I"m new to the area (I live in Newbury Park) and am hoping to find some local folks that would like to do some overloading. I'm also an amateur astronomer and like to find dark skys to camp and setup telescopes if that's interesting to anyone. If a meet up starts again I'd certainly attend.
Hi Micheal,
I am local in Moorpark, so feel free to hit me up. There are a lot of us in the area, we just don't meet up often. :)
If you like Dark Sky Areas, try
Massicare Rim in NV which is listed as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. On March 18, 2019,
Massacre Rim became just the 7th designated Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world.
Massacre Rim (U.S.)
"Nestled between the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (BRNCA) and the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR), the Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area (WSA) is not only one of the darkest places in Nevada but also the contiguous United States. Its sheer remoteness offers protection from human populations and the associated light pollution: the two largest urban areas to Masscare Rim are located 150 miles to the south (Reno, Nevada) and 163 miles to the west (Redding, California). The nearest communities to Massacre Rim include about two dozen ranches and homes in Long Valley, primarily centered around the ghost town of Vya, Nevada and four ranching communities in Surprise Valley, California, about 30 miles to the west. With a population of just over 800, this area provides little to no impact on the night sky and gives Massacre Rim visitors a chance to experience a truly dark sky."
I have been their with the wife and kid, and at 3AM on a moonless night, you can walk around by starlight.