I am interested in seeing the eclipse. I will attend the meeting July 3 and
also the fireworks.
Paul
On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 5:59 PM, Redacted sender insanas for DMARC <
dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I called hotels in Casper, some are filled up for the night of Aug 20,
2017, but others won't take reservations more than a year out.
I checked 2 hotels in scottsbluff, the location with the highest % of
clear days. Both hotels have vacancies. I made a reservation for one room
for 4 adults for$82 plus tax for Aug 20 2017. This is just a backup pending
what the club decides. Scottsbluff is in totality, but about 30 miles or so
from the centerline. There is a road highway 71 that is a straight shot to
the centerline or there are other roads to escape to Casper or Grand Island
if clouds roll in. Totality is over 1 min in Scottsbluff but going north
gets you to the centerline which is about 2.5 mins of totality. It is the
super 8 hotel 308 635 1600.
I am not recommending this, just giving out info if you feel concerned
over vacancies.The reservation can always be cancelled a few days ahead of
time.
Take care. Sam
Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
------------------------------
On Tuesday, May 31, 2016 Alex Vrenios <axv@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Our last presentation narrowed the choices down to three cities: Madras,
OR, Casper, WY and Scottsbluff, NE. Given that we analyzed 11 years’ worth
of weather conditions, I doubt that one more year’s worth of data will
change our analysis. Recall also that all three cities had a greater than
85% probability of clear skies, any club member can choose any of these
with confidence.
Alex
P.S. I plan to bring our weather data along to Mike’s.
On May 31, 2016, at 2:31 PM, Peter Turner <peteturner@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I understand your thoughts. I will be at Mike’s for the fireworks. If
logistics look to be difficult, I understand. However $1,000 per person to
go on a tour to Grand Island Nebraska is something that doesn’t seem doable
for most in the club. Having a decision earlier than the one year
anniversary would allow those of us that can make our own way there a
chance to secure the lowest hotel rates possible.
*Pete Turner*
MaidPro Phoenix-North – voted Best of Phoenix Magazine
19235 N Cave Creek Rd. Suite 106, Phoenix, AZ
*E:* peteturner@xxxxxxxxxxx *P: *602-923-7900 *W: *
maidpro.com/phoenix-north <http://www.maidpro.com/phoenix-north>
*Face
<https://www.facebook.com/pages/MaidPro-Phoenix-North/1797230277168150?fref=ts>Book:
*
facebook.com/maidprophoenix *Twitter:* twitter.com/maidprophoenix
*From:* insanas@xxxxxxx [mailto:insanas@xxxxxxx ;<insanas@xxxxxxx>]
*Sent:* Tuesday, May 31, 2016 12:46 PM
*To:* axv@xxxxxxx; peteturner@xxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* RE: FW: [pasmembers] Fwd: Total Solar Eclipse expedition
The reason for the Sept 1st date is we want one more data point for
weather analysis on Aug 21st. I agree hotels are filling up fast. I
mentioned that yesterday in my email to all our PAS members and that is why
we sent out the eclipse tour of Ted, and why I mentioned that Sky and
Telescope and the Astronomical League have eclipse tours. I am beginning
to think it will be difficult for PAS to put together our own tour that
would satisfy everyone. Some want to camp, some want a hotel, some want to
sleep in their vehicle since it is only a 2.5 min experience, some want to
drive, some want to charter a bus, some want to fly to Denver and rent a
car there and stay in a modest hotel for a few days, then drive to Casper
or Scott's Bluff. Some want to attend a professional conference. I would
like to invite all PAS members interested in the trip to go to Mike's
fireworks party on July 3rd and then spend about an hour discussing
everything.Pete and Alex would you attend on July 3rd in Carefree?
Sam
Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
------------------------------
On Tuesday, May 31, 2016 Peter Turner <peteturner@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Sam and Alex,
Just saw this email or would have included it in my previous email. You
might want to consider moving up the discussion from September to an
earlier date, even though it’s in the summer. The reason is that most
hotels start booking one year ahead. Thus many hotels might be booked
prior to your meeting. I think that’s why the tour company that Ted is
going with has a deadline of August 16th, 2016 for their lower price.
You may be concerned about getting a room since PVCC is out for the
summer. However, I think if done now, you could probably get (rent?) a
room at a local library. I know that I have been to meetings at libraries
and most of the rooms are larger than the room we use at PVCC.
*Pete Turner*
*From:* pasmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [
mailto:pasmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;<pasmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?>]
*On Behalf Of *Redacted sender "insanas" for DMARC
*Sent:* Monday, May 30, 2016 2:13 PM
*To:* pasmembers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; tedblank@xxxxxxxxx; pdmaley@xxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [pasmembers] Fwd: Total Solar Eclipse expedition
This email is for all PAS members who are interested in experiencing the
total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017. I wish to remind you that Alex and
I did some research on the subject and the results are in our September
2015 newsletter PAStimes at page 6. You can download this from our PAS
website. At our September 1, 2016, PAS meeting Alex and I will present our
final
data on the weather analyses, and we should discuss as a group the
possible travel, housing, camping or other issues which are vital to a
successful and pleasant experience.
PAS hasn't made any official decisions yet as to whether our club will
have an official tour or just let the members decide on their own how they
wish to enjoy the eclipse. Some members may want to carpool, some may want
to go on an official commercial tour, some may want to go on their own to a
place near friends or relatives.
