It's a free country, they are free to discover the sites on their own. Speak for yourselves when you volunteer star gazers that visit these dark sites to public outreach. If outreach is what you want SLAS offers weekly opportunities to do so. Don't volunteer others who are seeking solitude in places they have discovered to every Tom, Dick, and Harry that subscribe to the tribune. I think you have summed it up Joe, we do share these sites with people that have demonstrated a sincere interest in Astronomy. The public should have some "hoops" to jump through. I would repeat, is Shuana going to include dark sky etiquette, in the article? Erik
I agree that many of us -- including I -- have gone to the trouble to discover dark sky sites, and have shared them with just club members. What makes these places inviting to me is that there aren't a lot others around. It's a real bother when others show up, using flashlights, driving up with their headlights on, scattering dust over equipment, even making fires. One of the reasons I enjoy astronomy is its solitude. Nothing is more annoying than hordes of people asking what you're doing, asking if they can see through the 'scope when you're trying to do photography. One fellow just stood almost on top of me for hours, watching everything I was doing, and I was having problems with my equipment. It gets to be real annoying. It's completely different during public star parties, of course, because we expect and encourage folks to turn out. But our private spots should remain relatively secret. -- Joe
________________________________ From: Erik Hansen <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, August 9, 2013 11:20 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Sheena's looking for star gazing spots
It should be noted that the dark sky sites are our private star party locations, so in effect the article will be inviting the public to those. These sites are for people who want to take a break from public outreach. SLAS offers plenty of opportunities to the general public.
It takes very little effort to find dark sky sites, we list them on the SLAS website for example.
Will Shenna's article include Dark Sky etiquette? Are you going to welcome people with their high beams on? Will it include a link to SLAS website? Was this approved by the BOD 's? Perhaps no one will read the article and will make no difference. On the other hand perhaps it will.
Surely the tribune has other articles they could write.
Erik
I remember a night at Lakeside about 2 years ago where Joe left to go home
because he forgot something for his scope he needed. The rest of us were up and observing when about 11:30 or so, I don't remember the exact time, it may have been more like 12:00a.m. a truck pulled up from the dirt road that leads to the hills to the west. They pulled over, shinning their high beams on us, then pulled off the road and shut their lights off. I stood there for about 30 minutes watching them. We knew they were watching us, perhaps with night vision. Finally they got in their truck, heard the doors shut and they started up, turned on their brights and drove off. If I recall correctly, Joe passed them on the way in and had a quick conversation and they were rather redneck. I hear a banjo playing in the background.
I have never felt unsafe at Lakeside or anywhere, just saying at Lakeside and the Pit I have run into an incidents like this at both sites. It's a shame people don't clean up after themselves though. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@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".
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@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". _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@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".