Jay: I did some observing at Great Basin a few years ago.  The skies are very dark and generally good.  However unlike Bryce or Capital Reef, Great Basin is primarily a mountain outcrop and the air can be turbulent and can provide some challenges.  The visitor centers are at the base and the better observing is up in the hills, so scout out a good area during the day.   You can observe from the base near the visitor center but you will give a little seeing up to a little more light pollution from the town and a lower altitude.   Try to find a nice high parking lot higher up along one of the main roads that go into the park.   That said there is some good observing there.  The town or Baker is very small with few amenities, bring as much as you can with you and don’t count on being able to buy much especially if you have specific dietary needs. Robert Taylor ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Eads" <jayleads@gmail.com> To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 1:35:50 PM GMT -07:00 US/Canada Mountain Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Big Basin Natl Park October 1st to the 3rd Anyone? I've been updating my Google Maps/Earth today for my observing   locations and added Big Basin National Park with several sites there.   While there I decided to do some research on Big Basin and that  got to thinking. My wife is not a camper and I do have special   dietary needs (no gluten) but the lodging there seems reasonable even   those with kitchens and they have camp sites also.  Entrance to the   park is free and the Park according to its web site "The Night Sky   Team visited Great Basin National Park in October 2004 and 2005 and   tested the light levels to determine the darkness of the night skies.   The results?  Great Basin's night skies are among the darkest in the   country, providing visitors a rare opportunity for stargazing! " I almost have the wife convinced to go and to book a room for that   weekend because that is UEA weekend (the 1st and 2nd the two teens are   off and so am I) and we can get a room with a kitchen for under $70 http://www.silverjackinn.com/reserv.html , http://www.greatbasinpark.com/whisperingelms.htm (no kitchen but   good rates), http://www.greatbasinpark.com/getawaycabin.htm , and http://www.silverjackinn.com/   (click on his savings packages for the Economy and he lists a range   of activities that can be done here). Finally, if enough go something   like this might work: http://www.greatbasinpark.com/hiddencanyon.htm.   Baker looks to have some decent eats unless your having to be gluten   free like me. The ultimate option of course is just to reserve   campsites and camp. I think this would be a fun get away for those who may just want to   observe for a day or two and just camp, or those that want to observe   at night while the family sleeps and then do something with the family   during the day before venturing off for a late afternoon nap and then   out for a another round of Star Gazing. From the sound of things I   think there would be enough observing  sites for all.  Colors would be   beautiful and it could make for a nice getaway for that weekend.   Anyone interested (I'm  going even it it just means camping for a two   nights if nothing else just to take in the dark sky from there and   getting in two good nights of observing)?  It would be cool, but   that's fine by me. If you've gone there what did you think of the area and Baker? Is it   worth taking my non-camping wife who likes to be in a room at night   and then do stuff in the wilderness by day and then return to   civilization by night? I'm not worried about the teens as I call my   kids cause there is enough for them to do and they are more like me   and love the outdoors (minus the biting bugs). Jay _______________________________________________ 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