[sac-forum] Re: Dirt Rd vs. Saddle Mountain

Rick;

I have to be out there to remember if I tried that way or not.  There are
some houses out there, I blundered into them as I turned.  But that was
probably 3 miles or so along that dirt road.  Like I said, I need to be out
there to know more.

We will go look and see;
Steve Coe


-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Rick Tejera
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 7:12 PM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Dirt Rd vs. Saddle Mountain

OK, Doing a bit of Searching near Saddle mountain, It looks as though we may
be able to continue straight on Eliot where it turns north. About .15 miles
in it turns SW and then about 100 feet further on is what looks to be a flat
spot that may hold promise. I looked at aerial Photo's on the Maricopa
County Assessors site (Courtesy of Andrew). The cords are approximately N33
20.789; W113 00.275, Elev. 1000'.

The only possible drawback (Aside from if the road is passable by a
passenger car), is a wash that would need to be crossed to get there.

Here is the web site I used. Zoom in on the area I'm talking about and from
the menu options on the left, select aerial Photo and 2006 Flights.

http://www.maricopa.gov/Assessor/GIS/map.html

A Starting point at least.

Clear Skies
Rick Tejera
President, Editor SACnews
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Phoenix, Arizona
www.saguaroastro.org
saguaroastro@xxxxxxx 
-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Steve Coe
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 17:00
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Dirt Rd vs. Saddle Mountain

Howdy all;

Well, it would seem that we do have a group ready to look over the area to
the west of Palo Verde and see what we can see.  We can make more concrete
plans at the club meeting.  I have no doubt that a solid effort will provide
good results.  A site that is "easy" to drive to (except for Steve Dodder,
sorry about that).  Also, as dark as anything within 50 miles of Phoenix is
going to be.  Good for the family sedan or motor home to get back into and a
large enough area to handle 25 or 30 vehicles.  I don't think that is TOOOO
limiting a list of desires.

Let's give Andrew a chance to get with BLM and we can look over some maps at
the meeting and see what we find.

Hoping for the best;
Steve Coe



-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Chris Hanrahan
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 4:33 PM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Dirt Rd vs. Saddle Mountain

All,
Since I'm on the west side of the world I'd be more than willing to assist
in any research necessary to find a new spot.  Just thought I'd offer up.
Chris Hanrahan


---- Steve Coe <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: 

=============
Tom;

I also think this is a good idea.  Let me get out there during the holidays,
or early afternoon of a club star party and see what can be found.  If there
are other ideas, let's get them out in the open and see what we can find.

Richard, AJ, et al...maybe we could leave from A.J.'s house at 1 in the
afternoon has a coordinated search.  Mr. President lets make a "Saddle
Mountain" star party for the future and we could meet for some searching.
If we find something, leave a note at the old site telling people where to
go...in a manner of speaking.

Clear skies to us all;
Steve Coe



-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Tom Polakis
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 7:07 AM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Dirt Rd vs. Saddle Mountain

---- Steve Coe <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> I will leave this with "keep looking".  I believe that there is a site out
> there that meets the criteria of pretty easy to get to and good skies, we
> just need to find it.


I haven't been to Dirt Blvd., but what I could see from a Google Earth light
pollution overlay is that it is not as dark as Saddle Mountain, involved
more driving, and more dirt road to reach.  The only advantage I can see is
that it does not have the headlight problem of Saddle Mountain.

Saddle Mountain would be nearly perfect if the headlight problem can be
solved.  Look at the yellow arrows on  the attached image (assuming we can
attach on SAC-Forum).  The headlights cross the field because Dobbins Road
points right at it for a quarter mile or so.  I wonder if there might be a
location within a mile or two of the current Saddle Mountain site in which
the headlight problem does not exist.  Perhaps something farther along the
Gas Line Road will work.

Anyway, a search that stays within a couple mile radius of the current site
might be worth a try.

Tom

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