That's great!!! I've done post of my observing at Arunah Hill in Cummington, MA, http://www.arunah.org. Over the last 10 year I'd have to say light pollutions has increased 10 fold!!! It's really sad and really unecessary, most of the time. Not much you can do about it, suburbia is exanding at the speed of light...or so it would seem :) Utah alone has change so much in only 5 years!!! It is so frustrating but, I am a contributer I suppose. I'd have to say that my two most memorable observations were square in the middle of the Springfield, Massachusetts. The first was observing Shoemaker-Levy 9 on course to collide with Jupiter. I was using a 20 inch rooftop telescope at the local science museum!! It was wonderful!!! Next would be comment Hale-Bopp!!! Well, I'll have to keep an eye on the weather for this evening. Do you have a favorite observing point in the Wasatch or Uintas? Have a good day, -Rich On 12/13/06, Michael Carnes <michaelcarnes@earthlink.net> wrote:
Hi again Rich, I lived in Arlington Mass for 20 years and in Boston for another 10 before that. One of my fondest astronomical memories is watching the Persieds in Lenox back in 1980. You're not wrong when you say the skies here are superior (although down here in Salt Lake County they're in the process of ruining it). Be sure to sign up to participate in one of our Bryce Canyon or Capitol Reef star parties this coming summer. I guarantee you'll be standing there with your mouth hanging open.
Michael
I am from Western Massachuetts. I live in Park City at the moment. Perhaps I'm just ignorant but, I would say that observing is so much better here than back home. The fact that I can stand outside my front door and make out the band of the Milky Way is pretty impressive...to me anyway. I mean, with the light pollution and all, it's pretty good. There are some seriously dark skies within a few hundred miles. Honestly, I haven't done much observing over the last year but, that was one of many reasons I've always dreamt of moving out west.
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