[sac-forum] [Fwd: Mt Graham TOUR & starparty..Oct 1st thru 6th.]
- From: AJ Crayon <acrayon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: SAC Forum <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, EVAC <evac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 20:38:05 -0700
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I got this from Dennis Young and am passing it on per his request.
Note there is a 10 day advance notice for the tour of the Big-Binocular
up at Discovery Park. The down side it the tour is Saturday, October
1st; a prime observing weekend. I am including EVAC, per Dennis' request, but understand this is same weekend as the ever popular All Arizona Star Party at the Farnsworth Ranch. Note the entrance fee is $20.00 to $30.00 depending on number of participants. I am not planning on participating, just passing this on for consideration. Clear skies, aj -------- Original Message --------
Dear astro friends... Forgive the lengthy letter below but there is alot of info here. Dean Ketelsen, AJ, Patrick(flagstaff), Terri, JD(cottonwood)and any others who are leaders in their respective clubs, I would appreciate it very much if u could pass this info on to possible interested club members or other astro clubs i don't have listed here..Thanks... This is an open event and all are welcome.. A site for weather on Mt. Graham.. http://ifps.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/dwf?outFormat=Text&duration=168hr&interval=1&citylist=Select+City,,none&latitude=32.70&longitude=109.8833&latlon=Go&ZOOMLEVEL=8&XSTART=228&YSTART=70&XC=246&YC=88&X=149&Y=147&siteID=PSR Dennis Young |
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- From: dennisyoung@xxxxxxxxx (Dennis Young)
- To: dennisyoung@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 08:34:30 -0700
To all interested parties... Dear astro friends and family... I finally got a response from Discovery Park who does the Large Bino Scope tours. They have the Saturday Oct 1st available for tour of the giant scope. They meet (about) 11;15am at the front gate of the observatory on saturday morning with the rest of the tour group in tow. >From there we go the rest of the way in (carpools) about 2miles up to the site due to very limited parking. The tour is about 2 to 2 1/2hrs long and is going to be between $20 to $30 per person. I am trying to get it lower if we get a large enough (confirmed) group who wishes to go. If u consider the camping on the mountain is free for whatever time u wish to be there, and seeing the largest Optical telescope on this planet, --the overall fee is reasonable. In regards to the tour... I need (confirm) head count from the Discovery Park's point of view at least 10 days in advance. So that is Sept 21st (next wed) for those wishing to attend the tour. So they can acquire the squirrel permits. And a vehicle (permit pass) for those offering carpooling of their vehicles, on the last 2miles of the trek to the observatory. So who ever wishes to offer their vehicle to go pass the observatory's main gate for carpooling purposes,-- i need the make of your vehicle-- color and year.(Before hand- by sept 21st) I also need full names of those intending to go on the tour.. First and Last name --again for permit reasons. PLEASE contact me as soon as u know u are interested(or confirmed) in is seeing the tour.. IN regards to the Observatory (more info) ... This is truly the largest optical (2)-8.4m- scope mirrors(that is 28ft per mirror!!) with light gathering of 11.8meters and resolution of 22.8meter. This scope is design to do (direct) images of planets around other stars!! At its combined focus, the LBT(large Binocular Telescope) will produce 10 times sharper images even that of the Hubble Space scope! Mt. Graham is 10,700ft high and the observatory is at 10,400ft. I was informed that the Final (second) mirror will be in place this week or next..so we would be one of the first outsiders to see the Scope(in a sense) finished from a visual point of view. Of course included in the Tour is viewing of the unique Vatican Observatory(l.8meter) and seeing the Heinrich Hertz Submillmeter(10meter) Scope at the same Mtn. top. This mountain site was selected after survey of 280 candidate locations as the best high altitude astronomical site in the continental USA. THe criteria used were clear & dark skies, low water vapor and accessibility. Result is superb seeing for astronomy. THis is a well secured site with electrical fences around the perimeter and video camera survellience. ABout THE Location site --for stargazing we will be at.... (Treasure Park)...elevation between 9100ft -9200ft. From Safford..drive south 8miles on US 191 to AZ 366. Turn right onto 366 and drive 23.5miles to FR89 which leads into Treasure Park(left side of road). It is pave winding road until the last 1 to 2miles to Treasure Park where it is a very well maintain wide dirt road. Treasure Park is a wide rectangler meadow-- where the longer width is going due north & south. About 2 1/2footballs fields in length and about 1football in width going east and west. This site is very ideal for stargazing.. with perfect(very low) horizon to the south and very open in all directions. The Free camping can be anywhere but there is plenty of shade in the outlining areas. The dirt road runs along the whole (outside) perimeter of the site. There is plenty of room for RV's as well. On the north side of the park is fresh running Mtn. spring water with even an attached standard garden hose for fast filling of large containers. There are no bathrooms in treasure park but there are bathrooms at Hospital Flats which can be walked to from treasure park in about 2 to 3minutes. >From my last visit there.... the viewing was superb as to be expected, being only about 2miles away(as a crow flys) from the largest optical scope in the world. Ara and I saw no visible dome lights when the sky was clear at night from treasure park. The tranparency was excellent with the celestial objects far better viewing from lower elevations. Nature is superb as well.. with deer... birdwatching...hiking... treasure hunting... and even having a 11acre lake on the mtn about 10miles further up on road at Riggs lake. It has different kinds of daily stocked trout and other fish... No (gas)motor boats allow but any other kind is ok..(raft..electric boats..canoes..etc) A great getaway....for a weekend... The views from some scenic turnouts are unforgetable too!! Below..attached photo.... this is a fisheye lense...of 20minutes exposure of the surrounding area around mt. graham.. Dennis Young--- Begin Message ---
- From: dennisyoung@xxxxxxxxx (Dennis Young)
- To: dennisyoung@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 07:50:01 -0700
Dennis Younghttp://mgpc3.as.arizona.edu/images/Night%20Sky%20large2.jpg
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- » [sac-forum] [Fwd: Mt Graham TOUR & starparty..Oct 1st thru 6th.]