I recorded 21.7 SQM Friday night around 1:00, the best of the previous 2 nights. Jeep camping on the north edge of the ORT field and had spectacular views through my 100mm binocular telescope. I also threw the towel and left Saturday AM in anticipation of the hottest day of the event.
Golden State Star Party 2024 dates
#26
Posted 11 July 2024 - 02:31 AM
#27
Posted 14 July 2024 - 06:44 PM
My device also recorded between 21.7 and 21.8 on Friday night, hitting 21.82 around the time you mention. You didn't miss much on Saturday -- there were bands of smoke in the northwest after sunset and they appeared to drift across after dark, reducing the transparency noticeably.
#28
Posted 15 July 2024 - 11:48 AM
Well that is 3 SQM readings that seem to be well within one another making mine the odd man out with much lower numbers. What model SQM do you guys have? Also, what part of the sky did you take the reading -although I hardly think this is the cause of the great difference with my readings? I may have to get a new one if I cannot figure out why mine reads so low.
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#29
Posted 15 July 2024 - 01:29 PM
I have the Unihedron SQM-L (lens), which has a narrower cone of sensitivity than their original SQM device. See this graph for comparison. I point it well off the Milky Way in a dark portion of the sky, but no particular direction.
On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, I had readings of 21.62, which matched another observer who was next to me. But I've often seen a variation of a couple of tenths with different devices.
#30
Posted 15 July 2024 - 01:37 PM
I have the Unihedron SQM-L (lens), which has a narrower cone of sensitivity than their original SQM device. See this graph for comparison. I point it well off the Milky Way in a dark portion of the sky, but no particular direction.
On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, I had readings of 21.62, which matched another observer who was next to me. But I've often seen a variation of a couple of tenths with different devices.
I have the non-L version and always point straight up but not near the MW. I guess I will have to invest in the L version if I want truer readings at the zenith.
#31
Posted 02 August 2024 - 07:30 PM
While I registered and paid this year (July 2024) and chose not to attend due to heat, I’m already looking forward to finally attending next year if held in June and hopefully early June.
Personally speaking, July is often just too hot for tent camping at my age.
Edited by PAW, 02 August 2024 - 07:32 PM.
#32
Posted 05 August 2024 - 08:59 PM
While I registered and paid this year (July 2024) and chose not to attend due to heat, I’m already looking forward to finally attending next year if held in June and hopefully early June.
Personally speaking, July is often just too hot for tent camping at my age.
Netxt year's (2025) new moon in June is on the 25th. Not much earlier than this year.
Edited by DarkSkyKen, 05 August 2024 - 09:00 PM.