Chrismo, no one has mentioned it, but a site where SLAS used to go many years ago for private star parties is at the Skyline Drive east of Fairview, in Sanpete County. It's comparable to what you might have heard (or will hear) about Wolf Creek Pass but it is a little further, about 2 hours from downtown SLC versus about 1 hour and 25 minutes from downtown to Wolf Creek Pass. The western sky is lost to light pollution from the Wasatch Front at Wolf Creek Pass; the northern sky is affected at Skyline Drive. Seeing, clarity and other conditions are also comparable to Wolf Creek Pass. I live in Mt. Pleasant, so my drive to Skyline Drive is about 25 minutes - 2 hours further to Wolf Creek Pass. I would invite you to join me at Skyline Drive, but next week I'm moving to Tropic to take a job at Bryce Canyon NP. Of course, you and anyone else would be welcome to join me there to do a little star gazing; my commute time to the observing site will be about 5 minutes. I know, it's a bad deal, but someone has to do it. Clear (and dark) skies, Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chrismo Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 7:02 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] New to the list Thanks Jay and others who responded. I appreciate the input. I am heading out to Lakeside tonight around 10 I think, if anyone is interested On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 6:30 PM, JayLEads <jayleads@gmail.com> wrote:
Chrismo,
Here are the places that I observe at:
1. Lakeside, Utah Sounds like you've been there but just in case here is where I go with pictures from my blog:
http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/saturday-is-lakeside- your-invited-and.html
2. Pit n Pole Rush Valley Utah This location is 40 to 45 minutes from home depending on how I drive.
Here
are directions from my blog. Pretty good dark skies at zenith and to the south. Dew can come up from around 3:00a.m. until sunrise in the summer.
http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/pit-n-pole-directions .html
I have two areas not posted on a blog or located any where that when the humidity is high at the valley floor, I go to and I get above any dew and have a wonderful night observing that are relatively near this spot.
3. Tribble Fork Reservoir up American Fork Canyon. I observe in the parking lot here in the winter and am usually alone or there might be a couple of snow mobile people in a camper up in the parking lot. I set up down from them and use the Pathfinder to shield me from any ambient light they throw off.
The image at the bottom is near the location and the mountains will cut
off
about 30 degrees of the southern horizon. It was clear here a couple of times this last winter when the valley wasn't.
http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/nothing-new.html
4. Wolf Creek Pass about 9800 feet (a little more if I remember Daniel Turner's reading, but he can clarify that. Wonderful, wonderful site for being a hour and a half from Herriman, or an hour for those in and around Salt Lake City. My favorite site but I believe I heard there is still over eight feet or more of snow up there and that Highway 35 by Woodland had some major damage to it. It can be about now or even after July 4th before people start to use this site. This year, it may be August if at all before we get up there. Here is the map from the SLAS site for getting there: http://slas.us/maps/wolfcreek.htm
Here are some images of getting there from my blog:
http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/wolf-creek-utah-obser ving-site.html
I actually have a video of getting up there but figured no one would want to view that so I have never posted it.
5. The Wedge Overlook: Joe Bauman, imager extraordinaire, goes here frequently. I intend to hook up with Joe on one of his next outings when my very hectic summer schedule allows. For that matter, since I cannot go to ALCON this year, I just may go there on Saturday July 2nd or Sunday, July 3rd this year, or I may stay local. Here is a map from the SLAS site:
http://slas.us/maps/woverlook.htm
And a piece I did from my blog:
http://jaysastronomyobservingblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/wedge-overlook-observ ing-site-and.html
6. The Gravel Pit Site
A site up in the mountains that for me, is about an hour fifteen or twenty minutes or so, less if your nearer to Salt Lake City. Here is a site that gives you directions on how to get there:
http://www.uvaa.org/sitedirections/GravelPit.html
7. South Provo River Equestrian Park. A decent site near Provo to the
east.
in the mountains.
Go south out of Salt Lake County on I-15 South. Take exit 272 for UT-52/800 N toward US-189 about 0.3 miles. Turn left onto UT-52/W 800 N. Take the ramp left onto US-189 N/US-189 Scenic N/E Provo Canyon Rd. Go 5.8 miles. Turn right onto S. Fork Rd and the dirt parking lot is 4.2 miles on the right. There is a cement parking lot just down from this spot that is a little better in a park.
I usually post here when I head out, and yes, I do head out to Pit n Pole on Sunday nights from time to time and you'd be welcome to either meet me there or follow me out if you want. Hope that helps.
Jay
On 2011-06-14 20:05, Robert Taylor wrote:
Chrismo:
Welcome to the list. Keep watching here, you will see others posting where they are observing and looking for others to share the night with them. Sunday, Tues are not the most popular nights but some do go out on those night. Also post where you are observing and others may join you.
Bob
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@??? [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@???] On Behalf Of Chrismo
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 9:25 PM To: utah-astronomy@???
Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New to the list
Hello All,
I am new to the astronomy scene here, after moving from the east coast. I live in Salt Lake and have been taking my 8" dob out to the Lakeside site near Dugway for about a year. I am looking for other site suggestions, as well as other people to go out with. I am only able to go out on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights. Any suggestions for other sites that are not heavily polluted would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chrismo
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