I also have a light meter, and live in the Chandler area. I checked out
Picket Post and Massacre Grounds Trailhead Parking lot, and they are very
similar in reading (about 21.5). I like the Massacre Grounds since it is a
little bit closer to me I go behind a tree in the back of the lot.
Traffic is typically 1-2 cars after dark, and I'm so far back in the lots,
they can't see me and the lights are not a real issue. here is the Google
Maps link:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Massacre+grounds+Trailhead/@33.4714065,-111.4716647,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x872bc7fe77a26487:0x507b70ed9fe4d241!8m2!3d33.471402!4d-111.469476
On Mon, Jul 2, 2018 at 3:45 PM, <darkmatterinsights@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have been scouting some observing sites southeast of the metropolitan
area (I live in SE Chandler). I went back to two of them this week to see
how dark they really are.
* Last night I went to a site located at N 32â° 52.259á´µ, W 110â°
53.016á´µ. It is a remote parking spot for access to the Arizona Trail at
the end of passage 14. Get there by going south on Rt 79 from Florence.
The Tom Mix memorial is on the west side between mile marker 115 and 116.
Very shortly after that there is a left turn (east) on to Freeman Road. It
is a dirt road but in good condition. Travel 19 miles and the parking area
is on the left hand side (north) immediately after mile marker 19. It is
on top of a ridge so there are essentially unobstructed views for all 360
degrees around the site. The light domes from Tucson and Phoenix come
above the horizon but neither is an issue. According to the AZ Trail map
it is about 4100 feet elevation. Very nice dark sky, good Milky Way from
horizon to horizon. I used a Sky Quality Meter (www.unihedron.com <
http://www.unihedron.com> ) to measure sky brightness as 21.6 and 21.8
visual magnitude per square arcsecond before th
e moon came up. I saw zero cars or people for the 19 mile drive on the
dirt road and the entire time I was out there so donât break down. Long
drive but a good dark site.
* The other site I went to this week is near an old BLM camp located
approximately at N 32.8, W 111.0 which was plenty dark but had way too many
bees. I didnât think bees came out at night but they do. Supposedly all
AZ bees are Africanized to some extent. This location is too dangerous
unless you want to rent a bee suit.
I like the first site. If interested in going there let me know and I
will go along.
Rob
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