[AZ-Observing] Re: Sentinel 5/4 or 5/5
- From: "Neville Cole" <nevillecole@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2005 12:15:02 -0700
Thanks for the great info Tom, perhaps I'll be able to make use of it one of
these months.
For my drive to Vekol, sometimes I go east, sometimes west - it's
equidistant in either direction. Last time I was there, I arrived from the
west. During the night, I distinctly recall thinking the Phoenix light dome
was brighter and higher. Like you said, maybe I'm just better at discerning
the gradient, or it could also have been the sky conditions (a few high
clouds were around). Maybe a bit of both. Anyways, I headed home via the
east direction, and I was surprised to see all that development going on
around Maricopa. New tract housing, and a new shopping center - all of it
brightly lit of course. It's not that far away from Vekol and I wondered if
that could be making the difference.
I think you're absolutely right about the skies this weekend - we're in for
yet another weekend of cleaning eyepiecs and waxing our scope tubes. Maybe
I'll finish putting the Christmas decorations away. Of course it will be
beautiful next month (Sat the 5th) now that I can't go that weekend!
- Neville
----Original Message Follows----
From: Tom Polakis <tpolakis@xxxxxxx>
Reply-To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Sentinel 5/4 or 5/5
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 22:08:35
Neville,
Sentinel looks a bit like Vekol by day, but its elevation is 800 feet
lower, so it is warmer, and the creosote bushes are smaller. There is a
light dome from Yuma to the west that is not insignificant, and Phoenix is
still very prominent, although it is is to the northeast rather than due
north. The big difference is that the Phoenix dome does not illuminate the
surroundings so brightly, and much of the sky is still very near its
pristine state. Since it is a low desert site, you won't find it nearly as
transparent as sites on the Rim.
I doubt that you saw a change in the brightness of the sky over Vekol over
a period of only one year. You may have just become a better observer, and
you see the sky as a lighter gray than you used to.
The best place for making stops before Sentinel is Gila Bend, only 25
minutes away. There is a very small gas station at the Sentinel exit if
you're really desparate for water or something.
I will try to remain optimistic, but the conditions for this Saturday don't
look all that promising.
Tom
At 09:46 PM 2/3/2005 -0700, you wrote:
>I've been itching to try Sentinel and I'm hoping we can finally have a
night
>that will make the trip on Saturday worth it.
>
>I've never been there before though, can anyone tell me what it's like?
>I've gone to Vekol Rd. 3 or 4 times, the first time being 15 months ago.
>(Any comparison to that site might help me visualize it better.)
>
>Last time I was at Vekol (4 months ago I think), it seemed like the
Phoenix
>light dome was getting brighter. Is that possible to even notice over
about
>only 1 year??? Is the light pollution increasing *that* fast? How is it
at
>Sentinel? The cleardarksky light pollution maps show Sentinel is better.
>
>Any pointers anyone else have before venturing out to Sentinel? Best
place
>for making one last restroom stop before arriving. Fill up your coffee
>thermos at... etc.
>
>In any case, either place is far better than my back yard!
>
>Thanks!
>Neville
>
>Meade 12" LX200-GPS
>
>
>----Original Message Follows----
>From: Thomas Conner <tkconner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [AZ-Observing] Sentinel 5/4 or 5/5
>Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 10:30:34 -0700
>
>Is anyone going to Sentinel this Fri and/or Sat.?
>Tom Conner
>
>
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