Re: [Utah-astronomy] observing sites in Utah
Taylor, Natural Bridges National Park is the darkest spot in the country. I'd like to go there myself in the fall. Here is a link. http://www.nps.gov/nabr/parknews/news040507.htm The only problem is there are only 13 campsites on a first-come first-serve basis. There is also overflow camping outside the monument. I think the nearest town is Blanding. Goblin Valley is on my to-do list. They featured that area in the movie "Galaxy Quest" starring Tim Allen. Debbie On Wed Aug 8 6:57 , 'Taylor' <stargzr@alltel.net> sent:
Hello Utah astronomy enthusiasts,
I don't live in Utah but am planning an observing trip to the southeastern part of the state for early this October. In doing research for the trip, I ran across the Utah-Astronomy website and since I saw a link to e-mail all members of the list, I hope you all don't mind my asking a couple of questions.
Since my last visit over 15 yrs. ago, I have longed to return to Utah but the demands of work and family have precluded taking time for such a journey. I enjoy astronomy and tent camping and am looking for locations in southeastern Utah where the skies are inky black and camping is available.
I am currently focusing on Goosenecks State Park and Goblin Valley State Park as possible locations for stargazing. I have camped at Goosenecks before so I know what it's like there but I only passed by Goblin Valley and have not stayed at the campground. I like the idea of camping at B.L.M. sites but since I will be on a motorcycle and planning to take excursions during the daytime, I prefer the relative security of a campground since I'll be leaving valuable equipment behind while I go off exploring.
Has anyone ever observed at Goblin Valley State Park and if so, can you recommend a particular campsite that would be well located for stargazing?
Do you have any other tips about these parks or other parks in southeastern Utah that you would recommend?
What weather conditions might I expect in early October? Is the sky generally clear then?
I appreciate any advice that anyone might offer. I'd be pleased to have company if some of you would like to meet up in October!
Thanks,
Taylor Christiansen
Western North Carolina
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Hi Debbie
Darkest in Utah has alot of competition. Utah has competition with West Texas, Texas Star Party Site, EverGlades and Florida Keys sites of the Southern Cross Winter Star Party, and in Oregon the Table Mountain Star Party is pretty dark (I hear I've never attended that Star Party). Chad Moore, SLAS member and NPS Ranger at Bryce has represented the issue in DC. IE: Protecting Dark Sky for National Parks and has taken scientific measurements, as I recall Bryce was darkest that he measured. Some other list contributers may remember his presentation to SLAS better than I. He talked at a SLAS meeting about 3 years ago, I remember Don Colton being there to organize the Bryce Star Party. :) Erik Taylor,
Natural Bridges National Park is the darkest spot in the country. I'd like to go there myself in the fall. Here is a link.
http://www.nps.gov/nabr/parknews/news040507.htm
The only problem is there are only 13 campsites on a first-come first-serve basis. There is also overflow camping outside the monument. I think the nearest town is Blanding.
Goblin Valley is on my to-do list. They featured that area in the movie "Galaxy Quest" starring Tim Allen.
Debbie
On Wed Aug 8 6:57 , 'Taylor' <stargzr@alltel.net> sent:
Hello Utah astronomy enthusiasts,
I don't live in Utah but am planning an observing trip to the southeastern part of the state for early this October. In doing research for the trip, I ran across the Utah-Astronomy website and since I saw a link to e-mail all members of the list, I hope you all don't mind my asking a couple of questions.
Since my last visit over 15 yrs. ago, I have longed to return to Utah but the demands of work and family have precluded taking time for such a journey. I enjoy astronomy and tent camping and am looking for locations in southeastern Utah where the skies are inky black and camping is available.
I am currently focusing on Goosenecks State Park and Goblin Valley State Park as possible locations for stargazing. I have camped at Goosenecks before so I know what it's like there but I only passed by Goblin Valley and have not stayed at the campground. I like the idea of camping at B.L.M. sites but since I will be on a motorcycle and planning to take excursions during the daytime, I prefer the relative security of a campground since I'll be leaving valuable equipment behind while I go off exploring.
Has anyone ever observed at Goblin Valley State Park and if so, can you recommend a particular campsite that would be well located for stargazing?
Do you have any other tips about these parks or other parks in southeastern Utah that you would recommend?
What weather conditions might I expect in early October? Is the sky generally clear then?
I appreciate any advice that anyone might offer. I'd be pleased to have company if some of you would like to meet up in October!
Thanks,
Taylor Christiansen
Western North Carolina
_______________________________________________ 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.utahastronomy.com
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FWIW, while not in Utah, for anyone bored and not having to work the next few days, there's also "Weekend Under the Stars in Wyoming" starting tomorrow through Saturday in Foxpark Wyoming North of Steamboat Springs CO. and West of Laramie WY. I suspect the sky is pretty darn dark up there as well. hhttp://home.bresnan.net/~curranm/wuts.html (from another astro-list that I'm on) --- erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net wrote:
Hi Debbie
Darkest in Utah has alot of competition. Utah has competition with West Texas, Texas Star Party Site, EverGlades and Florida Keys sites of the Southern Cross Winter Star Party, and in Oregon the Table Mountain Star Party is pretty dark (I hear I've never attended that Star Party).
