The public won't know this, typically, but on some cars, if you pull your e-brake handle up just a tad, it's enough to turn off the lights without actually engaging the brake. On 3/9/11, Daniel Holmes <danielh@holmesonics.com> wrote:

While that's a great idea, and probably doable at Bryce, people come and go all night at SPOC...

And maybe I'm worrying over nothing. I'm not the first to leave, however, I'm also not the last...I'm usually right in the middle of the pack.

Dan

On Mar 9, 2011, at 1:08 PM, erikhansen@thebluezone.net wrote:

...

...

Well, The Texas Star Party only allows vehicles used for emergencies at night, IE no driving between sunset and sunrise. Cars will always pose a problem. A solution for Bryce may be designating parking for non telescope providers so they don't drive by telescopes. It will ruin the Rainbow Point experience if cars are coming and going all night.

So here's a question now that I'm thinking about this year's astronomy

...

activities.

How do we handle cars with DRLs that can't be turned off? My old car I could turn them off, but my new one, I can't...at least I haven't figured out how to. The DRLs kick on, as well as tailights.

This is going to be an issue at Bryce and SPOC. Any suggestions? I know when I was in an unfamiliar car, I just shouted out that I was about to start up the car, and anyone who cared please close their eyes.

Dan

-- Daniel Holmes, danielh@holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin

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-- Daniel Holmes, danielh@holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin

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I don't have head lights that stay on but I do pull a fuse to get the running board and internal lights to stay off. Some of the OAS guys have been able to put the park break on 1 click and get them to stay off. I wonder if they can put a switch on it or tell you what fuse you can pull to turn them off for these occasions. The people that are observing with you can always use a 22 cal light reduction device to get them off :) Thanks. Dave -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Daniel Holmes Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 1:20 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Daytime running lights and SPOC. While that's a great idea, and probably doable at Bryce, people come and go all night at SPOC... And maybe I'm worrying over nothing. I'm not the first to leave, however, I'm also not the last...I'm usually right in the middle of the pack. Dan On Mar 9, 2011, at 1:08 PM, erikhansen@thebluezone.net wrote:

...

Well, The Texas Star Party only allows vehicles used for emergencies at night, IE no driving between sunset and sunrise. Cars will always pose a problem. A solution for Bryce may be designating parking for non telescope providers so they don't drive by telescopes. It will ruin the Rainbow Point experience if cars are coming and going all night.

So here's a question now that I'm thinking about this year's astronomy

...

activities.

How do we handle cars with DRLs that can't be turned off? My old car I could turn them off, but my new one, I can't...at least I haven't figured out how to. The DRLs kick on, as well as tailights.

This is going to be an issue at Bryce and SPOC. Any suggestions? I know when I was in an unfamiliar car, I just shouted out that I was about to start up the car, and anyone who cared please close their eyes.

Dan

-- Daniel Holmes, danielh@holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin

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-- Daniel Holmes, danielh@holmesonics.com "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin _______________________________________________ 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

A specific schedule has not been set yet but the committee has discussed and we will probably have set departure times so we don't have a steady stream of cars leaving while folks are trying to take astrophotos, etc. We are all concerned about keeping the site dark and our eyes dark adapted. We'll have more specifics we get closer. We have an ALCON meeting coming up in a couple of weeks and members are welcome to come and give their two cents. Bob -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Don J. Colton Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 4:09 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Daytime running lights and SPOC. At the Bryce ALCON public star party no lights on vehicles until 1 AM when people who want to can pack up. I assume some similar rule will be in effect at Rainbow Point. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of erikhansen@thebluezone.net Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 1:08 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Daytime running lights and SPOC.

Well, The Texas Star Party only allows vehicles used for emergencies at night, IE no driving between sunset and sunrise. Cars will always pose a problem. A solution for Bryce may be designating parking for non telescope providers so they don't drive by telescopes. It will ruin the Rainbow Point experience if cars are coming and going all night.

