213 replies to this topic

[rwiederrich]

Fun nite and public outreach all in one package! 

Yeah..sounds great. Now that I have my new 7" Mak I can easily haul it to parties..where as My big refractors were impossible to move around...keeping me at home.

Rob

[Spaced]

Yeah, but those refractors . . . .

[cliff mygatt]

So, just got back, last week, from Eastern Oregon.  We were on the west side of Steens Mountain.  There is an RV "resort" (Steens Mountain Wilderness resort) with full hook ups just 3 miles south east of Frenchglen, OR, population 12.  As promised, these are the darkest skies (Bortle one according the Clear Dark Skies) I have had the chance to observe and they are the darkest in the US.  Not all nights were clear but we had 4 of the 8 nights to observe and on the best night the Milky Way looked three dimensional.  My observing plan was looking at Northern Arp Galaxies, some at mag 14 with my 12 inch dob.  I knocked out 27 of them in the four nights and my observing buddy knocked out 28 planetary nebulae.  Definitely worth the trip!  The cloudly days we were able to explore and saw some great sites.  We did the 52 mile (all gravel road) Steens Mountain loop that took us to the 9,500 foot summit and three awesome glacial gorges.  We went to the east side of Steens Mountain to the Alvord desert, a dry alkali lake bed and drove on the desert, very cool.  We also saw the Diamond Craters which has some of the most diverse basaltic volcanic features in the nation clustered within a small, accessible area.  I plan on going back sooner than later.

[RedshiftRob]

Thanks for the report!    Steens is definitely a place I'd like to get out to again.  The last time I was up there was one of the last OSPs there, and IIRC, it was a very rainy and cold one...

 

-Stephen

[cliff mygatt]

We used the Fish Lake campground clear dark skies chart and the chart states is was on OSP site at one time.  Glad to have that confirmed.  

[rwiederrich]

So, just got back, last week, from Eastern Oregon. 

<...snip...>

 

 

Cliff...sounds fantastic....I'm sure you were nearly in heaven....

 

Rob

[MGAR]

Here in the north Seattle area the weather has been like jekyll and hyde. Got the ole mak 90 this afternoon out to count sunspots. I submit group/spot counts for the AAVSO and cycle 25 is just starting to ramp up. AR2778 is the biggest sunspot in 3 years during this deep solar minimum we've been in.

 

I tried leaving the scope out for evening and then clouds rolled in and I thought that was it for the night. We'll things did clear up and got some fine views of the Mars and Moon rising together. The mak got it's workout today. Hope you all got to see the great duo rise this evening!

 

Cheers!

Gary

 

[SteveG]

So, just got back, last week, from Eastern Oregon.  We were on the west side of Steens Mountain.  There is an RV "resort" (Steens Mountain Wilderness resort) with full hook ups just 3 miles south east of Frenchglen, OR, population 12.  As promised, these are the darkest skies (Bortle one according the Clear Dark Skies) I have had the chance to observe and they are the darkest in the US.  Not all nights were clear but we had 4 of the 8 nights to observe and on the best night the Milky Way looked three dimensional.  My observing plan was looking at Northern Arp Galaxies, some at mag 14 with my 12 inch dob.  I knocked out 27 of them in the four nights and my observing buddy knocked out 28 planetary nebulae.  Definitely worth the trip!  The cloudly days we were able to explore and saw some great sites.  We did the 52 mile (all gravel road) Steens Mountain loop that took us to the 9,500 foot summit and three awesome glacial gorges.  We went to the east side of Steens Mountain to the Alvord desert, a dry alkali lake bed and drove on the desert, very cool.  We also saw the Diamond Craters which has some of the most diverse basaltic volcanic features in the nation clustered within a small, accessible area.  I plan on going back sooner than later.

I flew to the Alvord desert back in 07 for the Persied's. I had a 10" dob with me. One thing I found was that the sky & Milky Way were so bright, I believe they were reflecting off the whitish-colored sand at the floor of the desert, actually reducing my dark sky contrast. I've been meaning to go back some time and check it out again.

[Spaced]

That sounds like a fantastic trip, Cliff. Thanks for the useful detail of activities. I'm sold! How many powered sites do you think that RV park contains? Was it full when you were there?

[cliff mygatt]

The site has well over 50 powered sites with 50 Amps available on the back row.  There are "cabins" for rent as well.  The park was not full when we arrived but you have to make reservations due to COVID, you can't just show up.

[Spaced]

Thank you, Sir! 

[russellmm]

My wife and I decided to make a short notice trip out to the California desert in December. We are going to spend ~4 weeks in Anza Borrego, Joshua Tree, Mojave, and Death Valley. We plan to stay 10 of those days in Death Valley which will coincide with the new moon. First time we have taken our travel trailer out in 2 years. I am looking forward to seeing what real dark sky look like and hopefully I can shoot some nice AP as well.

