Do I have permission...?
Hello. This is Mark Saengsoury. I was curious about something. I've been wanting to get out a couple of nights a week and head on over to a park such as Winchester or Wheeler to stargaze a bit. I don't have the freetime to head out to a darksite so it's my next best option. When SLAS sets up public star parties at parks, do we ask permission from the city hall or whatnot? Or do we just settle on down whenever we want? I'd like to spend a couple of hours in a park, but I know parks give warnings that they close at like 10 pm or so. Would I be okay just hanging out there after hours or would I have to get some kind of permission?
Hi Mark, If it's a public park without a curfew, I don't see how anyone could object. But to be on the safe side I'd call the city or county parks department and tell them what I was planning. As far as SLAS goes, the public star parties are well-established events taking place either at the club's observatory site (with the approval of Stansbury Park), at parking lots of grocery stores that help sponsor them, at national or state parks after planning with park management, etc. The private star parties are held at places where camping is allowed, as far as I know. -- Thanks, Joe ________________________________ From: "msaengsoury@hotmail.com" <msaengsoury@hotmail.com> To: "utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 12:20 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Do I have permission...? Hello. This is Mark Saengsoury. I was curious about something. I've been wanting to get out a couple of nights a week and head on over to a park such as Winchester or Wheeler to stargaze a bit. I don't have the freetime to head out to a darksite so it's my next best option. When SLAS sets up public star parties at parks, do we ask permission from the city hall or whatnot? Or do we just settle on down whenever we want? I'd like to spend a couple of hours in a park, but I know parks give warnings that they close at like 10 pm or so. Would I be okay just hanging out there after hours or would I have to get some kind of permission? _______________________________________________ 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
Thanks Joe! I wouldn't mind having one thing clarified though. When SLAS plans parties to say Wheeler Farm or Winchester Park, does the club ask for permission from the city or whoever to set up after curfew? Or does it just set up and do it without worry? Thanks again for helping out a newbie! On Jul 26, 2011, at 6:26 PM, Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi Mark, If it's a public park without a curfew, I don't see how anyone could object. But to be on the safe side I'd call the city or county parks department and tell them what I was planning. As far as SLAS goes, the public star parties are well-established events taking place either at the club's observatory site (with the approval of Stansbury Park), at parking lots of grocery stores that help sponsor them, at national or state parks after planning with park management, etc. The private star parties are held at places where camping is allowed, as far as I know. -- Thanks, Joe
________________________________ From: "msaengsoury@hotmail.com" <msaengsoury@hotmail.com> To: "utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 12:20 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Do I have permission...?
Hello. This is Mark Saengsoury. I was curious about something. I've been wanting to get out a couple of nights a week and head on over to a park such as Winchester or Wheeler to stargaze a bit. I don't have the freetime to head out to a darksite so it's my next best option. When SLAS sets up public star parties at parks, do we ask permission from the city hall or whatnot? Or do we just settle on down whenever we want? I'd like to spend a couple of hours in a park, but I know parks give warnings that they close at like 10 pm or so. Would I be okay just hanging out there after hours or would I have to get some kind of permission?
_______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
Mark, At Wheeler Farm, we have an agreement with the management of the farm. At Harmon's grocery stores, we also have an agreement. As for my personal telescope, if I am by myself, I just set it up and have only once had any one question me. In that case, a Murray City police officer dropped by to see what I was up to. I told him what I was doing and he had no problem. I let him look through my telescope and he found it interesting and was on his way. Thanks Rodger Fry -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of msaengsoury@hotmail.com Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 9:04 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Do I have permission...? Thanks Joe! I wouldn't mind having one thing clarified though. When SLAS plans parties to say Wheeler Farm or Winchester Park, does the club ask for permission from the city or whoever to set up after curfew? Or does it just set up and do it without worry? Thanks again for helping out a newbie! On Jul 26, 2011, at 6:26 PM, Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi Mark, If it's a public park without a curfew, I don't see how anyone could object. But to be on the safe side I'd call the city or county parks department and tell them what I was planning. As far as SLAS goes, the public star parties are well-established events taking place either at the club's observatory site (with the approval of Stansbury Park), at parking lots of grocery stores that help sponsor them, at national or state parks after planning with park management, etc. The private star parties are held at places where camping is allowed, as far as I know. -- Thanks, Joe
________________________________ From: "msaengsoury@hotmail.com" <msaengsoury@hotmail.com> To: "utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 12:20 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Do I have permission...?
Hello. This is Mark Saengsoury. I was curious about something. I've been wanting to get out a couple of nights a week and head on over to a park such as Winchester or Wheeler to stargaze a bit. I don't have the freetime to head out to a darksite so it's my next best option. When SLAS sets up public star parties at parks, do we ask permission from the city hall or whatnot? Or do we just settle on down whenever we want? I'd like to spend a couple of hours in a park, but I know parks give warnings that they close at like 10 pm or so. Would I be okay just hanging out there after hours or would I have to get some kind of permission?
_______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
_______________________________________________ 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
I'm reminded of the night back in the mid-1080s when a couple of SLAS members had their scopes set up in a park looking for Comet Halley. I police officer came up to them and asked what they were doing. When they said they were looking for Halley the cop said "You're not going to find him here." and made them leave. patrick On 26 Jul 2011, at 21:25, Rodger C. Fry wrote:
As for my personal telescope, if I am by myself, I just set it up and have only once had any one question me. In that case, a Murray City police officer dropped by to see what I was up to. I told him what I was doing and he had no problem. I let him look through my telescope and he found it interesting and was on his way.
