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
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As I said before, she should just list the National and State parks that host star-gazing activities, for long drives, and SPOC and the readers own back yards for less-than-30-minute drives. Although Erik, AFAIK, most of the club dark-sky sites are public property. This is the reason some clubbers have been campaigning for club-owned land that could be kept exclusive. It never gets anywhere, so it seems that the club attitude is "the more, the merrier". On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 11:20 AM, Erik Hansen <erikhansen@thebluezone.net>wrote:
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.
Sure, it is public property and visitors are generally welcomed. Does not mean you need to imply a general welcome to all. If they are into astronomy it won't take long for them to find a site to there liking. You will get people who feel the telescopes are public property. The more the merrier attitude is toward public star parties and membership, we have always held private parties that we do not invite the public to.
As I said before, she should just list the National and State parks that host star-gazing activities, for long drives, and SPOC and the readers own back yards for less-than-30-minute drives.
Although Erik, AFAIK, most of the club dark-sky sites are public property.
This is the reason some clubbers have been campaigning for club-owned land that could be kept exclusive. It never gets anywhere, so it seems that the club attitude is "the more, the merrier".
On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 11:20 AM, Erik Hansen <erikhansen@thebluezone.net>wrote:
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.
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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
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_______________________________________________ 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".
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
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_______________________________________________ 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
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Sounds like perhaps it's time to talk about SLAS purchasing dark-site land somewhere. Again. Utah is growing, you can't expect your little hide-aways to remain secluded for long. I'm not mocking anyone's attitude about their favorite dark sites, just being realistic. The only practical, legal way to keep the public away is to own the land you observe on, either individually, as a co-op, or the SLAS corporation owns it with paid members having a use privilege. Many other clubs have purchased dark-site land for this very reason. A good thing is never a secret forever. I believe Sheena wanted suggestions emailed to her, there's no guarantee that she is monitoring list postings. I would suggest if anyone feels strongly enough about it to post here, that they forward their thoughts to her email. Patrick posted it in the first message on this topic.
The Dark Sky site idea was a pie in the sky, the land is mostly public and not for sale. Yes Chuck, these sites are getting more and more discovered, but there is no need to hasten the decline.
Not talking about legal means, simply saying we don't need newspaper articles pointing out the sites Expressing my opinion here, just like you have Chuck. Erik Sounds like perhaps it's time to talk about SLAS purchasing dark-site land
somewhere. Again.
Utah is growing, you can't expect your little hide-aways to remain secluded for long. I'm not mocking anyone's attitude about their favorite dark sites, just being realistic. The only practical, legal way to keep the public away is to own the land you observe on, either individually, as a co-op, or the SLAS corporation owns it with paid members having a use privilege.
Many other clubs have purchased dark-site land for this very reason. A good thing is never a secret forever.
I believe Sheena wanted suggestions emailed to her, there's no guarantee that she is monitoring list postings. I would suggest if anyone feels strongly enough about it to post here, that they forward their thoughts to her email. Patrick posted it in the first message on this topic. _______________________________________________ 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
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Patrick posted to send Dark Sky locations to Sheena, I am posting to encourage people not to. It was not an invitation to critic the idea. If you don't want a topic discussed on UA don't post it. Really I will be surprised if the article gets past the editor. Erik Sounds like perhaps it's time to talk about SLAS purchasing dark-site land
somewhere. Again.
Utah is growing, you can't expect your little hide-aways to remain secluded for long. I'm not mocking anyone's attitude about their favorite dark sites, just being realistic. The only practical, legal way to keep the public away is to own the land you observe on, either individually, as a co-op, or the SLAS corporation owns it with paid members having a use privilege.
Many other clubs have purchased dark-site land for this very reason. A good thing is never a secret forever.
I believe Sheena wanted suggestions emailed to her, there's no guarantee that she is monitoring list postings. I would suggest if anyone feels strongly enough about it to post here, that they forward their thoughts to her email. Patrick posted it in the first message on this topic. _______________________________________________ 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
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Agreed, Erik. ________________________________ From: Erik Hansen <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, August 9, 2013 2:52 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Sheena's looking for star gazing spots
Patrick posted to send Dark Sky locations to Sheena, I am posting to encourage people not to. It was not an invitation to critic the idea. If you don't want a topic discussed on UA don't post it. Really I will be surprised if the article gets past the editor. Erik Sounds like perhaps it's time to talk about SLAS purchasing dark-site land
somewhere. Again.
Utah is growing, you can't expect your little hide-aways to remain secluded for long. I'm not mocking anyone's attitude about their favorite dark sites, just being realistic. The only practical, legal way to keep the public away is to own the land you observe on, either individually, as a co-op, or the SLAS corporation owns it with paid members having a use privilege.
Many other clubs have purchased dark-site land for this very reason. A good thing is never a secret forever.
I believe Sheena wanted suggestions emailed to her, there's no guarantee that she is monitoring list postings. I would suggest if anyone feels strongly enough about it to post here, that they forward their thoughts to her email. Patrick posted it in the first message on this topic. _______________________________________________ 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
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_______________________________________________ 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".
participants (4)
-
Chuck Hards -
Erik Hansen -
Joe Bauman -
Patrick Wiggins