*Today, I am forwarding an email to all of you from one of our PAS
members, Ted Blank. He spoke to our club a few months ago on Occultations.
As can be seen from the message below, he will be going to Grand Island,
Nebraska, with an official total eclipse tour. Ted is an active member of
PAS and I invite everyone to read what he has to say. Paul Maley, who will
be heading up the expedition, also sent an email with details about the
trip, see the message below Ted's.Feel free to contact Ted
(tedblank@xxxxxxxxx <tedblank@xxxxxxxxx>) and/or Paul (pdmaley@xxxxxxxxx
<pdmaley@xxxxxxxxx>), if you have any questions. This expedition is not a
PAS event but anyone is free to go on the trip if they so desire. *
I must remind PAS members that as we get closer to the August 21, 2017,
total eclipse date, hotels and trips are starting to fill up. If you are
thinking of flying and driving on your own and camping or sleeping in your
own RV or back of your vehicle, then waiting until our Sept 1, 2016 PAS
meeting should be ok. If you want to go on an official commercial tour with
fine accommodations and meals and scientific speakers, you may want to look
into Ted and Paul's expedition.
There are also other groups with expeditions, such as the Astronomical
League, Sky and Telescope, and others.
You should check out several of these commercial tours, and see if they
are in a city you would like to visit. However, having tried twice before
to see a total solar eclipse and being clouded out both times, I can tell
you the weather history of the place is of utmost importance, along with
escape routes to go East or West within 24 hours of totality in case bad
weather is moving in. Best wishes to everyone. Sam Insana President of the
Phoenix Astronomical Society.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ted Blank <tedblank@xxxxxxxxx>
To: insanas Insana <insanas@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, May 24, 2016 5:44 am
Subject: Eclipse expedition
Hi Sam,
As I mentioned in my earlier note, my IOTA occultation friend Paul Maley
has invited me to be a group leader for the upcoming total solar eclipse in
2017. There's no financial remuneration involved for me, other than my
hotel expenses being covered. (I have to get myself to Nebraska like
everyone else.)
Paul, who recently moved to Carefree, AZ, is one of the most active
occultation observers in the world, having just returned from Bolivia to
attempt an occultation down there. He heads up Ring of Fire Expeditions,
the longest-running astronomical tour organization in the United States.
They have specialized in astro-tourism since 1970 with expeditions
organized to view solar eclipses, Halley’s Comet, the Leonid meteor shower,
transit of Venus, spacecraft reentries, grazing occultations, and
occultations of stars by minor planets.
Since I'd love to have friends from the club come along I wanted to
inquire about posting a note to the mailing list to let members know about
the expedition. For people who have not yet made plans to observe the
eclipse, I feel this would be a great opportunity to have someone with long
experience arrange hotel, pre-eclipse local tours, and day-of-eclipse
backup bus travel in case of clouds at quite reasonable cost. I'm
certainly happy to have someone else handling the logistics. I'll be among
those offering talks on eclipses and astronomy during the days leading up
to the eclipse.
The link below has details of the itinerary. Of course I'll understand if
the board does not feel this to be an appropriate use of the mailing list.
One must conservative in these matters.
Thanks,
Ted
Details are as follows:
Ring of Fire Expeditions (ROFE) is now ready to launch their 47th solar
eclipse expedition, this time to the state of Nebraska to see the August
21, 2017 "Great American" total solar eclipse! This is the first total
eclipse in the USA in 38 years and that it is an incredibly rare
opportunity. For those of you who don’t chase eclipses around the world,
this may be your only chance to observe one of the most amazing spectacles
nature has to offer. The observing location will be at a site in Nebraska
offering just 6 seconds less than the maximum eclipse possible along the
track.
ROFE wants to give local amateurs the first opportunity to join. This
will be the least expensive eclipse trip since 1991, with prices starting
at $999 (excluding your travel to and from Nebraska). Details and
registration can be found at the following link:
http://www.eclipsetours.com/upcoming-tours/2017-total-eclipse-sun-usa/
Registrations will be taken in the order received, first come, first
served. ONE REGISTRATION FORM FOR EACH PERSON. They are happy to have as
many of you as possible.
*Future Travel* in Houston, Texas is handling the details and is
accepting payments through the electronic bank transfer system which has
proven to be much safer and quicker. No physical checks are required and no
need for you or Future Travel to worry about mail delays. The electronic
bank transfer debits money directly from your checking account. Credit card
payments are still being charged at a rate 5% higher and so you do save
money going through the electronic bank payment.
Please remember that you have to submit both the registration form AND
deposit for each person in order to be confirmed.
There will be a limited number of single rooms available. From now until
August 21, 2016 the “early bird prices” will be in effect. After that they
will be raised based on the limited space that Future Travel has been able
to secure. Because we have other competing travel agencies monitoring our
web page, the name of the hotel will be kept confidential for now and
released later on to all who have signed up.
This year on the dates of next year's eclipse, expedition leader Paul
Maley will also be conducting a site survey in Nebraska to identify
potential eclipse viewing locations for next year.
We hope that everyone will have an outstanding eclipse experience! If you
have any questions, kindly contact Paul at the email address below.
With best regards,
Paul
Paul D. Maley
Expedition Coordinator for NASA Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society,
Houston, Texas USA (now living in Carefree, Arizona)
Paul D. Maley email: eclipse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