And the crazy thing is, Patrick was already a pretty old fellow then -- back in the mid-1080s! ________________________________ From: Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 12:10 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Do I have permission...? I'm reminded of the night back in the mid-1080s when a couple of SLAS members had their scopes set up in a park looking for Comet Halley. I police officer came up to them and asked what they were doing. When they said they were looking for Halley the cop said "You're not going to find him here." and made them leave. patrick On 26 Jul 2011, at 21:25, Rodger C. Fry wrote:
As for my personal telescope, if I am by myself, I just set it up and have only once had any one question me. In that case, a Murray City police officer dropped by to see what I was up to. I told him what I was doing and he had no problem. I let him look through my telescope and he found it interesting and was on his way.
_______________________________________________ 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
LOL.... just lost my voice laughing at this didn’t even notice it before, that was good Joe On 2011-07-27 06:57, Joe Bauman wrote:
And the crazy thing is, Patrick was already a pretty old fellow then -- back in the mid-1080s!
I'm reminded of the night back in the mid-1080s when a couple of SLAS members had their scopes set up in a park looking for Comet Halley.
I police officer came up to them and asked what they were doing. When they said they were looking for Halley the cop said "You're not going to find him here." and made them leave.
patrick
On 26 Jul 2011, at 21:25, Rodger C. Fry wrote:
As for my personal telescope, if I am by myself, I just set it up and have only once had any one question me. In that case, a Murray City police officer dropped by to see what I was up to. I told him what I was doing and he had no problem. I let him look through my telescope and he found it interesting and was on his way.
Hi, I think Rodger gave you the right answers -- he knows a lot more about these things, since he's the SLAS president. But I'm sure it's all worked out in advance. I think the general situation for our star parties is that most places ask us to do one there, rather than the club asking permission first. These are mutually beneficial events. It would be great for you to start by setting up at one of the frequent star parties at SPOC. There would be a lot of people around to help and the sky is reasonably dark. -- Best wishes, Joe ________________________________ From: "msaengsoury@hotmail.com" <msaengsoury@hotmail.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 9:03 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Do I have permission...? Thanks Joe! I wouldn't mind having one thing clarified though. When SLAS plans parties to say Wheeler Farm or Winchester Park, does the club ask for permission from the city or whoever to set up after curfew? Or does it just set up and do it without worry? Thanks again for helping out a newbie! On Jul 26, 2011, at 6:26 PM, Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi Mark, If it's a public park without a curfew, I don't see how anyone could object. But to be on the safe side I'd call the city or county parks department and tell them what I was planning. As far as SLAS goes, the public star parties are well-established events taking place either at the club's observatory site (with the approval of Stansbury Park), at parking lots of grocery stores that help sponsor them, at national or state parks after planning with park management, etc. The private star parties are held at places where camping is allowed, as far as I know. -- Thanks, Joe
________________________________ From: "msaengsoury@hotmail.com" <msaengsoury@hotmail.com> To: "utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 12:20 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Do I have permission...?
Hello. This is Mark Saengsoury. I was curious about something. I've been wanting to get out a couple of nights a week and head on over to a park such as Winchester or Wheeler to stargaze a bit. I don't have the freetime to head out to a darksite so it's my next best option. When SLAS sets up public star parties at parks, do we ask permission from the city hall or whatnot? Or do we just settle on down whenever we want? I'd like to spend a couple of hours in a park, but I know parks give warnings that they close at like 10 pm or so. Would I be okay just hanging out there after hours or would I have to get some kind of permission?
_______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
_______________________________________________ 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
Mark, Your best option in the valley is Wheeler Farm. We have found this to be the darkest location in town. Many parks have curfew rules but for our star parties we have never been questioned by the park owners or police. If you have a telescope set up and looking at the stars, I would be very surprised if anyone bothered you for it. The thing you have to be careful of is the sprinkling systems coming on. At our star parties, we go to great lengths to get an understanding with the park management to insure that the sprinklers won't come on. Thanks Rodger Fry -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of msaengsoury@hotmail.com Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 12:20 PM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Do I have permission...? Hello. This is Mark Saengsoury. I was curious about something. I've been wanting to get out a couple of nights a week and head on over to a park such as Winchester or Wheeler to stargaze a bit. I don't have the freetime to head out to a darksite so it's my next best option. When SLAS sets up public star parties at parks, do we ask permission from the city hall or whatnot? Or do we just settle on down whenever we want? I'd like to spend a couple of hours in a park, but I know parks give warnings that they close at like 10 pm or so. Would I be okay just hanging out there after hours or would I have to get some kind of permission? _______________________________________________ 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
As long as you are following the local regulations for that park you are fine. A telescope is no different than bringing a bicycle or volley ball net. However, if the park closes at 10pm, you need to be out by 10pm, etc. If it is not posted you are generally OK to observe, if in doubt check with the authority responsible for the park, call them and ask, they may grant an exception which you would need in writing and have with you while observing. However be aware of their sprinkler schedule, you don't want any nasty mid-night surprises. Local county and city governments will generally be more accommodating than state or Federal. Let common sense prevail. Bob -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of msaengsoury@hotmail.com Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 12:20 PM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Do I have permission...? Hello. This is Mark Saengsoury. I was curious about something. I've been wanting to get out a couple of nights a week and head on over to a park such as Winchester or Wheeler to stargaze a bit. I don't have the freetime to head out to a darksite so it's my next best option. When SLAS sets up public star parties at parks, do we ask permission from the city hall or whatnot? Or do we just settle on down whenever we want? I'd like to spend a couple of hours in a park, but I know parks give warnings that they close at like 10 pm or so. Would I be okay just hanging out there after hours or would I have to get some kind of permission? _______________________________________________ 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
participants (6)
-
Joe Bauman -
Jorge Gutierrez -
msaengsoury＠hotmail.com -
Patrick Wiggins -
Robert Taylor -
Rodger C. Fry