FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: North Rim Star Party Notes

[gene lucas <geneluca@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

According to long-time-ago SAC member Dwight Ball (whom I met at RTMC 
this year) and is a machinist in the Salt Lake City area, "the usual 
culprits" from the SLC group who have hosted the North Rim SP in the 
past went to Bryce Canyon NP in Utah this year.  Seems they got a deal 
from the Parks Service they couldn't refuse!
Lots of dark sky sites in eastern Utah....but even longer (but pretty) 
driving....
Tom, did you see any of the famous deer up there on the North Rim around 
the Lodge?
Gene Lucas
(17250)

Tom Polakis wrote:

>After spending Friday night at Five Mile Meadow, Jenn and I went to the North 
>Rim star party, where we spent Sunday and Monday nights.  On the way up, we 
>stopped off at Chris Luginbuhl's home in Flagstaff.  Chris is the forgotten 
>co-author of "Brian's book" (http://tinyurl.com/dxgu9) on deep-sky observing.  
>He also knows more and has done more about lighting practices in Flagstaff 
>than anybody else, and we got an education on the subject.
>
>The North Rim star party is held on the porch behind the lodge.  The horizon 
>is obviously zero degrees for a great extent of azimuth to the south.  The 
>lodge blocks the northern and northwestern views up to 30 degrees, and a 
>nearby building blocks the view to the northeast.  You do lose the Ring Nebula 
>and a few other northern Milky Way objects, but not much more.
>
>There are three pesky lights, one of which drove us off for Night #2.  They 
>eventually unscrewed the two attached to the lodge, but left on a terrible 
>light on the building to the east that cast harsh shadows.  I don't know if 
>that has been taken care of as I write.  It singlehandedly destroyed what 
>would have been incredble dark-sky views.  With these lights off, the porch is 
>a great site for up to a dozen telescopes or so.  By the way, during brief 
>periods between wind gusts on the porch, seeing was very good, despite the 
>nearby hole in the ground!  In general, though, *all* of the lighting at the 
>North Rim is among the least astronomy-friendly I have seen. 
>
>On Monday night, we were given permission to observe at Cape Royal, which is 
>at the end of a faraway, isolated peninsula at 7800 feet elevation.  I 
>wouldn't try this without ranger approval, as we were told that night by a 
>ranger that staying there even without at tent in the back of the truck was 
>"on the margin" for visitors.
>
>Due to an unforgiving wind, we looked at zero telescopic objects while at Cape 
>Royal.  Taking a look around in the huge parking area, however, it struck me 
>as the best large-star-party site I have visited in the state.  The parking 
>lot could easily fit as many telescopes as we have at the Arizona City site.  
>The vegetation quickly drops to low junipers approaching Cape Royal, so the 
>horizon is lower than 5 degrees for the full sweep of azimuth.  The sky is as 
>as dark as it gets but for two very small light domes from Vegas and Laughlin 
>(I think).  My guess is that the local seeing might be good, as this is not 
>our usual basin or meadow setup.  The downside is that there are no 
>facilities, and it's a very tortuous 15-mile drive back to something 
>resembling civilization.  I wonder if we could get permission for a group to 
>use the lot if we give the Park Service enough advance notice.
>
>We made a slow return trip from the North Rim.  The 3 1/2-hour drive back to 
>Flagstaff is one of the most scenic in the Southwest.  We made a return visit 
>for dinner with Chris Luginbuhl, and it was back to Phoenix, where it's not 
>even 100 degrees.  What's the deal?
>
>Almost forgot to mention that the star party was led by SAC's Margie Williams 
>with Chuck Schroll from Tucson.  Bill Dellinges made the trip from Apache 
>Junction.  Otherwise, the scopers were from other states, and in one case, 
>England.
>
>Tom
>
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