[AZ-Observing] Re: Observing site (in plain text)

Somebody help me out.  I wrote the thing in Word and pasted in, even as a
plain text file. All that garbage shows up.  How should I format it for a
cut and paste?

Sorry about the mess.

Paul Knauth
Department of Geological Sciences
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-1404
 
480-965-2867 (voice)
480-965-8102 (Fax)
http://www.public.asu.edu/~iaclpk/

[ I removed most of the quoted-encoded values.  The =BC and =BD may be ]
[ 1/4 and 1/2 or 1/2 and 3/4, I'm not sure.                            ]
[    -Paul Dickson                                                     ]
[     AZ-Observing Moderator                                           ]


> -----Original Message-----
> From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:az-observing-
> bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Stars
> Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 11:18 AM
> To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Observing site (in plain text)
> 
> Paul for some reason my email client "Outlook" is displaying all of your
> distance directions as =BC or things like that. See par 2 (first =BC mile
> of
> the turnoff track; we go in =about =BD mile.)
> 
> I don't know what is going on for sure.  I forwarded the message to
> another
> email client, Mozilla and got the same results.
> 
> Would you please send the message again without any special formatting?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Tom Hilton
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of L Knauth
> Sent: 01/09/2006 10:00 PM
> To: AZ-Observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [AZ-Observing] Observing site (in plain text)
> 
> 
> I understand that the Sentinel site is becoming problematical for some
> of you and that the search is on for additional winter dark sky sites in
> southwest Arizona.  I have been observing for many years at a site
> several miles northwest of the Hovatter Exit on I-10 and have been
> joined there in recent years by several members of SAC and EVAC.  We
> find this to be an exceptional site with regard to dark skies, safety,
> convenience, and isolation.  The area is in a broad topographic saddle
> (1450=92) and is well above the adjacent valley floors.  It consists of
> empty desert pavements of various sizes scattered over a 1/8 X 1/2 mile
> area partitioned by mesquite, palo verde, creosote, and a few saguaros.
> It is quite a beautiful Sonoran Desert pediment and is on BLM land.
> Those looking for a good dark sky site are invited to give it a try.  It
> is too far away for star parties and probably not suitable for large
> events like the Schwaar Star Gaze, but it is an outstanding site for
> individuals and small groups.
> 
> Like all sites, it has advantages and disadvantages.
> 
> Advantages:
> 
> 1. Very dark sky as it goes these days in Arizona.  Much of the Phoenix
> light dome is blocked by hills and mountains to the east.  It does not
> get the direct blast as at Sentinel.  The zodiacal band is readily
> visible, usually across the whole sky. We were even able to see the
> light echo in Monoceros a few years back in my 12.5"
> 
> 2.  It is a straight shot out I-10 to the Hovatter exit and then a few 
> miles of well-graded roads involving two turnoffs.  The last =BC to =BD
> mile is a somewhat gravelly, narrow, desert track, although one could
> drive a Mercedes along it with no problem.  There are abundant observing
> areas starting within the first =BC mile of the turnoff track; we go in
> about =BD mile.
> 
> 3.  Traffic on the nearest dirt road is very rare.  We cannot be seen
> easily from this road.
> 
> 4.  The southern horizon has a mountain about a mile away that doesn't
> project as high as the cinder cone at Sentinel.  On nights of 
> exceptional transparency and steady seeing, I often look at Australian 
> deep sky objects.
> 
> 5.  The seeing can get rock solid, although this happens less than =BD
> the time.  It is routine to be able to use >250 X at various times
> during an average night.  It was really good December 27, with a view of
> Saturn on the zenith I will never forget.  I was also able to use a 3mm
> eyepiece with a Barlow on the eskimo planetary nebula as it culminated,
> a sight that was truly astounding.  We have never encountered seeing of
> 10/10, but 8/10 with flashes of higher values can occur there.
> Transparency can get as good as any SW Arizona site.
> 
> 6.  This place appears to be about as safe as it can get.  There is no
> chance of border traffic here.  There is no vehicular through-traffic at
> night since the track dead-ends for normal vehicles just to the north of
> our place.  I have observed alone there many times and always feel
> totally safe and comfortable. No one without a telescope has ever come
> up the track at night.
> 
> 7.  The site has a variety of desert plants, a nearby arroyo, and is
> quite attractive.  It is a large area with many good places to set up.
> Those who get claustrophobic in tight groups can locate away from the
> pack easily.
> 
> 8.  The area is elevated relative to the adjacent valleys and well above
> the ground haze and dust you often get in western AZ.
> 
> Disadvantages:
> 
> 1.  Depending upon where you set up, there is a direct, distant view of
> headlights on a short stretch of I-10 and the truck-stop lights at the
> Vicksburg turnoff.  The vehicle lights are inconsequential, but the
> truck-stop lights (2 of them almost coalesced) are about as bright as
> Venus.  I set up where a bushy mesquite tree blocks all this and only
> see the distant lights when I walk away from the telescope area.  All
> these lights are well below horizon level, so it is easy to find a near
> or distant row of vegetation that totally blocks all.  Many areas,
> however, give you a straight view.  My colleagues don't seem to mind
> these lights and often pay little attention to locating where vegetation
> blocks all.  In any case, the lights are not destroyers of night vision
> and do not affect the sky brightness.  The freeway noise is sometimes
