square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 36712
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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Tom L and I have been talking about getting a group of NW CNers together for some dark site viewing. We thought that a place 1/2 way between Portland and Seattle would accomodate both areas. We're thinking about Mt. St. Helens, on Saturday, Nov. 13th or possibly Saturday Dec. 11th. The December date might give us issues with snow.
I've contacted the Forest Service and they said we would be welcome to view from the visitor center, but that is is lighted. They suggested that some other sites along route 504 might be better.
Any Northwesterners game for a CN gathering? Do you know a good site in the Mt. St. Helens area?
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Tom (Pegster)
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 31037
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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...or any other dark site between Olympia and Vancouver, WA. The rest stop along I-5 is darker than my back yard!
The goal is to get as many people together as possible. I know the weather will be the ultimate factor, but a group gathering of the NW CN crew could be a lot of fun!
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Tom 
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 36712
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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Dark skies stretch all the way to I-5 in the Toledo area.
http://cleardarksky.com/lp/MntStHlns1WAlp.html
Choose 'link roadmap' and click around a little.
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Tom (Pegster)
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 31037
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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I had a hard time figuring that out. That would be about an hour+ north for me.
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Tom
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rosecityred
sage
Reged: 02/13/04
Posts: 286
Loc: Now located in Sunny Seattle, ...
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I'm game. I'm just wondering about the weather we're likely to have in November or December-- that being The Time of the Long Rains and all. But hey, if it might be half way clear I'll even bring the CTT and channel Lucy Ricardo so you can all point and laugh and be at least moderately entertained. Julia
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Should I change my callsign from rosecityred to emeraldcityred? Nah!
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 36712
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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The weather can be unpredictable that time of year. And when it's predictable, it's usually 'pineapple express' deluge. But who knows, maybe we'll get lucky. Besides, this is an El Nino year. Should be drier and milder than normal.
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Tom (Pegster)
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Yaquina
sage
Reged: 09/07/04
Posts: 358
Loc: Newport, OR
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A little further south and I'd be in, I live on the central Oregon coast. Rather not drive north of Portland for dark skies. I am sure we will meet sooner or later anyway.
Take care, Y
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 36712
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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I would consider meeting in Oregon. As of yet I'm the only Washingtonian who has replied to this thread. If no one else is travelling from Washington, why not hold it in Oregon. I found White River Canyon http://cleardarksky.com/c/WhtRvrCyORkey.html?1 to be an excellent observing site. It's just about 1:15 East of Portland on the SE side of Mt. Hood. Are there any better sites that close to Portland?
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Tom (Pegster)
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 31037
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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Yaquina is still pretty far down the road from Portland if he lives near Newport. Considering the chance of rain/clouds, we may have to wait until another time anyway.
Tom, the Gorge should have some good viewing spots that are fairly easy to get to.
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Tom
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
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Jim Svetlikov
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/06/03
Posts: 2033
Loc: Crescent Beach
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If it's not too far south, I would like to come and join youse guys.
I'm a little skeptical about camping in the winter months though. Will accomodations be an issue or is everyone simply going to camp out?
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It is better to build a boy than try to mend a man.
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Jim Svetlikov
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/06/03
Posts: 2033
Loc: Crescent Beach
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If in Washington, I would recommend Table Mountain. I think it costs about $10 for the whole weekend.
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It is better to build a boy than try to mend a man.
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 36712
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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Well, I had forgotten about the B.C. contingent of NW CNers. My apologies, Jim. Table Mtn. is great, but may be too far for the Oregon crowd. This weekend's Orion Nebula Star Party at Table Mtn. was called early due to very poor weather. I've heard rumors on a local forum http://sky.maplevalleywa.com/onsp/onsp.html that they might try again in October. If it happens, I'll probably attend. If that is too far for the Oregonians, then let's reconsider our earlier plan to meet somewhere close to the I-5 corridor, between Seattle and Portland.
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Tom (Pegster)
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 31037
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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I wonder what it would be like on someplace like Whidbey Island or something. I know the western part of the island doesn't get the rain/clouds and there is a national park there (camping sites?). Our biggest obstacle, of course, is the weather and trying to even remotely plan for it.
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Tom
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 36712
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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South Whidbey State Park is about 10 miles from this cleardarksky clock http://cleardarksky.com/c/TnyblObWAkey.html?1
Light polution map lists the obsevatory site as 4.5 Bortle. Looks like the State Park would fall in the 4.0 Bortle area. I'd like to try for something closer to 3.0 Bortle, limiting magnitude 6.6 to 7.0. The Toledo area, just off I-5 has this kind of sky. Mt. St. Helens area will have limiting magnitudes of 7.0 to 7.5!
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Tom (Pegster)
DSH-8 (GSO Dob)
15x70 Oberwerks
ED80/SVP
WO 66P
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History is Philosophy teaching by examples.
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Jim Svetlikov
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/06/03
Posts: 2033
Loc: Crescent Beach
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Thanks Tom - no worries. If I'm the lone Canuck coming down, its best to find a place central to the majority. Besides, it's only about 5-6 hours to Oregon from here and 2-3 hours to most areas around Seattle.
The I-5 corridor sounds very good to me.
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It is better to build a boy than try to mend a man.
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Yaquina
sage
Reged: 09/07/04
Posts: 358
Loc: Newport, OR
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The more I think about the idea of hooking up with you guys, the shorter the distance to travel seems! somewhere dark in the northern Oregon / Southern Washington area would be vary doable for me, depending on the date.
Thanks for taking my geographic handicap into consideration!
Y
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Explore Scientific 80mm ED APO
Orion XT10 Classic (many mods)
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melvy
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/17/03
Posts: 710
Loc: Shoreline WA
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Table Mountain would be great.
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 31037
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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The Mt. St. Helens area seems to still be the best locale for us if we can swing it. Dark skies but I'm not sure about camping sites...haven't looked there yet. And of course, the rain... 
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Tom
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 36712
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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Many camping areas available.
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/sitemap/camping2.shtml
Sequest State Park is about 10 miles off of I-5.
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Tom (Pegster)
DSH-8 (GSO Dob)
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WO 66P
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History is Philosophy teaching by examples.
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 36712
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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A recent upsurge is seismic activity on Mt. Saint Helens is causing me to rethink our location.
This story is from Friday:
http://www.kvewtv.com/index.php?sect_rank=1&story_id=182599
I just heard the local news reporting that both the frequency and strength of earthquakes is growing today. We should definitely keep an eye on this.
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Tom (Pegster)
DSH-8 (GSO Dob)
15x70 Oberwerks
ED80/SVP
WO 66P
Sears Discoverer EQ 60/900
8x42 Regals
History is Philosophy teaching by examples.
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