Telescope Reviews: JPEG...Pristine Skies in the US

There are still some dark areas in northern Baja California, Mexico, which have the added advantage of being in dry locations with good altitudes, and are far enough south to allow good views of the bottom of Scorpio, or some of the best parts of Vela and Puppis.

President Calderon was in Ensenada last week to announce the opening of bids for the proposed megaport at Colonet. What, if any, consideration and planning has been made, or will be made, to reduce the effect of the inevitable light pollution this project will cause on the Mexican National Observatory at San Pedro Martir? The high altitude meadows below the observatory are truly a Mecca for the dark sky aficionado. But for how long? That area is a long drive from Los Angeles or San Diego, and there are no public facilities . One must bring water, warm clothing for the 8,000-9000 foot nights, food, and adequate vehicle fuel. The observatory staff is usually friendly for daytime visits. They drive large, high clearance SUV's or high clearance vans. The road is intermittently paved. One might get lucky and see a California condor. There is a re-introduction program, at a semisecret location in the San Pedro Martir National Park, for this endangered species. I saw two gliding in the distance, with binoculars, the last time I was there,toward evening, as they returned to roost.

Constitution Park (Laguna Hanson) is still good, at about 5000 feet. The Mexicali, Tecate , and San Diego-Tijuana light domes are small, and all to the north . The Ensenada dome to the WSW was negligible the last time I was there. But the access roads are rough and slow, particularly from the north. A pickup truck or SUV with good ground clearance would be better than an ordinary car or van. No need for 4-wheel drive. Security is good, with park ranger patrols around the usually mostly dry lake , and plenty of open, flat space. Many migratory birds stop there also. The campground can be well occupied on weekends, but there are no artificial lights , and the campsites are far apart. There are some dark spots for the adventurous off the very sparsely populated road between Ensenada and San Felipe, south and east of Ojos Negros, even while still in the agricultural Ojos Negros valley( but please be discreet) and, somewhat closer to Tecate, several miles east of the Ensenada-Tecate road, northeast of the wine growing Valle de Guadalupe. Some Spanish would be useful there, to explain to the rancher or farmer , if necessary, your activities, and to request permission for minor trespassing you may have done the night before. These rural people are easy-going, and, should you meet them before sundown, would likely welcome the chance to look throught your binoculars or telescope, or learn some constellations ( which they may already know in indigenous form if they are from Chiapas, Oaxaca, or Guerrero). A Maya from Chiapas, working in Ensenada, told me what his culture saw in the Orion stars( I do not remember what). I had driven to Ojos Negros with him and a Fuji 25 x 150.

The formerly dark views at the turnoff for the Salsipuedes campground and surfing area have been downgraded by the lights, just around the point, at the new terminal for liquid natural gas tankers. That was a good spot to stop on the way to Ensenada. I have not been to Punta Banda, south of Ensenada recently, but took some good Hale-Bopp comet photos there when above the fog.

There is an astronomy club which meets regularly at the cultural center in Tijuana. They have a dark(?) spot east of Tijuana, and may even go so far as to Canon Tajo, on the east side of the mountains . Members attend RTMC, often with friends from Mexico City. Prominent member Ingeniero Levy is well known on both side of the border for his promotion of amateur astronomy and light pollution control, as well as his expertise in astrophotography and Photoshop.

Edited by Gordon Rayner (09/16/08 12:53 AM)