Thad, Your point are well taken. As I said to Steve in an earlier post, I had some of my best night observing from Sentinel. However, I feel one can't ignore the local law enforcement agencies in their assessment of the increased risk. The last thing I want to happen, especially on my watch, would be any kind of run in with people whose intent is less than honorable. At best, it could be a scary incident, at worst..... As I Indicated earlier, Options need to be explored, Steve's Hovatter road site has promise, sound s like a good excuse to get out after the holidays. Also it wouldn't hurt to see if there is anything useable north of I-8 as well. Clear Skies Rick Tejera Editor SACnews Saguaro Astronomy Club Phoenix, Arizona saguaroastro@xxxxxxx www.saguaroastro.org -----Original Message----- From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Thad Robosson Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 10:18 AM To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Report on Hovatter site Tom sez...... It looks like the only downside compared to Sentinel is that the lights to the east of Yuma are now placed more to the south. I say.....Not at all. There are plenty of mountains in the direction of Yuma. Even from Sentinel, the dome from Yuma was low on the horizon. The Little Horn and other mountains in the vicinity should mitigate any domes in that direction. Steve and Rosie sez......I see no problems with the site, it is convenient for us and moving the party to the north for the convenience of a few seems a pity. I say.....It's not about convenience, but realizing that Sentinel is starting to show signs of not being all that it was. It is a reasonable to say that I-8 is a major target for illegal activity, and that any road leading to it from the more southern parts of the state will be used as such. Plenty of observers have witnessed the Border Patrol spotlights (myself included) and a few of us were there the night the car made it's way North down the road with no lights on. This is on top of the impending refinery and the ever-growing dome from Phoenix. Heck, take a look at the tire tracks going up the hill just south of the site. Border Patrol uses it for a convenient spotting area. They weren't there a couple years ago......I'm not ready to give up on Sentinel just yet. But it's not a bad idea to have several sites available. No reason to not explore possibilities. Thad -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list. -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.