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molniyabeer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 2061
Loc: Central Coast, California
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My wife and I took a trip to Saratoga WY (approx. 6500') this weekend and lucked out with one of the most amazing skies I've ever seen. Saratoga is a small town with a LOT of empty space around it. As we drove towards the town at about 9:00 p.m. I realized that even with my headlights on and the occasional car coming at us, I could still see more stars that I could from my back yard in Cheyenne. Needless to say, we found a pull out and broke out the binocs (10 x 50). What a sight! The sky was gloriously clear and dark. Not a hint of haze or clouds, no light pollution, just an unbroken expanse of stars. Easily a 6+/7 (6 stars in Ursa Minor without waiting for dark adaptation...). The Milky Way stretched overhead in a glowing stream that just begged for exploring. The starfield exploded as soon as I brought the binocs to my eyes. I began a quick tour of the "M's" I'd found to date (I just started looking a few weeks ago) and rapidly located M35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50, and 52. M44 and 41 were naked-eye visible (another first for me). Actually saw a distinct round fuzzy for M46 and clearly noted M50 and 52, all three of which I can't pick out easily at home. The Double Cluster in Perseus was fantastic as well.
After just 15 minutes or so, I began to realize that winter nights in Wyoming tend to be rather cold and windy, so reluctantly got back in the car and headed on. But what an experience!
Over the next couple of nights, we went back out for more star gazing, this time more warmly dressed. Skies were almost as good as the first night (just the barest hint of high haze). Picked up Comet Machholz with the naked eye near Algol on the 15th. Saw M34 for the first time as well. Could not quite get the comet, Algol, and M34 into one field of view in the binocs. Went back to M44 and then down to M67, another "first viewing." Topped it all off with NGC 2244 in Monocerous. All in all, a fantastic weekend.
Clear skies.
Steve (aka molniyabeer)
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Thick_asa_Planck
Dark Sky Hunter
Reged: 09/04/04
Posts: 3341
Loc: UK
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Sounds like you had a great time - nice report and clear skies!
Alex
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It is often commonplace to leave the notation ambiguous - Anonymous
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half meter
Postmaster
Reged: 05/05/04
Posts: 12517
Loc: Great Lakes
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I lived in Laramie for a year and worked many nights 5 miles outside of Medicine Bow, WY so I know the type of skies of which you speak.
But the wind is what I remember more 
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Gary
Collins I3 (Thin Film) Image Intensifying Eyepiece
Coronado Maxscope DS 90 <0.5A w/BF30
152 mm f/8 TMB/A&M Carbon Fiber APO; f/5 with 4" Borg ED Field Flattener/Reducer
20" Obsession/OMI Mirror/Servocat/Argo Navis
 First Light for the 30" Obsession at BEOTS!
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rmcpb
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/16/04
Posts: 1568
Loc: Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
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I come from a small town in north west NSW called Narrabri. Our nearest neighbour was about 5km away. That is one reason I have dropped aperture fever and am making a 6" travel scope instead of teh 18" I was planning. Its really amazing what can be seen in truely dark skies even with modest gear.
Cheers
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Rob
8" & 13" Dobs
Equatorial Platform
Couple of Panoptics and a handful of BO/TMBs
9x60 binocs
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Oh yeah, I've seen my best sky ever from the banks of the Flaming Gorge south of Green River, Wyoming. I would have begged, borrowed or stolen a pair of binoculars if any were within 20 miles, but we were fishing (which turned out pretty good, also). I don't think most people realize the huge difference a truely dark and clear location makes when it comes to viewing the night sky.
Steve
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Chris Graham
mmmm...Haggis
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 4869
Loc: Stirling, Scotland
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Great report, i would really like to see skies like that!
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-Skywatcher 8" Reflector on HEQ5 with Skyscan
-Orion ED80 Refractor
-70mm Guidescope/grab and go scope
-Canon EOS 350D
-Toucam Pro 2
Astronomy & Veggies
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Bill G.
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/04/04
Posts: 519
Loc: Fort Mill, SC USA
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Steve,
Years ago I spent 3-1/2 years in Minot ND in the USAF working in the missile fields. We'd go out to a site 30-100 miles from town some nights and look up. All I could say was "oh my God". Without a doubt the most spectacular night skies I've ever seen. What kills me is that I was totally ignorant to astronomy (I'm only slightly less ignorant now). I never realized what was visible with the naked eye let alone binoculars or a telescope. Now in the SE U.S. I would kill to see skies like that. Thanks for reminding me of the  oportunity I missed!
Good report!
Bill G.
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 I took up astronomy because I don't have time for anything else during the day.......
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