[Chaos-l] The Perfect Observing Site

Mon Nov 16 17:00:19 EST 2009

I think this is a great idea!
Mark
On Nov 16, 2009, at 4:27 PM, Jayme Hanzak wrote:

> 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 at nc.rr.com>
> To: brunopancorbo at netscape.net
> Cc: "mike fulbright" <mike.fulbright at pobox.com>, starstorm151 at embarqmail.com 
> , mhrivnak at hrivnak.org, tlucas at stocksengineering.com, starstorm121 at nc.rr.com 
> , "md south" <md_south at mac.com>, "rapideye us"  
> <rapideye.us at gmail.com>, mark63clegg at aol.com, "mark lerch" <mark.lerch at quest.com 
> >, rfitzgerald1 at nc.rr.com,starrigel at embarqmail.com, "Mark South" <md_south at mac.com 
> >, "Jayme Hanzak" <jhanzak at unctv.org>, "John Miller" <john.6.miller at gsk.com 
> >, "Jim Pressley" <binovision at 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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