[Chaos-l] The Perfect Observing Site

[Jayme Hanzak]

At one of the MASPs , I believe about 2 years ago, I listened in on an idea of talking to a land owner about leasing land. If you can find some one to do this, they would make a little cash for access to their land. The lease would be a year by year contract. If the land owner decides to sell the land, all that would be required is a notice. If we were to find a better place to lease, we could move on at the end or the year, or just let the lease run out. There wouldn't be any large financial burden on any one group of people. You would have control over the people having access to the observing site. In the lease, you could set up a camping clause. 

With the agreement of the land owner, you could set up your own rules. 



Now all you need is a dark site, and a large farm with a famer willing to lease his hand for few hundred dollars a year. 



Of course I'm no legal expert, I'm sure there is more to it that what I've said. 



Just a thought. 




Jayme Hanzak 
CHAOS President 

CHAOS 
P.O. Box 842 
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-0842 
http :// www . rtpnet .org/chaos/ 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Nielsen" < robertnielsen @ nc . rr .com> 
To: brunopancorbo @ netscape .net 
Cc: "mike fulbright " <mike. fulbright @ pobox .com>, starstorm151@ embarqmail .com, mhrivnak @ hrivnak .org, tlucas @ stocksengineering .com, starstorm121@ nc . rr .com, " md south" < md _south at mac.com>, " rapideye us" < rapideye .us@ gmail .com>, mark63clegg@ aol .com, "mark lerch " <mark. lerch @quest.com>, rfitzgerald1@ nc . rr .com, starrigel @ embarqmail .com, "Mark South" < md _south at mac.com>, "Jayme Hanzak " < jhanzak @ unctv .org>, "John Miller" <john.6.miller@ gsk .com>, "Jim Pressley " < binovision @ gmail .com> 
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 9:08:22 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: The Perfect Observing Site 

Everyone, 

A few of us have been discussing how or where to hold observing sessions 
where we could (a) camp next to our equipment, (b) have access to 
electricity, (c) possibly hold star parties for our groups, and (d) be 
away from other folks who are camping with lights.   It seems like 
nowhere really fits the bill for all these requirements (we are a picky 
bunch, aren't we?).   I really enjoy sessions at Medoc Mountain State 
Park, but it is really best setup for single nights.   Pettigrew has a 
stupendous site south of the lake ... but camping is on the north 
side.   I haven't been to Doughton Park, but I think the camping is not 
convenient there either (which makes sense ... people like to camp in 
the woods; we need open spaces).   Other people like Presbyterian Point. 

Having talked to a number of state park rangers, they are always looking 
for ways to make their parks "better" for the public.   Having talked to 
people in Moore County, they would love to have people think of the area 
around Robbins as a "dark park".   John Dilday was looking at land 
around there to setup as a permanent site for MASP .    People generally 
seem to want to help. 

Perhaps what we should do, as the "amateur astronomy community" is take 
the lead on this.   I'm continually amazed at how many people are 
involved in the hobby (dare I say, the obsession?) and how many people 
would enjoy looking through telescopes but can't afford the equipment.   
Perhaps what we need to do is figure out what we want, and approach 
folks about how to get it!    We might need to lobby politicians.    We 
might need to raise money.    We might need to help "plan" what we 
really want.     We will certainly need to coordinate between clubs.   
Perhaps this is just a slight modification of something that already 
exists.   Perhaps it is something completely new! 

But unless we start the ball rolling, it will never happen. 

What do you guys think?  There is a huge amount of knowledge and 
experience in this group ... and I think we might be able to do 
something.   I don't have any experience in starting public projects, 
but I feel this is important.  Have people tried in the past?  Has this 
failed before?   What lessons could be learned?  Right now isn't the 
best economic climate to try ... but it might take us a while to get our 
act together and push forward. 

Wouldn't it be great to have a field somewhere ... in a "blue" or 
"black" area (based on light pollution) ... surrounded by a buffer zone 
... but with electricity available?  Suppose this was a new state park 
in Moore County ... based on an astronomy theme?   Suppose there was new 
field setup at Medoc specifically for this with power?   Suppose the 
state purchased land south of Phelps Lake and had sites where you could 
park and camp and setup your scope? 

Ideas?  Comments?  Suggestions? 

Robert 

PS.  Of course you can pass this e-mail around.   At some point, we will 
probably need to setup a group somewhere, rather than doing it by "reply 
all" ... 

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