I would love to have access to a remotely controled, computerized scope and would consider a "serious" (your word) investment. I have actually considered automating my backyard setup but have held off because of the light pollution. Is that where this is heading or will your friend be the only one with access to the remotely controled scope and the rest of us will only have access to a pad of some kind. Barney ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick Wiggins" <paw@trilobyte.net> To: "utah astronomy listserve" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 5:15 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Remote site
I've stayed out of the recent discussion here about dark sky sites because of my experience the last time it was discussed. That experience turned me from an enthusiastic supporter to a non-believer.
No one could agree on where the site should be let alone what should be at the site. And the fact that in the many years of fund raising only a few thousand dollars was raised didn't help (Siegfried has shown that much can be raised in a day by the right, properly motivated person).
However, that was when it was being proposed as a SLAS owned site. Now I'm hearing that some are considering a privately owned, non-SLAS, facility.
Certainly a smallish group could make decisions that a big group could not. And any such small group could even apply for tax exempt status under the right circumstances making donations tax deductible and property taxes nonexistent.
That said (and freely admitting a number of continuing misgivings) I'll throw out the following:
A guy I know that owns an ISP likes astronomy. I spoke with him today and he is interested in a remote site. By remote site, he means a place where he could put up an observatory that he could then run from home.
I asked if in return for help putting such a site together those who helped could have access to the site, store equipment there and have private star parties there. He's fine with that.
As for locations, he has several spread all over the state, many in very remote areas. Most include a secure concrete structure and power and all have fibre optic internet and roadway access (though obviously some are dirt roads).
Two of the closer in sites he mentioned are in Skull Valley and Rush Valley. But he also mentioned Lucin and up on some mountain peak somewhere (I told him that might not work because of limited access in winter).
He's willing to put money into the project but would expect others to help out with costs as well.
If there is _serious_ interest in such a project he'd like to have a meeting.
So, keeping in mind that talk is cheap, the question is, how many are _seriously_ interested in putting several hundred dollars each into such a project?
Patrick
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