring a flashlight to light your pathway. Turn out the lights in the house and turn off your flashlight. Next, allow your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness and become fully sensitive to faint light. All meteor showers are best seen after midnight.
Best Dates to View Night Skies at Sea Ranch
Viewing night skies is often dependent upon one thing- clear skies. With our coastal fog frequently blanketing the coast it can be a challenge for visitors to Sea Ranch to have a clear view of the sky.
Summer v. Fall For Milky Way Viewing
Experts advise summertime’s clear and moonless nights offer the best night sky viewing for the Milky Way. August to early October when cooler weather keeps the fog held at sea makes it your best bet to actually view the sky. The clearest skies will appear just after the passing of a cold front.
Calendar for Meteor Showers – 2022
Below are the dates for 2022 as listed by Griffith Observatory:
Quadrantids
Active: December 28 – January 12
Peak Night: January 2/3
Best Observation: From 11:00 p.m. until dawn (5:30 a.m.)
Lyrids
Active: April 16 – April 26
Peak Night: April 21/22
Best Observation: 10:00 p.m. to 4:44 a.m. (dawn).
Eta Aquariids
Active: April 19 – May 28
Peak Night: May 4/5
Best Observation: 3:00 a.m. until dawn ( 4:25 a.m.)
South Delta Aquariids
Active: July 21 – August 23
Peak Night: July 27/28
Best Observation: 10:00 p.m. to dawn (4:27 a.m.).
Perseids
Active: July 17 – August 24
Peak Night: August 11/12
Best Observation: 10:00 p.m.-4:40 a.m.
Orionids
Active: October 2 – November 7
Peak Night: October 20/21
Best Observation: 11:30 p.m.-5
Leonids
Active: November 6 – 30
Peak Night: November 16/17
Best Observation: 11:30 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
Geminids
Active: December 4 – 17
Peak Night: December 13/14
Best Observation: 8:00 p.m.-5:22 a.m.
Want to See Starry Night Vistas Yourself?
All you have to do is book a stay at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay …. Then just look up!
How amazing! I had no idea there was such incredible starry skies in California. I am just imagining myself in that hot tub gazing up at those stars. Awesome!
We’d love to let you take it for a test run!
How wonderful that residents of your neighbourhood intentionally work together to keep the light pollution levels so low. The skies look fabulous as a result, such a treasure.
I really hope to one day come and see for myself.