[sac-forum] Re: Another site - Agua Caliente

Peter;

AJ and I agree that the site is better situated.  I know that it is 6 miles
down an Arizona dirt road and that is too bad.  But it does provide a
measure of isolation.  The southern sky is really excellent and Phoenix is
rotated more to the northeast so Orion and Monoceros were in nice dark skies
by 10 PM.  I think that for most folks it will be worth it for the extra 10
minutes behind the wheel compared to Flatiron.  

At some point, you are close enough to the driving time for the Antennas
site at Hovatter.  This place does not show up like that to me.

We will see what the weather does for the next few days and if some folks
would like to try it, we can do that.  I would like some more input from
people who have used the site.  My wife is out of town for the weekend and I
am dog sitting, so I can't make a long run.

Let's see what the sky looks like on Saturday afternoon;
Steve Coe



-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Peter Argenziano
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 5:52 PM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Another site - Agua Caliente

The site appears to be better situated than Flatiron. Personally, I liked 
the original name much better.

Peter

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "AJ Crayon" <acrayon@xxxxxxx>
To: <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:45 AM
Subject: [sac-forum] Another site - Agua Caliente


Last night Steve and I reconitered area around the site formerly called Dirt

Boulevard.  We wanted to find a nearby spot that put a small hill between us

and Palo Verde.  And find one we did and it has been named Agua Caliente, 
please check your speling for this site!  It is a few hundred feet to the 
west of the original size.  Its coordinates are 33° 15.018' N, 112° 53.943' 
W and the elevation is 988 ft.

For light domes on the horizon, going from the north, around the compass to 
east south and west.  Just over a small hill is the power station, aurora 
Phoenicis is to the east of northeast (you just can't miss it).  The prison,

to the east, is a very low light dome.  A slightly larger dome to the 
southeast is Gila Bend.  To the south is either Sentinel or Palomas Farms - 
we just weren't sure.  We didn't detect any light from Yuma.  Of course 
there were planes all around, including those from Luke AFB.

As far as observing conditions, for this first night here we saw Zodiacal 
Light almost to the zenith.  Canpous passed just below the taller mountains 
to the south; yet there was much dark sky below Canis Major.

I believe this is a very usable site and from my first visit, is better than

Flat Iron.  Time will tell.

Any comments, concerns or questions?  Steve and or I will be happy to 
discuss.

Clear skies,
aj

Other related posts: