Hello: I went out last night to check out what many SLAS folks now call "Pit-N-Pole". When I went out there many years ago, we just called it the Rush Valley site. I noticed that the roads were all much improved over what they used to be. I think a regular passenger car will be able to get to the site without any significant problems. My only real concern were the motorcycles and ATVs in the area kicking up dust. Is the humidity still a factor as I remember it many years back? I recall that dew shields came in handy. I'm also curious as to how much the lights from Provo/Orem affect viewing these days. Thanks. Lowell Lyon
Hi Lowell, I agree on the roads. It's only about a mile on unpaved routes. I didn't see any ATVs either time I was there. Yesterday when I was leaving a couple of pickup truckloads of shooters arrived to fire off guns. But they saw I was there and took off for another site. Re. moisture: it can get bad. The first time I was there my gear was frosted badly, but that was a month ago. The night before last, after 1 a.m., I got a light veneer of frost on one side of my corrector plate, so I shut down and put the lens cover over the telescope to prevent more frost. It was bitterly cold then, I think worse than the 28 degrees the outside thermometer of my Jeep said. In the morning there was no sign of frost or moisture except on the top of the folding table I'd left outside, which was covered with dew. I had taken my computer and SBIG camera into the Jeep and they were not affected. I had an autoguider attached to my guider scope and it wasn't affected. I think a warmer night woud cause no problem. Re. light pollution: pretty severe toward SLC but overhead was still and dark. -- Joe ________________________________ From: Lowell Lyon <bolide@sisna.com> To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Fri, April 16, 2010 9:50:00 AM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Rush Valley Site Hello: I went out last night to check out what many SLAS folks now call "Pit-N-Pole". When I went out there many years ago, we just called it the Rush Valley site. I noticed that the roads were all much improved over what they used to be. I think a regular passenger car will be able to get to the site without any significant problems. My only real concern were the motorcycles and ATVs in the area kicking up dust. Is the humidity still a factor as I remember it many years back? I recall that dew shields came in handy. I'm also curious as to how much the lights from Provo/Orem affect viewing these days. Thanks. Lowell Lyon _______________________________________________ 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
PS: My comment about a mile of unpaved routes applies to coming from Faust. I'm not sure about coming from Lehi. -- Joe ________________________________ From: Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Fri, April 16, 2010 11:01:40 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Rush Valley Site Hi Lowell, I agree on the roads. It's only about a mile on unpaved routes. I didn't see any ATVs either time I was there. Yesterday when I was leaving a couple of pickup truckloads of shooters arrived to fire off guns. But they saw I was there and took off for another site. Re. moisture: it can get bad. The first time I was there my gear was frosted badly, but that was a month ago. The night before last, after 1 a.m., I got a light veneer of frost on one side of my corrector plate, so I shut down and put the lens cover over the telescope to prevent more frost. It was bitterly cold then, I think worse than the 28 degrees the outside thermometer of my Jeep said. In the morning there was no sign of frost or moisture except on the top of the folding table I'd left outside, which was covered with dew. I had taken my computer and SBIG camera into the Jeep and they were not affected. I had an autoguider attached to my guider scope and it wasn't affected. I think a warmer night woud cause no problem. Re. light pollution: pretty severe toward SLC but overhead was still and dark. -- Joe ________________________________ From: Lowell Lyon <bolide@sisna.com> To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Fri, April 16, 2010 9:50:00 AM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Rush Valley Site Hello: I went out last night to check out what many SLAS folks now call "Pit-N-Pole". When I went out there many years ago, we just called it the Rush Valley site. I noticed that the roads were all much improved over what they used to be. I think a regular passenger car will be able to get to the site without any significant problems. My only real concern were the motorcycles and ATVs in the area kicking up dust. Is the humidity still a factor as I remember it many years back? I recall that dew shields came in handy. I'm also curious as to how much the lights from Provo/Orem affect viewing these days. Thanks. Lowell Lyon _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
Lowell, It is 7/10 of a mile of unpaved roads regardless of which way you come. I have never had a problem with ATV people while setting up or taking down. I don't have a frost problem in the summer too much, maybe 1x in August as the monsoons came up from Mexico. Fall frost can be a huge problem but you'll get that anywhere in the valley floor I've found. I did find that in the fall going to Five Mile Pass and driving up a little provided some good views up from the humidity but it did limit the NE view. That is ok as the NE is where the light dome from Provo and Salt Lake is evident. There is a secondary dome from Orem to Spanish fork that has come up. The southeast, south and southwest skies are beautiful when clear. Zenith is very good viewing also. To the Northwest the Weapons Depot comes into play with some stray light and to the north you have the lights from Tooele. One of my favorite places when frost isn't too bad of an issue since it is only 45 minutes from home. On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 9:50 AM, Lowell Lyon <bolide@sisna.com> wrote:
Hello:
I went out last night to check out what many SLAS folks now call "Pit-N-Pole". When I went out there many years ago, we just called it the Rush Valley site. I noticed that the roads were all much improved over what they used to be. I think a regular passenger car will be able to get to the site without any significant problems. My only real concern were the motorcycles and ATVs in the area kicking up dust.
Is the humidity still a factor as I remember it many years back? I recall that dew shields came in handy.
I'm also curious as to how much the lights from Provo/Orem affect viewing these days. Thanks.
Lowell Lyon _______________________________________________ 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, Just a test email. ________________________________ From: Jay Eads <jayleads@gmail.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Fri, April 16, 2010 4:25:31 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Rush Valley Site Lowell, It is 7/10 of a mile of unpaved roads regardless of which way you come. I have never had a problem with ATV people while setting up or taking down. I don't have a frost problem in the summer too much, maybe 1x in August as the monsoons came up from Mexico. Fall frost can be a huge problem but you'll get that anywhere in the valley floor I've found. I did find that in the fall going to Five Mile Pass and driving up a little provided some good views up from the humidity but it did limit the NE view. That is ok as the NE is where the light dome from Provo and Salt Lake is evident. There is a secondary dome from Orem to Spanish fork that has come up. The southeast, south and southwest skies are beautiful when clear. Zenith is very good viewing also. To the Northwest the Weapons Depot comes into play with some stray light and to the north you have the lights from Tooele. One of my favorite places when frost isn't too bad of an issue since it is only 45 minutes from home. On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 9:50 AM, Lowell Lyon <bolide@sisna.com> wrote:
Hello:
I went out last night to check out what many SLAS folks now call "Pit-N-Pole". When I went out there many years ago, we just called it the Rush Valley site. I noticed that the roads were all much improved over what they used to be. I think a regular passenger car will be able to get to the site without any significant problems. My only real concern were the motorcycles and ATVs in the area kicking up dust.
Is the humidity still a factor as I remember it many years back? I recall that dew shields came in handy.
I'm also curious as to how much the lights from Provo/Orem affect viewing these days. Thanks.
Lowell Lyon _______________________________________________ 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
_______________________________________________ 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
participants (4)
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Dale Wilson -
Jay Eads -
Joe Bauman -
Lowell Lyon