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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Concrete arrows (OT)
by Bruce Hugo 28 Aug '13

28 Aug '13

Thanks for starting the concrete arrows post Patrick. It is very intersting and a buddy and I plan on hiking to one sometime. If I didn't have to work this afternoon I'd take you up on hiking to the arrow today. BTW - Cool light! --------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 23:35:31 -0600 From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Concrete arrows (OT) Message-ID: <AA1039F4-980E-48A3-AB76-DF7096862B9B(a)wirelessbeehive.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hi all, When I started the "Government funded observing platforms" thread I intended it to be just a quick bit of humor that history nuts like me might enjoy. Little did I know it would grow instead of quickly fade. So since folks seem to be enjoying it but realizing it really is off topic I've changed the name of the thread so those not interested can hit delete. At any rate, using the map Brent supplied I was able to find and photograph three of the arrows today (the ones by Stockton, Lakepoint and by I-80's exit 77). I walked all around where the one just north of Grantsville was supposed to be but there was no sign of it. With luck I'll get to the two a bit further west tomorrow and then the one north of the Bountiful airport after that. BTW, while searching for the one above Lakepoint I ended up climbing much higher than I needed to. I just could not find it. So I turned around to sit down for a rest only to see the arrow well below me. Augh. Funny, but while standing on that one I rang Joe to tell him where I was (he's the one that unintentionally got me started on this). And hour or so later he rang me back wanting to make sure I'd made it back down safely (thanks Joe). Also, while coming down I found this bulb sticking out of the dirt: http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/bulb.jpg I figured it must be burned out and some worker had tossed it. But when I got home I found it still works. Weird. Anyone want it? It was really neat standing on those things with all my fancy electronics thinking how when the arrows were poured almost 100 years ago the workers doing the pouring could never have imagined things like iPhones and iPads. I look at these things as a fascinating part of aviation history. So much so that I pitched doing a story about them to a reporter friend. He likes the idea and is thinking sometime next month. We'll see. And, at the risk of going a bit crazy here, I'd really like to see at least some of these things preserved. I'd start with the one off exit 77 as it's in pretty good shape, already has something of a fence around it and you can drive right up to it. I'm envisioning getting some CAP cadets out there to clear brush and maybe even apply a coat of the same color paint that was on the arrows originally. I see on the web it's been done elsewhere, so why not here? Lots of pictures in the camera. Hopefully I'll get a few posted later tonight. All in all a really fun day. patrick

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Light Pollution
by Kelly Ricks 28 Aug '13

28 Aug '13

I'm just starting to read Paul Bogard's new book "the End of Night." In it, he visits astronomer Bob Berman at his home in upstate NY...a town with no streetlights. Berman said that when his mother in law (who'd lived in big cities all her life) visited for the first time, she came into the house and asked "What are all those white dots in the sky," and of course his wife, Marcy, answered "Those are called stars Mom." Bogard continues: "I've heard people say such things," I laugh, "but I can't believe they're true." Berman leans back and calls, "Marcy, do you remember when your mom said what are those white dots in the sky?" "Yep." "Do you think she was kidding?" "Nope." I highly recommend checking out Bogard's book if you haven't already. He writes beautifully about the subject. ~Kelly ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 18:54:03 -0600 > From: D P Pierce <starsbirdsglyphs(a)gmail.com> > To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Light Pollution > Message-ID: > < > CAJJRyEDMJfq1oBaQm9RPWoSQ2cPGURjbGaY8OnJJvgT1+MKEfA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > When I was doing the North Rim Grand Canyon star parties I was surprised > at how many people had never seen the Milky Way. As it was rising in the > east some thought clouds were approaching. Humorous but sad. > > Deloy > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php > > End of Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 126, Issue 178 > ************************************************ >

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Concrete arrows (OT)
by Ed 28 Aug '13

28 Aug '13

Patrick, Regarding the bulb you found at Lake Point, I would like to have it if it is still available. Could you or Brent (or anyone else) please advise as to how to navigate in the GIS Arrow Project site? If anyone is seriously considering use of these concrete arrows as observing sites, consider the following: The arrows were also the base for a tower in some cases and when those were removed, the steel legs were simply torched off near the concrete surface or unbolted leaving a protruding steel stub or bolt in the concrete. It is tough enough to avoid tripping on these in broad daylight. It would be extremely dangerous walking around on these arrows in the dark. Considering this hazard, their small size, and their roadless access, let's just let them be for their historical value and forget the idea of using them as observing sites. I thought I was pretty familiar with the area around Timpie Springs and exit 77, but I have never spotted that arrow. If you don't mind, could you post the coordinates of the exit 77 arrow? I would love to join you on your hike Patrick, but I can't make it today. Ed

