[sac-forum] Re: Trip to Dirt Blvd

Peter;

 

We viewed this site as a replacement for Flatiron, not in contention with
the Antennas site at Hovatter Road.  From my house at 7th ST. and
Thunderbird, the Flatiron or Dirt Blvd sites are about 1 hr 20 min and the
Antennas site is 2 hr 20 min.  So, I would be going to the Dirt Blvd site on
third quarter nights and tearing down the scope at midnight and driving
home.  The Antennas site would generally be a sleep over night and return in
the morning.

 

That's how I see it;

Steve Coe

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Peter Argenziano
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 4:11 PM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Trip to Dirt Blvd

 

Well, I definitely want to check out this site.

 

Six miles of a dusty road is a big negative to me, but I'll reserve final
judgment until I've used the site - maybe this weekend. The long, dusty road
out to Farnsworth Ranch is that site's biggest drawback. It's OK for the
twice annual usage; not sure I'd like to do that every month.

 

For me, and I know everyone has different criteria, I'd rather drive a few
extra miles and use a nice, dark, easily-accessed site like Hovatter each
new Moon. I usually stay overnight anyway, so the extra drive time is
irrelevant (to me).

 

Thanks for locating a new site.

 

Peter

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Steve Coe <mailto:stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx>  

To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 2:42 PM

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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