Escher
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/30/07
Loc: Fenton, MI
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Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
#5276872 - 06/18/12 10:34 AM
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My vacation plans just got scrapped, I was supposed to be heading to the family cottage this week, but no go.
So - I'm wondering if anyone local can recommend a decent dark site withing about 30 minutes of Fenton, MI - zip 48430??
No state parks in the black zone I can see from the dark sky finder - so I'm hoping someone knows of a nice field or small park, etc out in teh boonies...
I'm thinking in the area North of Howell and West of Fenton - but I'm not familiar with the area at all. There is a State Game area - but I'm not sure if its a good idea to head out there or not...
Ideas?
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mich_al
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/10/09
Loc: Rural central lower Michigan ...
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: Escher]
#5276958 - 06/18/12 11:22 AM
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You could ask here : http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/michigan_astronomy/messages
There are sometimes star parties at Kensington park near Brighton.
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JimMo
I'd Rather Do It Myself
Reged: 01/08/07
Loc: Under the SE Michigan lightdom...
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: Escher]
#5277047 - 06/18/12 12:33 PM
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I go to Lake Hudson Recreation Area near Adrian. It's a little further than 30 minutes from Fenton, though. It is Michigan's first designated dark sky preserve and they encourage star gazers. There is camping with electricity but only pit toilets and no showers.
Even though the area's light pollution is a yellow zone there are only two lights in the park well hidden from the picnic area where most observe and the major light pollution from Adrian and SE Michigan is to the northeast. If interested PM me for more info. Click my clear sky chart to see where Lake Hudson is.
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MawkHawk
sage
Reged: 08/23/09
Loc: SE Michigan, USA
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: JimMo]
#5277071 - 06/18/12 12:53 PM
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If you join Seven Ponds Nature Center in Dryden then you can observe from there whenever you'd like to. That's what I do.
The Oakland Astronomy Club maintains an observing site in Addison Oaks (Oakland) County Park, north of Rochester.
Warren Astronomical Society (WAS) maintains an observing site called "Stargate" in Ray township.
You can also go up to River Valley RV Park near Gladwin and camp on the astro hill for like $5 / night. That's probably like an hour from Fenton.
Port Crescent State Park at the tip of the thumb is a gray zone, but I'm not sure where you could observe there. Maybe from the campground itself. And that would also be an overnighter.
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JimMo
I'd Rather Do It Myself
Reged: 01/08/07
Loc: Under the SE Michigan lightdom...
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: MawkHawk]
#5277089 - 06/18/12 01:03 PM
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Yes, I forgot to mention that River Valley RV Park has the astro hill and it is also the site of the Michigan Stargaze. Pretty dark skies and a great deal for $5 bucks a night.
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Escher
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/30/07
Loc: Fenton, MI
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: MawkHawk]
#5277091 - 06/18/12 01:05 PM
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Thanks for all the sites guys, I appreciate it!
Most of those are places I would go when I have more time to commit - I'm mostly looking for something I can do in the middle of a work week, just for a couple of hours.
I will definitely be checking out ways to visit some of these regardless.... thanks again!
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MawkHawk
sage
Reged: 08/23/09
Loc: SE Michigan, USA
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: JimMo]
#5277136 - 06/18/12 01:34 PM
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Yes, I forgot to mention that River Valley RV Park has the astro hill and it is also the site of the Michigan Stargaze. Pretty dark skies and a great deal for $5 bucks a night.
Great Lakes Star Gaze
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buddyjesus
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/07/10
Loc: Davison, Michigan
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: MawkHawk]
#5277760 - 06/18/12 08:56 PM
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try looking around owosso. dark out there. it is north of durand.
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ih8usrnames
super member
Reged: 08/08/11
Loc: Wheaton Illinois
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: buddyjesus]
#5302336 - 07/04/12 02:21 PM
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I will be in the Grand Blanc area the weekend of the 21st, I too am looking for something within 45-60 minutes.
I grew up in the area so I know my way around but never had a scope back then.
I am thinking Linden, Byron area. Owasso would be a good direction too.
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amicus sidera
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/14/11
Loc: East of the Sun, West of the M...
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: Escher]
#5302656 - 07/04/12 05:35 PM
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(snip) There is a State Game area - but I'm not sure if its a good idea to head out there or not...
Ideas?
I'd think that these folks could tell you if their State Game Area is open after dark for astronomy:
Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources contact page
Google is your friend. 
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TopherTheME
sage
Reged: 02/11/11
Loc: Rochester, MI
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: MawkHawk]
#5304028 - 07/05/12 04:29 PM
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If you join Seven Ponds Nature Center in Dryden then you can observe from there whenever you'd like to. That's what I do.
The Oakland Astronomy Club maintains an observing site in Addison Oaks (Oakland) County Park, north of Rochester.
Warren Astronomical Society (WAS) maintains an observing site called "Stargate" in Ray township.
You can also go up to River Valley RV Park near Gladwin and camp on the astro hill for like $5 / night. That's probably like an hour from Fenton.
Port Crescent State Park at the tip of the thumb is a gray zone, but I'm not sure where you could observe there. Maybe from the campground itself. And that would also be an overnighter.
You know, I've contacted Oakland Astronomy Club several times about joining and never received a single response so I gave up. Its perfect for me as Addison Oaks is a quick 5 minute drive north of me but I always go to the Bald Mountain Recreation area instead which is just down the road. They never seem to have any public star parties either.
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TopherTheME
sage
Reged: 02/11/11
Loc: Rochester, MI
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton? *DELETED*
[Re: MawkHawk]
#5304032 - 07/05/12 04:30 PM
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uniondrone
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/09
Loc: Streetlight Archipelago
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Re: Recommend a dark site within 30 minutes of Fenton?
[Re: TopherTheME]
#5304339 - 07/05/12 08:44 PM
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You know, I've contacted Oakland Astronomy Club several times about joining and never received a single response so I gave up. Its perfect for me as Addison Oaks is a quick 5 minute drive north of me but I always go to the Bald Mountain Recreation area instead which is just down the road.
You should join the Warren Astronomical Society (I am a member). It's a pretty active group that has two meetings a month, regular special interest group meetings, as well as observing open-house sessions at our observatory site.
Also the Ford Amateur Astronomy Club is quite active, but they are out in the Dearborn area, which is a longer drive for you. The other clubs in SE Michigan seem to meet less often and are less active. The Seven Ponds Astronomy Club has probably the darkest location and John Lines (the president) is good with replying to e-mails, so that may be a good option for you as well.
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