There have been times, usually when it is cold, when we have had moisture in the air affect visibility. We have generally had good visibility from Antelope Island. I don't think the parking lot that we usually use will be good for viewing the comet. I think that Buffalo Poing would be in the way. If you go right when you get to the other side of the causeway you can get to the beaches and campsites. If you set up there you should have a good view. Watch out for the lights on the restrooms. I haven't seen any problem with salt and our telescopes. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Joe Bauman [mailto:bau@desnews.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2002 8:22 AM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet question More dithering. I now think the Wedge faces the wrong direction, with the Wasatch Plateau looming to the WNW where we'd like to see the comet. So probably the Wedge is out of the question. Regarding the headlights of Skull Valley: How about the road to the north toward Lakeside? Before the Utah Test and Training Range, probably there's a good spot. Anyway, looking at the map, that seems possible. The closeness of the Great Salt Lake brings up a concern that I have, which might be ridiculous, so I would like the group's opinion on this. But living in the middle of the Pacific (I went to high school on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands), we were acutely conscious of the corrosive effects of salt spray. Is there any such worry about astronomical equipment in proximity to the Great Salt Lake? Is vapor from the lake going to degrade the view? Even west of the lake, like the route to Lakeside, there are big muddy salt flats that contribute moisture to the atmosphere. Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on these notions. Thanks, Joe _______________________________________________ Utah-astronomy mailing list Utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy