Earl, there are 3 large meadows between Jacobs lake and the North Rim of the
Grand Canyon. Going South from Jacobs lake, the first meadow starts less than
10 miles from Jacobs lake
at Forest Road 212. The second meadow, which is the one my family and I
observed at, starts about 18 miles south of Jacobs lake. The third meadow
starts about 25 miles south of Jacobs lake and is where Kaibab Lodge is
located, about 15 miles north of the north rim. The first meadow may be too
close to Jacobs lake. The third may have some very small light pollution from
Kaibab lodge. the second meadow is where I think it is the darkest. You should
look at Google earth to see what I am talking about. The thing about the
meadows are that they are wide open with deer and bison and elk. You can't
really drive onto the middle of the meadows because of the ground being too wet
and it isn't allowed. If you look at the north side of the 2nd meadow, you see
a little dirt road going to the north west a few hundred yards. We set up on
the edge of the that road, which had no traffic at all. However, the main
highway 67 does have cars about every 10 to15 minutes from 8 pm until 10 pm and
then almost no traffic after that. The thing is you can see headlights from far
off and just look the other way when they get close, until they pass by to keep
your night vision. Or you can try to find a new spot off one of the other
forest roads where you drive a few miles into the woods, but the roads are very
rough and there are few large clearings. If you leave Phoenix Sat morning
around 7 am you can reach Jacobs lake around noon and have a good lunch in
their restaurant and then drive the road to the north rim and check out several
possible observing sites.
My wife, son and I are going to be there Sat and Sun night at Jacobs lake motel
and check out the Grand Canyon star party at the north rim one of the nights
and then our own observing the other night. It depends on the weather as to
which night we do what. I like to save the least cloudy night for my own
observing. Last time I was there, a few years ago, both nights were very clear,
but you never know until the last minute. Also Christine from PAS said she will
be there with her husband and friends the same weekend. She got rooms at the
North rim lodge early, before they sold out. We can try to coordinate as to
where we observe together if people would like. I think having lunch at Jacobs
lake Sat around noon would be a good place to try to meet initially.
Also, my son takes us around in his jeep to various spots on the north rim that
have great views.
Let's talk more between now and then.
If anyone else at PAS wants to check out the north rim that is a great time.
There may be a few rooms left at Jacobs lake. Otherwise, the South Rim has a
great star party also, with over 50 scopes, some from around the U.S. (set up
by the Tucson Astronomy Club). The North Rim has dozens scopes, some from
around the U. S. (set up through the Saguaro Astronomy Club). They also set up
a few scopes outside Kaibab Lodge. Let me know if you have any other questions.
602-315-4750 Take care, Sam
-----Original Message-----
From: Earl DeLong <astro_6155@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: pasmembers@freelists org <pasmembers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Mar 14, 2016 7:56 pm
Subject: [pasmembers] Grand Canyon Star Party
Sam,
I rented a cabin at Jacob Lake for Saturday and Sunday. I leave Monday. Where
is “the meadow”? Is it at Kaibab Lodge?
Earl
