[Chaos-l] The Perfect Observing Site

Mon Nov 16 21:51:23 EST 2009

Nice idea! I get tired of the lights in front of my townhouse.

I wonder a a place like a KOA would be willing to have "Astronomy Nights" during late fall and winter over the new moon periods. I would guess that campgrounds like KOA would have a scarcity of customers during those months.

Here's hoping!! Mike Gallagher
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mark South 
  To: Jayme Hanzak 
  Cc: CHAOS 
  Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 5:00 PM
  Subject: Re: [Chaos-l] The Perfect Observing Site

  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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