[cliff mygatt]

I went to Death Valley in February.  With the parks "gold" dark sky rating I was excited.  My buddy and I stayed at Stove Pipe wells campground, no hook ups but plenty of sites and water, dump and bathroom are close by.  We set up our scopes behind my travel trailer in a wide open no camping area. What I did not expect was the cars going in and out of the campground most of the evening and the lights from the motel and fuel station.  All the building lights were pointed down but it is still light.  The Milky Way was awesome and I have good views but just be aware.  We talked with the ranger and he recommended the Stove Pipe wells (actual) parking area.  There are no lights and few vehicles.  If I go again, we might set up in the airport about 1/4 mile from the campground but far away from car lights.  Enjoy the views and don't forget to look up!

[russellmm]

yea, we are also staying at stove pipe (but the actual hookup area) and I too am concerned about the light. I figured on a few of the nights maybe I can just drive away like you suggest especially the new moon when there is also a pretty good meteor shower happening

[SteveG]

I came here tonight thinking I've missed a bunch of stuff, but I see no one else is really doing much (same as me). It's been a long, cold, wet and cloudy winter. Really looking forward to some warmer, clear nights!

[WadeH237]

I'm only a very infrequent poster to this thread, but I do know a few of you in person.  I also went to Pixieland a few times.

 

Last year, we moved from Snohomish, over to the east side of the mountains, onto a 40 acre property.  We're out north of Ellensburg, just down the hill from the original Table Mountain Star Party site.  The long term plan is to build a ROR observatory with piers for imaging and visual use.  We still have some building to do, so that probably won't happen until at least next year.  For now, I'll be doing astronomy from just behind the house.

 

Once life returns somewhat to normal, I hope to have occasional astronomy get togethers.  With 40 acres, there is plenty of space, but I would want to keep things fairly small, certainly no bigger than Pixieland was.  Since my residence is on site, I have power, etc.  I'm thinking that it would be nice to have 6 or so observing pads, with power available at each spot.

 

Here are a couple of pictures of the site.  The forecast for tonight looks good, so I'm planning on doing a little bit of both visual and imaging work.

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[cliff mygatt]

Nice looking property Wade and congrats!

[Jeff Lee]

I've been to Malhur several times and it is amazing. If you have never seen Antelope, Big Horn Sheep, or wild horses it is an amazing place at  the near by refuge. It is also a great place for birding. It's a long drive from most places so make sure you gas up at each opportunity and realize that there are few spots to get gas (the one in French Glenn is only open specific hours). I highly recommend 4 wheel drive if you like to explore, and yes the desert is amazing especially if you like reptiles. My C90 is a dual use scope (have two diagonals, one is for corrected viewing on critters).

 

Even Binoculars will wow you in this area. Just know that from Portland it's a 6 hour or so drive. Oregon is a pretty large state but the drive there from any location takes you through amazing scenery. 

Edited by Jeff Lee, 04 March 2021 - 10:57 AM.

[WadeH237]

Here is the first light image for our new property that I mentioned in post 91, taken last night.
 
I started a thread for the image over in the Experienced Deep Sky Imaging forum.  You can visit that thread by clicking on the image below.

Hmmm. Using the image as a direct link to another thread seems broken. The direct link to the thread on the imaging forum is: https://www.cloudyni...poles-of-ic410/
 

Edited by WadeH237, 04 March 2021 - 12:45 PM.

[seawolfe]

Wade, you've got a nice place and looks like you've got clear and dark skies for such and amazing image!  Congrats on the new acreage east of the Wet.   

[astronomania]

Congrats on the new property Wade!! 

Loving the Tadpoles !!

[MadHungarian]

Uh oh, i went out observing again Thursday night, out at the local dark site outside Snohomish.  First time in like almost 2 years, i think!  Went running about the house, hunting down & dragging out telescope bits from various closets.  Charge batteries, read instructions manuals, etc, etc.  Everything still actually worked.

The starwatching lust had been sleeping & dormant for the last year or more, but it's like a sleeping dragon that sleeps very lightly and is easily awakened again!

 

Not a bad night.  Seemed like more light pollution & muck than i remembered from a couple years ago, but oh well.  The trees have grown taller too, bleah.  I've got to start looking again for additional dark sites, or i won't be doing any more AstroLeague certificates.

 

But i did manage to knock off the last 9 items on my H400 certificate list.  That one only took me like 9 years!  And then one more year before i finally get all the observations transcribed & written down.  But after all those faint fuzzies, i think i'll start playing now and only go after easy beginner DSO's for awhile.

 

Out north of Ellensburg, huh?  That's probably within driving distance of the Ellensburg motels?

[WadeH237]

Out north of Ellensburg, huh?  That's probably within driving distance of the Ellensburg motels?

I'm just over 10 miles north of Ellensburg.  It's an easy drive from there.

[Caddman]

Congratulations on the property Wade. It look like an nice area for astronomy.

I really like the Tadpole image.  

Edited by Caddman, 23 May 2021 - 11:10 AM.

[cliff mygatt]

Just an FYI.  The Olympic Astronomical Society has cancelled our Fall Camp Delany.  The state park is not opening the camp for use this fall due to COVID.  The issue is the ability to supervise cleaning the buildings properly.  Let's hope for Spring.