I don't get many chances to get out and away from the major light polluted areas, but last evening (Friday), I went to Wolf Creek for the SLAS Star Party. Just as Mark Bloomenthal showed up, the clouds parted (how did he do that?) and there before me was one of the most beautiful sky's I had seen in a long time. I can't remember when I had such a clean view of the Milky Way. The viewing was excellent as was the company. The drive motors on my LX200 kept everyone awake as it should. When I left, I stopped at the camp ground entrance by the highway to stetch my legs for the drive home. To my astonishment, there on the road, in the light of the Milky Way, was my shadow. How cool is that? Because of this, there will probably be 6 more weeks of rain. ;) Thanks to all who showed up for the company!
Hey Diveboss, Glad to hear you had a great first experience of Wolf Creek despite the initial clouds. What was Mark Bloomenthal's take on the observing site? Shadows by Milkyway...I love seeing that! Not bad for a site that's just a little over an hour from Salt Lake...paved road no less. And close enough for a one-nighter. We often have limiting magnitudes at the site in the 7.2 - 7.8 range. It's also one of the sites that several of us have been able to see M27 & M81 with the unaided eye. If you can't tell already, I like the place. Dave Bennett 9890 FT P.S. By the way, what is your name? I don't think I've ever seen it in your postings. Cheers... On Saturday, August 14, 2004, at 11:55 PM, diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
I don't get many chances to get out and away from the major light polluted areas, but last evening (Friday), I went to Wolf Creek for the SLAS Star Party. Just as Mark Bloomenthal showed up, the clouds parted (how did he do that?) and there before me was one of the most beautiful sky's I had seen in a long time.
I can't remember when I had such a clean view of the Milky Way. The viewing was excellent as was the company. The drive motors on my LX200 kept everyone awake as it should. When I left, I stopped at the camp ground entrance by the highway to stetch my legs for the drive home. To my astonishment, there on the road, in the light of the Milky Way, was my shadow. How cool is that? Because of this, there will probably be 6 more weeks of rain. ;) Thanks to all who showed up for the company!
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Dave, At only 62 miles from my front door, and with a Wendy's Hamburger joint that serves fresh, "hot off the grill" hamburgers and fries on the way, the Wolf Creek site has to be one of the best values in drivable observing locations to date. I've been to the gravel pit several times under mostly great skies, but even though this site shares the exact same Wendy's as the Wolf Creek run, it doesn't come close to providing the view which I witnessed at the Wolf Creek site. I was at Wolf Creek both days during the SLOSHtrofest, but that turned out to be a futile "rain drop ducking" event. Almost like the Snowbird party a couple of weeks back. Now I'm starting to not mind showing up to star parties where it's raining, and I'm use to getting wet, but the lightning is starting to concern me a bit. ;) Dry and Electric free skies, Guy Malmborg P.S. I don't know for sure how Mark liked the site, but he was pretty busy knocking off his list of targets one by one. I'll go out on a limb here and say "I think" he enjoyed it as well. Oh yes, we noticed a lot of aircraft traffic through Sagittarius. What is up with that? A couple of times while slewing through Sagittarius looking for cool stuff, I thought I had actually discovered some pulsars. Doh! These turned out to be nothing but AIRPLANE running lights... Quoting David L Bennett <dlbennett@mac.com>:
Hey Diveboss,
Glad to hear you had a great first experience of Wolf Creek despite the initial clouds. What was Mark Bloomenthal's take on the observing site? Shadows by Milkyway...I love seeing that! Not bad for a site that's just a little over an hour from Salt Lake...paved road no less. And close enough for a one-nighter.
We often have limiting magnitudes at the site in the 7.2 - 7.8 range. It's also one of the sites that several of us have been able to see M27 & M81 with the unaided eye. If you can't tell already, I like the place.
Dave Bennett 9890 FT
P.S. By the way, what is your name? I don't think I've ever seen it in your postings. Cheers...
On Saturday, August 14, 2004, at 11:55 PM, diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
I don't get many chances to get out and away from the major light polluted areas, but last evening (Friday), I went to Wolf Creek for the SLAS Star Party. Just as Mark Bloomenthal showed up, the clouds parted (how did he do that?) and there before me was one of the most beautiful sky's I had seen in a long time.
I can't remember when I had such a clean view of the Milky Way. The viewing was excellent as was the company. The drive motors on my LX200 kept everyone awake as it should. When I left, I stopped at the camp ground entrance by the highway to stetch my legs for the drive home. To my astonishment, there on the road, in the light of the Milky Way, was my shadow. How cool is that? Because of this, there will probably be 6 more weeks of rain. ;) Thanks to all who showed up for the company!
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At 04:35 PM 8/15/2004 -0600, you wrote:
Oh yes, we noticed a lot of aircraft traffic through Sagittarius. What is up with that? >
Guy, I guess you have not been reading the latest bulletins from the FAA. Salt Lake City and Delta airlines just signed a contract for the exclusive interstellar routes between earth and Sagittarius A. It is a popular get-away, and I understand the fares are reasonable. If you go, remember to bring your own meals, as is a long flight, and the airlines just don't like to serve any real food these days. Jo
Yes I heard something like that while driving through a lightning storm, listening to an "Art Bell" radio show. Someone told me Ken Meyers is a reservation clerk for that particular flight. Any truth in that? ;) Guy Quoting Josephine Grahn <bsi@xmission.com>:
At 04:35 PM 8/15/2004 -0600, you wrote:
Oh yes, we noticed a lot of aircraft traffic through Sagittarius. What is up with that? >
Guy, I guess you have not been reading the latest bulletins from the FAA. Salt Lake City and Delta airlines just signed a contract for the exclusive interstellar routes between earth and Sagittarius A. It is a popular get-away, and I understand the fares are reasonable. If you go, remember to bring your own meals, as is a long flight, and the airlines just don't like to serve any real food these days.
Jo
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Did anyone go to Wolf Creek Saturday night? In Salt Lake things didn't look too good but it was clear at sunrise. Clear Skies Don Colton
participants (4)
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David L Bennett -
diveboss＠xmission.com -
Don J. Colton -
Josephine Grahn