So, after all of this, let us know which manufacturer was thinking! Our car is 12 years old, and we will need a new (used) car one of these years.. :) Quoting Daniel Holmes <danielh@holmesonics.com>:

Thanks Robert. Like I said, I wasn't too worried about Bryce, but more concerned with spoc.

However, digging around in my manual for the car, it turns out there is an option in the computer to turn off both exterior lights and interior lights except for a couple of red lights in the doors.

I was pleasantly surprised. The manufacturer was thinking.

Dan

On Mar 9, 2011, at 4:56 PM, Robert Taylor <robtaylorslc@gmail.com> wrote:

...

A specific schedule has not been set yet but the committee has discussed and we will probably have set departure times so we don't have a steady stream of cars leaving while folks are trying to take astrophotos, etc. We are all concerned about keeping the site dark and our eyes dark adapted. We'll have more specifics we get closer. We have an ALCON meeting coming up in a couple of weeks and members are welcome to come and give their two cents.

Bob

-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Don J. Colton Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 4:09 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Daytime running lights and SPOC.

At the Bryce ALCON public star party no lights on vehicles until 1 AM when people who want to can pack up. I assume some similar rule will be in effect at Rainbow Point.

-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of erikhansen@thebluezone.net Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 1:08 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Daytime running lights and SPOC.

...

Well, The Texas Star Party only allows vehicles used for emergencies at night, IE no driving between sunset and sunrise. Cars will always pose a problem. A solution for Bryce may be designating parking for non telescope providers so they don't drive by telescopes. It will ruin the Rainbow Point experience if cars are coming and going all night.

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I'm actually a little shaken up as I write this.  I was outside in my front yard with the 6" newtonian, showing my daughter and her boyfriend the orion nebula and the moon (as well as an excuse to try out the 9 nagler Debbie sold me last week :).  We were standing there talking about the night sky, when my daughter, looking toward the big dipper, shouted, "oh my gosh, what is that?!" I quickly looked up, and saw something very strange.  It looked like a "V" shaped object, faint and shimmery, dotted with 6? faint lights, moving ESE.  I (you didn't hear me say this) had my laser in my hand, and hit it with the laser, and said, "you mean that?",  No reflection, so it was some distance up, rather large, and it was moving faster than any aircraft I know of, and completely silent -- absolutely no engine noise.  Way too fast angular momentum to be a conventional aircraft (and the fact that the laser didn't light it up, meant it wasn't an owl or something close flying over my house).  I've never seen anything like it.  It was about 9:30 p.m. Thoughts...?

There were dumped several years ago of a replacement for the SR-71, called Aurora (?). I think Jane's discredited it but it was suppose to be fast. So I could see it being a secret military plane perhaps heading to Dugway or south to Area 51. Just speculation. Sent from my iPod On Mar 9, 2011, at 10:00 PM, Richard Tenney <retenney@yahoo.com> wrote:

I'm actually a little shaken up as I write this. I was outside in my front yard with the 6" newtonian, showing my daughter and her boyfriend the orion nebula and the moon (as well as an excuse to try out the 9 nagler Debbie sold me last week :). We were standing there talking about the night sky, when my daughter, looking toward the big dipper, shouted, "oh my gosh, what is that?!"

I quickly looked up, and saw something very strange. It looked like a "V" shaped object, faint and shimmery, dotted with 6? faint lights, moving ESE. I (you didn't hear me say this) had my laser in my hand, and hit it with the laser, and said, "you mean that?", No reflection, so it was some distance up, rather large, and it was moving faster than any aircraft I know of, and completely silent -- absolutely no engine noise. Way too fast angular momentum to be a conventional aircraft (and the fact that the laser didn't light it up, meant it wasn't an owl or something close flying over my house). I've never seen anything like it. It was about 9:30 p.m. Thoughts...?

