Found my happy place with a $20 telescope at a rest stop in Nevada

I was driving back from a job in Reno last month and pulled over at some random rest stop near Fallon around 2 AM to stretch my legs. Sky was so clear I could see the Milky Way just with my eyes, so I grabbed the cheapo telescope I keep in my trunk for fun. I spent about 45 minutes looking at Jupiter and its moons, and it totally reset my brain after a 12 hour flooring install. Now I keep that little scope in my truck bed full time and pull over whenever I can. Anyone else got a go-to spot for stargazing that’s not a designated dark sky park?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sean9d ago

Whoa, that's rad. Reminds me of something I read about @sanchez.mary's buddy in Kansas.

sanchez.mary10d ago

My buddy from work told me about this one time he was driving through Kansas and pulled off at some county road near nothing. He had one of those little tabletop scopes and set it up right there on the gravel. Said he saw Andromeda so clear it looked fake, and then a coyote walked like 20 feet behind him and he didnt even notice until he heard it sniffing. He still talks about that night more than his actual telescope hobby.