[sac-forum] Re: Trip to Dirt Blvd

All,
 
Could we do an observe-off on successive weekends in Feb or whenever?
How about including Flatiron in the contest? Why would SAC abandon it
unless a new site is roughly as convenient and better for observing? It
also would be nice to have objective as well as subjective info. Maybe
we can get Peter with his new SQM out to each site. 
 
I agree with Peter's points about Hovatter. The actual incremental
driving to get there versus Flatiron or Dirt Blvd is, what, maybe 30
miles at 75 mph? If we did two star parties each month, one at FI/Dirt
/Tonopah/Vulture and the other at Hovatter, it would be fine with me.
 
Thanks,
 
Dan Gruber
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rick Tejera
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 3:19 PM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Trip to Dirt Blvd
 
Steve,
 
I'm all for giving the site a go for the Feb Star party. I'd also like
to get more information on the site near Tonopah that Tom & Jenn found,
Perhaps we could try that one in March?? An Observe-off?
 
Tom, Your thoughts?
 
Clear Skies
Rick Tejera
President, Editor SACnews
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Phoenix, Arizona
 <http://www.saguaroastro.org/> www.saguaroastro.org
saguaroastro@xxxxxxx 
  _____  

From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Coe
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 2:42 PM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Trip to Dirt Blvd
 
Howdy folks;
 
We had me, AJ, Andrew Goodwin and Paul Lind at the "Dirt Boulevard"
about 60 miles from the center of Phoenix, last night.  It was a good
evening and we enjoyed the Moon, bright star clusters and some double
stars.
 
I would like to start a discussion about holding the February 10th star
party at this site so that people can make up their mind about using it
in the future.  I don't believe that we can make a decision until enough
people have information about the site and have seen it for themselves
before we can get a consensus opinion.  There is plenty of room for a
club star party at this location.  
 
There are plenty of good things to say about the site, it is on a desert
pavement, so the site itself is not dusty.  The sky is quite dark, it
seems noticeably darker than Flatiron.  The route there is well marked
by road signs.
 
The bad news is two things.  One, it is a dusty road for 6 miles.  Two,
you must set up at the correct location to use the hill to the north to
block off the lights of the Palo Verde power station.  I marked the
correct location with some pieces of cement block that were dumped at
the site.  If you can see Palo Verde while setting up, then move;-)
 
AJ and I need to compare notes to get a set of directions ready for the
newsletter and we will do that in the next couple of days.  
 
Please provide some feedback about your thoughts, here.  Are enough
folks willing to try it out?  Do we want to look at this as a
replacement for Flatiron, if not, does someone have another possibility?

 
Thanks for your input;
Steve Coe

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