Chad Moore, SLAS member and NPS Ranger at Bryce has represented the issue in DC. IE: Protecting Dark Sky for National Parks and has taken scientific measurements, as I recall Bryce was darkest that he measured. Some other list contributers may remember his presentation to SLAS better than I. He talked at a SLAS meeting about 3 years ago, I remember Don Colton being there to organize the Bryce Star Party. :)
Erik
Taylor,
Natural Bridges National Park is the darkest spot
in the country. I'd like
to go there myself in the fall. Here is a link.
http://www.nps.gov/nabr/parknews/news040507.htm
The only problem is there are only 13 campsites on a first-come first-serve basis. There is also overflow camping outside the monument. I think the nearest town is Blanding.
Goblin Valley is on my to-do list. They featured that area in the movie "Galaxy Quest" starring Tim Allen.
Debbie
On Wed Aug 8 6:57 , 'Taylor' <stargzr@alltel.net> sent:
Hello Utah astronomy enthusiasts,
I don't live in Utah but am planning an observing trip to the southeastern part of the state for early this October. In doing research for the trip, I ran across the Utah-Astronomy website and since I saw a link to e-mail all members of the list, I hope you all don't mind my asking a couple of questions.
Since my last visit over 15 yrs. ago, I have longed to return to Utah but the demands of work and family have precluded taking time for such a journey. I enjoy astronomy and tent camping and am looking for locations in southeastern Utah where the skies are inky black and camping is available.
I am currently focusing on Goosenecks State Park and Goblin Valley State Park as possible locations for stargazing. I have camped at Goosenecks before so I know what it's like there but I only passed by Goblin Valley and have not stayed at the campground. I like the idea of camping at B.L.M. sites but since I will be on a motorcycle and planning to take excursions during the daytime, I prefer the relative security of a campground since I'll be leaving valuable equipment behind while I go off exploring.
Has anyone ever observed at Goblin Valley State Park and if so, can you recommend a particular campsite that would be well located for stargazing?
Do you have any other tips about these parks or other parks in southeastern Utah that you would recommend?
What weather conditions might I expect in early October? Is the sky generally clear then?
I appreciate any advice that anyone might offer. I'd be pleased to have company if some of you would like to meet up in October!
Thanks,
Taylor Christiansen
Western North Carolina
_______________________________________________ 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.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ 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.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ 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.utahastronomy.com
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Hi Richard, Yes, There are quite a few good sites left in the West. Arizona has a few to, the light polution ordinances have made a difference. I will always remember my trip to the Everglades, the Milky Way at the zenith was spectacular, unfortuantly now I am always disappointed when I look at the Cone Nebula this far north.
Erik FWIW, while not in Utah, for anyone bored and not
having to work the next few days, there's also "Weekend Under the Stars in Wyoming" starting tomorrow through Saturday in Foxpark Wyoming North of Steamboat Springs CO. and West of Laramie WY. I suspect the sky is pretty darn dark up there as well.
hhttp://home.bresnan.net/~curranm/wuts.html
(from another astro-list that I'm on)
--- erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net wrote:
Hi Debbie
Darkest in Utah has alot of competition. Utah has competition with West Texas, Texas Star Party Site, EverGlades and Florida Keys sites of the Southern Cross Winter Star Party, and in Oregon the Table Mountain Star Party is pretty dark (I hear I've never attended that Star Party).
Chad Moore, SLAS member and NPS Ranger at Bryce has represented the issue in DC. IE: Protecting Dark Sky for National Parks and has taken scientific measurements, as I recall Bryce was darkest that he measured. Some other list contributers may remember his presentation to SLAS better than I. He talked at a SLAS meeting about 3 years ago, I remember Don Colton being there to organize the Bryce Star Party. :)
Erik
Taylor,
Natural Bridges National Park is the darkest spot
in the country. I'd like
to go there myself in the fall. Here is a link.
http://www.nps.gov/nabr/parknews/news040507.htm
The only problem is there are only 13 campsites on a first-come first-serve basis. There is also overflow camping outside the monument. I think the nearest town is Blanding.
Goblin Valley is on my to-do list. They featured that area in the movie "Galaxy Quest" starring Tim Allen.
Debbie
On Wed Aug 8 6:57 , 'Taylor' <stargzr@alltel.net> sent:
Hello Utah astronomy enthusiasts,
I don't live in Utah but am planning an observing trip to the southeastern part of the state for early this October. In doing research for the trip, I ran across the Utah-Astronomy website and since I saw a link to e-mail all members of the list, I hope you all don't mind my asking a couple of questions.
Since my last visit over 15 yrs. ago, I have longed to return to Utah but the demands of work and family have precluded taking time for such a journey. I enjoy astronomy and tent camping and am looking for locations in southeastern Utah where the skies are inky black and camping is available.
I am currently focusing on Goosenecks State Park and Goblin Valley State Park as possible locations for stargazing. I have camped at Goosenecks before so I know what it's like there but I only passed by Goblin Valley and have not stayed at the campground. I like the idea of camping at B.L.M. sites but since I will be on a motorcycle and planning to take excursions during the daytime, I prefer the relative security of a campground since I'll be leaving valuable equipment behind while I go off exploring.
Has anyone ever observed at Goblin Valley State Park and if so, can you recommend a particular campsite that would be well located for stargazing?
Do you have any other tips about these parks or other parks in southeastern Utah that you would recommend?
What weather conditions might I expect in early October? Is the sky generally clear then?
I appreciate any advice that anyone might offer. I'd be pleased to have company if some of you would like to meet up in October!
Thanks,
Taylor Christiansen
Western North Carolina
_______________________________________________ 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.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ 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.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ 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.utahastronomy.com
____________________________________________________________________________________ Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting
_______________________________________________ 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.utahastronomy.com
participants (3)
-
Debbie -
erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net -
Richard Tenney