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Rich is going to get a visit from either feds in suits, or some little grey alien with an anal probe... On 3/9/11, Richard Tenney <retenney@yahoo.com> wrote:

I (you didn't hear me say this) had my laser in my hand, and hit it with the laser, and said, "you mean that?",

I don't which is worse! --- On Thu, 3/10/11, Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] UFO tonight To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Thursday, March 10, 2011, 9:13 AM Rich is going to get a visit from either feds in suits, or some little grey alien with an anal probe...

On 3/9/11, Richard Tenney <retenney@yahoo.com> wrote:

...

  I (you didn't hear me say this) had my laser in my hand, and hit it with the laser, and said, "you mean that?",

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'or some little grey alien with an anal probe..."

As Paul the Alien says "why does everyone assume that?" Rich is going to get a visit from either feds in suits,

On 3/9/11, Richard Tenney <retenney@yahoo.com> wrote:

...

I (you didn't hear me say this) had my laser in my hand, and hit it with the laser, and said, "you mean that?",

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Congratulations Rich, you are officially a "Crack-Pot". We all know that anyone who sees a UFO is nuts, therefore you are nuts. However I will accept drunk or O.D'd on prescription drugs as a substitute. Seriously. Your sighting is one of the more common type of sightings, similar to the now famous or infamous "Phoenix Lights Incident" or the "Hudson Valley sightings" some years back and the Belgium sightings in the early 90's, so if this is military it may in fact be a fairly old design, it's been around for a few decades. This type of sightings is often described as a large craft, wedge or boomerang shaped with lights along the edges. Still, I suspect this is a secret military aircraft. Personally I believe most UFO sightings are secret aircraft however some may not be of U.S. origin. Stealth Technology has been using wedge designs for a long time, consider the F-17 and B-1 as examples. The earliest Flying wing design were noted for having very small radar cross sections and have been around since the 30's. However, the location near the Big Dipper causes a small pause for me, if you said it was out west it would be a no-brainer as that is where the test range is from you, there are no test ranges north of us, not that we can see anyway, there are some up north in Idaho, so who knows. If you feel inclined MUFON collects these types of sighting reports for their database. And no, I don't think you're nuts, a Crack-pot, drunk or O.D.'d. Like so many people you saw something you couldn't explain and now have a cool story to tell. Bob -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Richard Tenney Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 10:00 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] UFO tonight I'm actually a little shaken up as I write this.  I was outside in my front yard with the 6" newtonian, showing my daughter and her boyfriend the orion nebula and the moon (as well as an excuse to try out the 9 nagler Debbie sold me last week :).  We were standing there talking about the night sky, when my daughter, looking toward the big dipper, shouted, "oh my gosh, what is that?!" I quickly looked up, and saw something very strange.  It looked like a "V" shaped object, faint and shimmery, dotted with 6? faint lights, moving ESE.  I (you didn't hear me say this) had my laser in my hand, and hit it with the laser, and said, "you mean that?",  No reflection, so it was some distance up, rather large, and it was moving faster than any aircraft I know of, and completely silent -- absolutely no engine noise.  Way too fast angular momentum to be a conventional aircraft (and the fact that the laser didn't light it up, meant it wasn't an owl or something close flying over my house).  I've never seen anything like it.  It was about 9:30 p.m. Thoughts...? _______________________________________________ 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

I'm enjoying the suggestions.  My thoughts also ran to some kind of military stealth craft.  I already dismissed the thought of birds -- it did not appear to be reflected moonlight, there were definite (albeit faint) lights visible.  The speed really surprised me -- it was only visible for a few seconds.  One of those interesting moments in which the 3 of us who witnessed it were completely baffled, and even a little freaked out. --- On Thu, 3/10/11, Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote: From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] UFO tonight To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Thursday, March 10, 2011, 12:26 PM He's already being fitted for his tin-foil hat.  ;o) On 3/10/11, Robert Taylor <robtaylorslc@gmail.com> wrote:

Congratulations Rich, you are officially a "Crack-Pot".  We all know that anyone who sees a UFO is nuts, therefore you are nuts.  However I will accept drunk or O.D'd on prescription drugs as a substitute.

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