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Rides to SPOC
by D P Pierce 27 Aug '13

27 Aug '13

Hi, I need rides to SPOC Sat and Fri. Deloy

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Government funded observing platforms
by Bruce Hugo 27 Aug '13

27 Aug '13

Thank you all on the photo comments. That was a great night at Kitt Peak with Adam Block, but I must point out that Leslie and I were basically Adam's errand boys all night. Assisting the great astrophotographer! <deep bow to Adam Block> I'm hoping to achieve this level of astrophotography some day! Here is a link to my website where the other two Kitt Peak photos posted. http://www.bhugo.com/7.html My website has not been updated in YEARS... so there are some failed links, old photos, etc. I need to get it cleaned up... when I find the time. *sigh* Try using Google Image sometime and search: adam block astrophotography. His work is AMAZING! He has moved on from Kitt Peak and is located at Mount Lemmon Sky Center, AZ. He has DVD's on astrophotography and workshops. http://www.caelumobservatory.com/index.html Bruce Hugo

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Government funded observing platforms
by Bruce Hugo 27 Aug '13

27 Aug '13

Tuscon has very tight light ordinances due to Kitt Peak. I was at Kitt Peak in 2004 and was impressed by Tuscon's lighting. Though, even with the light ordinances I'm sure Tuscon's growth and the subsequent light is affecting Kitt Peak. My girlfriend (now wife) and I spent the night with Adam Block on the 20" visitors scope doing some astrophotography. An amazing night is all I can say! Here is one of the 3 photos that were taken that night: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040409.html Bruce Hugo Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science. - Edwin Powell Hubble ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 10:55:43 -0700 (PDT) From: Joe Bauman <josephmbauman(a)yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Government funded observing platforms Message-ID: <1377626143.14666.YahooMailNeo(a)web125102.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 I thought Tucson was the Arizona city with good light ordinances. -- Joe

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Phoenix
by jcarman6＠q.com 27 Aug '13

27 Aug '13

Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States (behind New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and, perhaps, Philadelphia. I was there in March. From Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix (like Sandy to Salt Lake), I could see all of Orion (no shield or club - almost, but not quite there) and all of Gemini. Jupiter was blazing. I was dutifully impressed. Their night sky is equal to, if not better than Salt Lake's. The trib article would have mentioned everyone's back yard if Salt Lake had such lighting restrictions. It is my understanding the state of Arizona has adopted lighting restrictions and the cities are moving into compliance.

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] 2017 Eclipse Preview
by Joe Bauman 27 Aug '13

27 Aug '13

Now with a chartered bus, we could check the weather reports and motor in comfort to a good spot, meanwhile having a good tine talking, eating and using the bus' restroom. Just sayin'. -- Joe ------------------------------ On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 10:46 AM MDT Chuck Hards wrote: >Exactly. Even going with seasonal trends, it's a gamble. > >Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get. > >On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 8:15 AM, M Wilson <astro_outwest(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > >> As they say in any mutual fund prospectus: "Past performance isn't a >> guarantee of future returns" >> >> >_______________________________________________ >Utah-Astronomy mailing list >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > >Send messages to the list to >Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > >The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > >To unsubscribe go to: >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy >Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Government funded observing platforms
by Ed 27 Aug '13

27 Aug '13

Patrick, There is an aviation arrow for the SLC to San Francisco route on top of the hill just north of exit 62 on I-80. This is the same spot I mentioned some time back as a good place to get an unobstructed view of the western horizon. Ed

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Government funded observing platforms
by Ed 27 Aug '13

27 Aug '13

Brent & Patrick, Thanks Brent for the link to the GIS Arrow Project site, but I cannot get it to show anything but the Woods Cross arrow. It seems to want me to begin with a town or city name, but many of the sites are nowhere near any town and I can't even put in a town's name. Have you guys had any luck accessing arrow sites in the west desert? Can you give me a clue on how to use the interactive map on the site? Ed

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