> just audible as a distant hum, especially in cold weather.  A big
> mountain is between the site and I-10 and blocks nearly all the noise.
> 
> 2.  There is some through-going ATV traffic along the track and the
> turnoff road during the day (only).  We see maybe a half dozen every
> weekend, usually in one or two groups.  They just drive past with a
> wave.  The track has become well-defined in the past couple of years by
> ATV traffic.  Rarely, one of the riders will come over to see what we
> are doing.  It is usually an oldfart snowbird from Quartzite. I believe
> that this is a remote route in the ATV guidebooks.  People are usually
> on a drive and not out screwing around the way the worst of them do.  So
> far, the ATV traffic has come from distant sources, either Quartzite,
> Salome-Where-She-Danced, or an evolving campsite a few hundered yards
> north of the Hovatter exit (never seen more than 3 camper trailers
> there, though).  We are not bothered by this very minimal ATV traffic,
> but you never know what the next weekend might bring!
> 
> 3.  For 2 winter seasons there was a squatter with a trailer for a
> couple of months about =BC mile from where we observe.  I never saw him
> and he hasn't been back in the past several years.  Could happen
> again, but this one had no lights at all and just seemed to be some
> snowbird who wanted solitude.
> 
> 4.  The drive to the turnoff track is really dusty, but the roads are
> wide and usually smooth.
> 
> 5.  Anyone who doesn't like desert pavement and prefers softer ground
> will not like it here.  Some of the pavement areas are a little rocky,
> but there are also broad areas where it is small chips in a nice mosaic.
>  The black desert pavement warms up during the day.  This is great in
> the winter, but one September afternoon gave us a taste of hell.   There
> is not much in the way of shade on the pavements, so you need cover
> during the day.  This is not a summer site unless you leave by 10 am the
> next morning.  I have enjoyed one-nighters there as late as early June. 
> Two-nighters are possible as early as September, depending.
> 
> 6.  This site is 95 miles west of the I-10/I-17 stack.  It is not good
> for same-night return.  It takes me about 2 hours 30 minutes to get from
> my house in northeast Mesa, but I am pulling a trailer, have to cross
> downtown Phoenix,  usually stop at the old Rip Griffen truck stop to
> experience highway Americana, and go slowly over the dirt roads.
> 
> 7.  Astrophotographers may be bothered by the jet traffic departing west
> out of Sky Harbor.  Until about midnight, there is significant high
> altitude air traffic overhead.  There is no problem with jet noise or
> interference with visual observing.  Occasionally, low-flying military
> aircraft pass nearby during the day.  No bombs or flares ever.
> 
> 8.  Weekend gunshots are heard on rare occasions, usually way distant
> over the hill to the east.  One user did report some closer activity
> recently.   So far, this has not been a problem.
> 
> So, there is a description as best I can do.  We welcome anyone who
> wants to give the place a try, but we do ask a few things because this
> site means a great deal to us:
> 
> a.  Please: no radios, white lights, generators, smoking near or upwind
> of the telescopes, running car engines all night to keep warm, or music
> through speakers (bring those headphones!).  The ambience of the cosmos
> over the deep Arizona desert is a treasure and is part of the experience
> we go out there for.  The area is very clean and we hope it stays that
> way.
> 
> b.  I would appreciate an e-mail if you know in advance you are coming
> out on weekends near new moon.  You don't need to bother, but I am
> usually there and like to have some idea of who might be coming out.
> 
> c.  Until you get familiar with your favorite observing spot, please
> arrive before sundown so that you don't have to reconnoiter around
> with headlights.
> 
> d.  I have a favorite spot optimal for my telescope-trailer
> configuration and such.  Please let me have it!!  It's all public
> land, but I ask a favor here.
> 
> e.  Those planning a nighttime departure should locate along the
> southern periphery. This would cause minimal disruption.
> 
> f.  Full-up 5 mw green lasers work just fine at this dark sky site but
> should be used sparingly.  The illegal higher power ones should not be
> used here for 3 safety reasons:  1) accidental turn-ons and unintended
> reflections can cause serious eye damage to others,  2) the beams are
> highly visible and could draw unwelcome visitors, 3) accidental
> interception of over-flying aircraft is more likely here because of the
> enhanced high-altitude traffic.
> 
> You can see the desert pavement and a view southeast from our site at: 
> http://www.public.asu.edu/~iaclpk/telescope.htm
> 
> Bill Van Orden (aka "Beevo") has some shots at: 
> http://beevo.com/star_parties.htm  (scroll down to "December new moon
> weekend")
> 
> Here are coordinates and driving directions.  This takes you to the
> little area where we currently set up.  There are lots of areas in the
> =BC mile south and southwest of this place as well.
> 
> Directions from Phoenix:
> 
>  West on I-10 to Hovatter Exit.  North 1.8 miles, take turnoff to left
> (at N 33 deg 38.324m; W 113 deg 36.766m).   West 2.3 miles to
> cattleguard (N 33d 39.083; W 113d 38.785m).  Turn right after crossing
> cattle guard (as in start your turn while exiting the cattle guard). 
> Good observing sites begin on the left as soon as you pass where a track
> takes off to the west.  Our little spot is about =BD mile north of the
> cattle guard at (N 33d 39.570m; W 113d 38.629m).
> 
> Let me know if you have any questions.  I hope to meet some of you out
> there in the future.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Paul
> 
> Paul Knauth
> Department of Geological Sciences
> (to become School of Earth and Space Exploration 7/1/06)
> Arizona State University
> Tempe, AZ 85287-1404
> 480-965-2867 (voice)
> 480-654-4159 (home)
> http://www.public.asu.edu/~iaclpk/

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