Bob, A few years ago, we used to go out to a subdivision above Rockville called Anasazi Plateau. We found a undeveloped cul-de-sac that was perfect for observing. I haven't been back there since my ankle injury in 2007 but there still may be some good spots there for observing. Also, you may want to explore the Grafton area too. You go across the bridge in Rockville and it is a dirt road. It may be muddy in the winter though. Ii don't like Zion Canyon for observing cause the seeing isn't that good. Plus, with the tourists and lights and all, it has some problems. Next week I am going to make a trip to Apple Valley, 12 miles from Hurricane. A good friend and his wife bought horse property up there so I want to drive up there to check out observing sites. You are brave to go out in that cold weather. I tried Sunday afternoon but decided against going out but it was clear. Was seeing good? You may want to try some double stars with the ETX-90. The astroleague has a good list of 100 doubles on it's website. Doubles are not as sensitive to light pollution as deep sky objects. Clear Skies, Debbie On 2016-12-21 22:28, BOB MARILYN wrote:
Debbie -
Thanks for the report. I just returned this evening from three nights in Springdale, UT, and thought the group might enjoy hearing of my recent observation from Zion National Park, and the observation site I stumbled into.
The purpose of my trip was actually to spend Monday and Tuesday mornings observing and evaluating two Juvenile Court judges in St. George as part of my volunteer duties for the Utah State court system, but staying in Springdale gave me the chance to do my duties while also spending the afternoons and evenings in Zion.
I took the Meade ETX-90 that I recently bought quite cheaply on the KSL classifieds, primarily to get familiar with the Go-To functions and give the scope a "shake down cruise" before I take it to New Zealand in February. I was blessed with 3 nights of dark and clear skies. Wow - what a difference a dark sky makes! The Andromeda Galaxy in this small scope was absolutely huge compared to the best I've ever seen with my 8" scope from here in the light polluted skies of Holladay. My other targets were primarily to learn and test the scope's alignment functions, so I won't bore you with them.
But what I wanted to share with others, and get other opinions, is about observation sites in Zion Canyon. I am only a little familiar with Springdale itself, but I found it hard to escape the street and Christmas lights. And if you go too far into Zion Canyon, the canyon walls restrict the view of the sky, and many parking areas are bounded by trees. On my second night there, I found that if you pass thru the park entrance station and immediately turn right, toward the visitor center, that there is a parking lot on the left (north) signed for "RV Only" daytime use, just before the visitor center parking lot. It is a big paved parking lot, and on the two nights I used it, it was totally empty, it offered a pretty wide view, and there was minimal light intrusion. The temperature was approaching freezing on Monday and Tuesday nights, but I didn't experience any dewing. However, 8:30 was the latest I stayed, for I WAS getting cold,and I also wanted to write my reports of the judges those nights.
Does anyone know of better observing sites in the Springdale area?
Bob Grant
________________________________ From: Utah-Astronomy <utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com> on behalf of astrodeb@beyondbb.com <astrodeb@beyondbb.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2016 1:43 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] I bagged 14 planetary nebulae last night despite the haze
Hi!
I've really hated this cold weather but I wanted to see some planetary nebulae before Christmas and didn't want to travel. I wheeled my 15" scope out onto the driveway before 5pm. I cut the power to the garage, then waited for darkness.
Before it got fully dark, I viewed M27, M57,, and M34. Then after a brief view of the Double Cluster, I switched to the 9mm Nagler and screwed on the OIII filter.
Here are my observations for the planetary nebulae.
Perseus - M76 looked good. Nice bright bi-polar nebula. IC 351 looked oval or oblate. IC 2003 looked fainter than IC 351. Like a bloated star. Both are 6" in size with IC 2003 a faint mag 13.0 and IC 351 mag 12.0.
Taurus - NGC 1514. Mag 10 with a size of 120" X 90" .Cental star readily apparent in some haze. Need dark skies to show up better.
Camelopardolis - NGC 1501. Nice round nebula .Mag 13.3 I saw the 14mag central star. I observed it at the Virgin site Nov 25 with the 12mm Nagler without a filter. I think the size is 55". Takes magnification well.
Cygnus - NGC 7008 Mag 10.7 Nice fuzzy ring with a size of 96". NGC 7026 - Called the Cheeseburger Nebula. Nice little small planetary. 28" X 13" with a mag of 11.8. NGC 7027 - nice bright round planetary. Mag 8.5 with a size of 18". NGC 6826, the Blinking planetary. Mag 8.8 with a size of 30". Did not blink in the 15".
Auriga - NGC 2149 Nice oval shape. Takes magnification well. Only 12" X 6" with a mag of 11.2
Orion - NGC 2022 Nice round nebula. 28" in size with a mag of 12.3. Jonckheere or J3230 Nice overlooked planetary with a distinct oval shape. Takes magnification well. Mag 12.9 with a 11" X 8" size. Have to revisit that one again.
It was starting to haze up more so I quickly observed NGC 1535 and NGC 2392 with the same power. Will try again on a better night. Then observed the Orion Nebula before tearing down just after 9pm. It was getting cold and damp so I packed the scope in for the night. Restored power to the garage and warmed up to a nice book.
Clear Skies,
Debbie _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Utah-Astronomy Info Page - XMission<http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy> mailman.xmission.com This email list is for people interested in Astronomy in Utah. Discussion includes astronomical objects, telescope making and accessories, current astronomical events ...
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