I don't have all the details but I thought y'all might like to know that SLAS has received another multi-thousand dollar donation for SPOC 2. I should have the details tomorrow and will report same in tomorrow's "News" along with news on our experiences with the Coronado solar filter a few of us used at SPOC yesterday. Cheers! Patrick :-)
How about a post for those of us not receiving "news"? Also, it seems that SPOC-2 may be overfunded now, it is certianly funded sufficiently to see us through completion. What are the plans for the account surplus? Accessories, computers, what? (member rebates?) Time to get serious about a dark-sky, members-only site? Thanks! C. Patrick wrote:
I don't have all the details but I thought y'all might like to know that SLAS has received another multi-thousand dollar donation for SPOC 2.
I should have the details tomorrow and will report same in tomorrow's "News" along with news on our experiences with the Coronado solar filter a few of us used at SPOC yesterday.
Cheers!
Patrick :-)
Hi, Chuck Hards wrote:
How about a post for those of us not receiving "news"?
Well, I tried that but got grundles of complaints about getting News twice (I think I only counted 2 or maybe 3 that do not get "News" and 60+ that do.) Of course you could always subscribe to News. :-)
Also, it seems that SPOC-2 may be overfunded now, it is certianly funded sufficiently to see us through completion. What are the plans for the account surplus? Accessories, computers, what? (member rebates?) Bruce assures me there will not be a surplus. In fact, we may have to hold off on certain items he'd like due to lack of funds.
This is not common knowledge yet, but let's just say a third telescope will probably be donated in the near future that will require yet another building...
Time to get serious about a dark-sky, members-only site? My concerns here are the same as always: Security Who would use it Who would pay for it
Cheers! Patrick :-)
I like the idea; SPOC is at least an hour drive from my house in Lindon; if I'm not going to look through the big scope, there's little incentive for me to make that long drive otherwise, due to the moderate LP there. I'd much rather spend an hour headed the other direction, such as the Wolf-? site near Camas (sorry, don't remember the name). Has anyone looked into the possibility of getting a small piece set aside by the BLM for such a site? Or approach the State of Utah to make a "donation" (e.g., a renewable 50-year lease or something similar?) of a flat clearning, with a campground-type outhouse, and a place to park close-by? (we don't HAVE to have a permanent observatory there, though that would certainly be ideal...); call it a "Special-use Campground" perhaps... Don't know if such a thing has been done elsewhere, or even how to go about investigating this notion, but it seems like it doesn't hurt to put the thought out there. Comments/Criticisms/Suggestions?
Chuck Hards wrote:
Time to get serious about a dark-sky, members-only site? --- Patrick Wiggins wrote: My concerns here are the same as always: Security Who would use it Who would pay for it
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Hi, You might want to check with Dave Chamberlin at chamber1@gateway.net. He was the head of the SLAS committee in charge of putting together such a site. Patrick Richard Tenney wrote:
I like the idea; SPOC is at least an hour drive from my house in Lindon; if I'm not going to look through the big scope, there's little incentive for me to make that long drive otherwise, due to the moderate LP there.`
Hi Rich, I have talked many times at SLAS about a land lease for a remote observatory. I have not found the right audience that has interest. Another organization I am affiliated with, the Utah Back Country Pilots does have such a lease on state land for a n airstrip in Happy Canyon. It is not real expensive, but not cheap either. Of course it is a much larger parcel of land than astronomers need. Thee BLM may be a bit more difficult to deal with these days. As far as funding goes, I am sure it would be difficult to get sponsors like SPOC has. They are donating to have their name in front of the public. SPOC is a public use observatory. You would have to look long and hard for a sponsor for a small special interest group's project. I'm afraid that's how they would look at an astronomy club. As far as Patrick's other two objections, they can be overcome without too much problem. Security can be had with the right combination of building/equipment. We all know who would use it, but that is not a large group. Of the two hundred plus folks in SLAS, I'll bet that no more than 25 people per YEAR would use such a facility outside of club ponsored star parties. I know of two people who have offered to let SLAS use their property in the past. One was a mountain top in a fairly dark area, and the other was near St. George. This represents the best route for a private facility. All we need is to get the right person to donate the right spot of land and get enough funding. A pretty tall, but achievable, order. Brent --- Richard Tenney <retenney@yahoo.com> wrote:
I like the idea; SPOC is at least an hour drive from my house in Lindon; if I'm not going to look through the big scope, there's little incentive for me to make that long drive otherwise, due to the moderate LP there. I'd much rather spend an hour headed the other direction, such as the Wolf-? site near Camas (sorry, don't remember the name).
