The best seeing I ever had was also on a foggy night when all you could see was Saturn. Craig -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 11:28 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Great Basin National Park
SPOC is where I enjoyed the best views of Saturn and Jupiter I have seen, in a thick fog. All that could be seen were Jupiter and Saturn but the air was totally calm.
Wolf Creek is often good. I had one of the best viewing experiences there
using an 8" Ultima on both Saturn and Jupiter at 500x. We also clearly saw the volcanoes on Mars through both a 9.25" SCT and a 16" Reflector during a favorable opposition at Wolf Creek. The Wedge Overlook is often very good.
Surprisingly, SPOC often has excellent seeing and it is much closer.
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Spencer Ball Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:21 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Great Basin National Park
Does anyone know of the best place for the best high power planet observing in Northern Utah? ...even including places subject to city lights? and maybe close by? (I know that Big Cottonwood Canyon sucks)
Spencer Ball 3690 E. Ft Union Blvd # 101 Salt Lake City, Utah 84121 (801) 453-2000
----- Original Message ----- From: <erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 9:59 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Great Basin National Park
As I recall, the horizons are VERY limited in the upper campground, with Wheeler Peak dominating the southern horizon, and the lower areas even worse for horizons. The sky was dark and transparent though.
It is great that Las Vegas and some groups in California are supporting that, SLAS seems to have a full plate and we should not and cannot be everything to everybody. As far as NP for star gazing I rank Great Basin at the bottom, for numerous reasons. It is worthwhile to visit with good camping, especially if you want a good hike, but there are better places and closer places for star gazing. The Baker area may be good for group star gazing but isn't it a good drive from the camping areas?
Erik.
Hello:
On Saturday June 27th my wife and I went down to Great Basin National
Park
for an event put on by the park. There is a new Visitor's Center just north of Baker Nevada with a large parking area. I'd guess there were almost as many scopes as I've seen at Bryce Canyon supported by representatives from the Clark Planetarium, the Las Vegas Club and groups from California. Tom Sevcik, who many remember was Vice-President when I was club president, is an integral part of the star parties put on at Great Basin. Tom might be a good contact person for what's happening and when. The interpretive ranger at Great Basin is Roberta Moore. Her number is 1-775-234-7274. If you want to support a public event, Tom and Roberta might want to be involved.
At the Wheeler Peak campground with an elevation of just under 10,000 feet elevation, there is an open field that could be a good place to set up some scopes for private observing. The horizons aren't the best as the mountain itself and the trees do limit viewing near the horizons somewhat. I'll bet the seeing at this elevation plus the remote location of the site would best the Wolf Creek location a lot of us frequent.
Just a few thoughts from my experience. Thank you.
Lowell Lyon _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com