[sac-forum] Re: az science center hour of darkness star party

Hi Shantel & all participating in the Arizona Science Center Star Party,

Thanks that you are! (And also thanks to those participating with photos & SQMs 
from other sites around the valley.)

If you're bringing a scope:  Enter Heritage Square from the Monroe & 7th Street 
Gate. This link should be a map of the area 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=arizona+science+center or google Arizona 
Science Center.  The official address is 600 E. Washington.  Heritage Square is 
on the West side of 7th Street in between Washington and VanBuren.  Monroe is 
just South of Van Buren.

You can leave your vehicle on the plaza if you bring a scope or park it in the 
science center's garage.  The Science Center will validate the parking.

You can start showing up at 6:30 but don't be later than ~7:05ish to avoid the 
hazards of pedestrians mixing with cars!

The Science Center is supplying water.

Keep in mind some deep sky objects for before during and after the Hour of 
Darkness--Orion Neb M36,37,38, Whirlpool Gal., Andromeda as well as naked 
eye--Milky Way! Mizar/Alcor, Pleiades.

Keep this in mind as well to mention to folks: 
We'd like to also get the message out that you can save energy, reduce CO2 
emissions, AND help bring back the MilkyWay _everyday_ while you're at it by 
simply shielding and pointing your lights down instead of into the sky, this 
will enable you to use less wattage and less lights.

Bring a SQM and or a camera if you have one and want to bring them--Refer to my 
email of March 27th, which I've attached parts of below*** regarding photos & 
measurements.  Please print the SQM document in the attachments if you're 
bringing an SQM.

After the star party, there will be a gathering at Lynn and Dorelyn's house 
near 12th Street and McDowell.  We'll give directions there for those wanting 
to join us. It will be good to exchange and converse while everything is fresh. 
 Thanks Lynn & Dorelyn!  

Kind regards, and thanks! Let's make this the start of re-claiming our night 
sky.
Jennifer Polakis,VP
Saguaro Astronomy Club
m24@xxxxxxx
480 967-1658

***

If you have a Sky Quality Meter:

We need folks with Sky Quality Meters to bring them out to whereever they are 
and take measurements before, during, and after this event.  You can utilize 
the chart (see attachments) to record your measurements to email to Chris 
Luginbuhl cbl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and/or  Katie Garmany  kgarmany@xxxxxxxx One way to 
do this is to affix the SQM to a tripod pointed at the Zenith and take a 
measurement ~every 10 minutes or so between 7:45 and 9:15.  The other option is 
to take measurements at the following three times each time measuring at the 
zenith (90degrees), 45degrees, and the horizon (zero degrees), first 
measurements should be facing toward the city, then rotate yourself 45degrees 
to the Right and take the 45degree and horizon measurements, then 45degrees 
Left of your starting point and do the same.  So for each of the three time 
periods you would have a total of  7 measurements to record.*** 
Between 7:30 and 7:45 pm (to avoid sunset)

   Between 8:15 and 8:45 pm (Earth Hour is 8 to 9 pm)

      Between 9:15 and 9:45 pm

***If you have the newest SQM, the SQM-L model add measurements at 22.5degrees 
for each of the 3 positions.

Or if you can bring a camera:
Photos of Phoenix will also be useful and appreciated.  So bring your cameras.  
Chris suggests taking the photos from a mountaintop, hill, or rise, use a 
tripod and shoot the same exact photo toward downtown Phoenix for each 
exposure, turn off the flash(!), point in a nice direction and shoot once every 
10 minutes.  He's thinking f2.8 with 2"exposures.  7:30ish--9:30or so.  This 
should make a nice series of photos to string together to show the before 
during and after effects.  Send the photos to Chris cbl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx  If you 
can't/don't want to do a photo every 10 minutes, try to take at least one for 
each before during and after time period with your camera at as near the same 
spot as possible. Be sure to indicate the location you have taken the photos 
from, GPS coordinates if possible.

Also, for those folks that will be in the same location on Friday the 28th or 
Sunday the 30th, please take the same SQM measurements and photos as well.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Shantel Foshie 
  To: M24@xxxxxxx 
  Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 8:25 AM
  Subject: az science center star party


  Can I get more details on the AZ Science Center Star Party please?

  Thank you,

  Shantel Foshie
  EVAC

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