Has anyone looked into the possibility of getting a small piece set aside by the BLM for such a site? Or approach the State of Utah to make a "donation" (e.g., a renewable 50-year lease or something similar?) of a flat clearning, with a campground-type outhouse, and a place to park close-by? (we don't HAVE to have a permanent observatory there, though that would certainly be ideal...); call it a "Special-use Campground" perhaps... Don't know if such a thing has been done elsewhere, or even how to go about investigating this notion, but it seems like it doesn't hurt to put the thought out there. Comments/Criticisms/Suggestions?
Chuck Hards wrote:
Time to get serious about a dark-sky, members-only site? --- Patrick Wiggins wrote: My concerns here are the same as always: Security Who would use it Who would pay for it
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The typical "dark-sky", hardcore observer/imager site is usually not affiliated formally with it's parent club, or if it is, it's a separate division. It is composed of mostly retired members, older members whose children have grown, or childless younger people. What they end up with is more of a property owner's association than an astro-club. The site is private property, subdivided into smaller plots that the individual owners are free to use as they see fit, within the rules of the asscociation. There is usually a one-time buy-in cost, and yearly maintenance fees, taxes, and utilities in some cases. In the case of the Polaris association, individual members have built cabins or set up trailers on their plots. Each member has his or her own piece of ground. Some clubs do have "dark sky" observatories, but what they end up with is SPOC with a dark sky. It's still a publicly-attended site. I think what we are talking about is closer to the Polaris model, right? Do we want merely a secure site to bring our own telescopes, or a big scope in a building that everyone has to share? Just exactly what are we talking about re: a dark-sky site? We need a common vision, first and foremost. Chuck
Chuck Hards wrote:
In the case of the Polaris association, individual members have built cabins or set up trailers on their plots. Each member has his or her own piece of ground.
Many Moons ago Ben Mayer (anyone remember Ben?) took me up to his observatory at Polaris. Very impressive. In addition to the individual members' cabins, huts and pads, there was a full fledged house for use by the members. And to get in you had to call the grounds keeper (who lived in yet another on-site house). Failure to call would cause the keeper to call the sheriff. Such a set up in these parts would definitely calm my security concerns. Ben told me that in addition to the start up costs, each member paid $90 per *month* dues. But then what do you expect. Ben drove a Rolls Royce...
Just exactly what are we talking about re: a dark-sky site? We need a common vision, first and foremost. That was just the point the locals got stuck on.
Hey Chuck, are you looking to bring back the Dark Sky Site Committee? Patrick
Not a coward, just impoverished! C. ----- Original Message ----- From: Patrick Wiggins <PWiggins@CO.SLC.UT.US> To: <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 4:14 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Re: Dark-sky site
Chuck Hards wrote:
Patrick wrote:
Hey Chuck, are you looking to bring back the Dark Sky Site Committee?
Nope, not me! Just throwing in my 2 cents.
Coward... <grin>
Patrick
There is actually a pretty nice place SE of Deer Creek Reservoir called Wallsburg. There is even a ranch with a private airstrip there. Brent __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Greetings - Send FREE e-cards for every occasion! http://greetings.yahoo.com
I love Walsburg, thought about buying there at one time. It does, however, have at least some light incursion from Utah county. Might not be enough to worry about. One thing we notice about Hobble Creek Canyon, several miles roughly south of Walsburg, is that if there are high clouds or inversion over Utah Valley, the light can get reflected to an annoying level. ....mmmm....private airstrip... dave Brent Watson wrote:
There is actually a pretty nice place SE of Deer Creek Reservoir called Wallsburg. There is even a ranch with a private airstrip there.
participants (6)
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Brent Watson -
Chuck Hards -
David Moulton -
Patrick Wiggins -
Patrick Wiggins
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Richard Tenney