Starting to notice how horrible Utah skies are
I have been a lifelong resident of Utah, but until recently paid little attention to the sky. Recently I got my first scope and began noticing how often Utah has horrible skies for astronomy. Cloud cover almost every other day. And on the days the sky is clear, seeing is aweful. Is there no hope? _________________________________________________________________ NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here. http://windowslive.com/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_MB_new_hotmail_072009
You need to get up on top of a mountain and away from the lake. We get some really nice observing from places like Monte Cristo and Wolf Creek. Also, don't let afternoon storms and clouds keep you away. Frequently the sky clears off after dark. That all being said, July and August can be difficult. You get the Monsoon moisture coming in from the south and many years there are fires putting a lot of smoke in the air. I really enjoy observing in the Fall and spring. The sky is usually really nice even though it might be cold out. I am heading up to Monte tonight and tomorrow night so I sure hope the clouds go away after dark. Dave -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Brent Johnson Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 10:47 AM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Starting to notice how horrible Utah skies are I have been a lifelong resident of Utah, but until recently paid little attention to the sky. Recently I got my first scope and began noticing how often Utah has horrible skies for astronomy. Cloud cover almost every other day. And on the days the sky is clear, seeing is aweful. Is there no hope? _________________________________________________________________ NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here. http://windowslive.com/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_MB_new_hotmail_072009 _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Nothing makes you pay attention to the sky like getting a scope. To your question: Yes, Utah doesn't have the best skies for astronomy, despite the fact Utah is a desert state the skies are often cloudy and un-stable. The Astronomer’s Handbook publishes cloud cover data for North America and I am surprised every time I look at it at how cloudy Utah really is. My copy is in storage; maybe some one can give the numbers for northern Utah ? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brent Johnson" <mitaccio@hotmail.com> To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 10:47:03 AM GMT -07:00 US/Canada Mountain Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Starting to notice how horrible Utah skies are I have been a lifelong resident of Utah, but until recently paid little attention to the sky. Recently I got my first scope and began noticing how often Utah has horrible skies for astronomy. Cloud cover almost every other day. And on the days the sky is clear, seeing is aweful. Is there no hope? _________________________________________________________________ NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here. http://windowslive.com/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_MB_new_hotmail_072009 _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Mark your calendar for September because that is the best month for viewing in Utah. The monsoon is gone; the nights are longer and still warm. The best view of the winter constellations is at 3 am in September. Don't get discouraged by Utah Astro-weather. This year the wet spring rains and cirrus haze lasted right up until the start of the summer monsoon cloud flow. Some years the spring is dry and the viewing is good. You also need to push the envelope and not just wait around for perfect weather. If the weather doesn't skunk you at least once a year you're not trying hard enough to find the good weather. I've had many sessions where I've talked someone into going out with me to a remote site and have had them leave in a huff at twilight because the conditions were less than perfect. As soon they leave they drag the clouds back to the city with them and I'm alone with near perfect skies. DT --- On Fri, 7/24/09, Brent Johnson <mitaccio@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Brent Johnson <mitaccio@hotmail.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Starting to notice how horrible Utah skies are To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Date: Friday, July 24, 2009, 9:47 AM
I have been a lifelong resident of Utah, but until recently paid little attention to the sky. Recently I got my first scope and began noticing how often Utah has horrible skies for astronomy. Cloud cover almost every other day. And on the days the sky is clear, seeing is aweful. Is there no hope? _________________________________________________________________ NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here. http://windowslive.com/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_MB_new_hotmail_072009 _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Hi Brent, On 24 Jul 2009, at 10:47, Brent Johnson wrote:
I have been a lifelong resident of Utah, but until recently paid little attention to the sky. Recently I got my first scope and began noticing how often Utah has horrible skies for astronomy. Cloud cover almost every other day. And on the days the sky is clear, seeing is aweful. Is there no hope?
Well, FWIW, I just checked my observing log and saw I had my observatory open 187 nights in 2008 and 91 nights so far this year. Admittedly the trick is to be able to observe any night the sky is ok (ie. to be retired). And it also helps to live in a place that allows you to observe from your home (having to travel and set up equipment tends to cut back on observing for most folks). So, yes, there is hope. Just get old, retire and live in the boonies. :) patrick
I would think Brent has just not found good sites. There are places in the desert with many clear nights, I have had many good observing nights at Island in the Sky and the Wedge Overlook. Island in the Sky seems to also have some steady air with topographical features that steady the air (surrounded by mountains that are high and not real jagged). I have been in many sites through out the US and think Utah compares favorably.
I also remember a remarkable night in northwest Utah, where I saw the pink and blues in the Trifid Nebula. Colors where also noticed by inexperience observers that commented on the colors without prompting. Brent have you been to some of SLAS's private star parties? Wolf Creek and Pit&Pole are all good sites near SLC. I guess you do need to be committed to getting out when the weather is favorable. Work schedules can hamper that and it does seem you must endure some bad desert weather to experience the good. I also remember some blizzards and howling winds, and have rips in tent to prove it. Erik Hi Brent,
On 24 Jul 2009, at 10:47, Brent Johnson wrote:
I have been a lifelong resident of Utah, but until recently paid little attention to the sky. Recently I got my first scope and began noticing how often Utah has horrible skies for astronomy. Cloud cover almost every other day. And on the days the sky is clear, seeing is aweful. Is there no hope?
Well, FWIW, I just checked my observing log and saw I had my observatory open 187 nights in 2008 and 91 nights so far this year.
Admittedly the trick is to be able to observe any night the sky is ok (ie. to be retired). And it also helps to live in a place that allows you to observe from your home (having to travel and set up equipment tends to cut back on observing for most folks).
So, yes, there is hope. Just get old, retire and live in the boonies. :)
patrick
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participants (6)
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Brent Johnson -
daniel turner -
Dunn, David -
erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net -
Patrick Wiggins -
robtaylor3661＠comcast.net