The Travel Thread - U.S. Version

[Minimalist]

You're all so dirty.

.......snicker......

[orogenicman]

Summerqueen mentioned that I have access to an observatory. Indeed, I do. I am a member of the Louisville Astronomical Society. We have an observatory in Crawford Country, Indiana, which is about an hour's drive west of Louisville, Kentucky. I'll post a link to our site at the bottom of this post. We often invite groups to the observatory, which is situated on 45 acres, and not only has an observatory, but a multi-purpose building with classroom, kitchen, his and her bathrooms, running water, etc. We have two observing fields as well, which can double as camping spots. If you guys are interested, I can make arrangements to have the site available. Becuase of the distance from Louisville, it is well worth it to plan to spend the night there, and if you like to camp somewhere with some amenities (we don't have a shower, sorry), this could be a place where we could have a group meet.

I will say though, that the society does charge for such group gatherings, though if we have more than a couple of people who want to attend, the cost will be minimal per person. If it is just a couple of people who want to come, I can take you there as a guest, at no charge.

Our observatory has some rather impressive telescopes, including a 16 inch newtonian mounted on an german equatorial mount (GEM), a Celestron C14 on a Celestron obvervatory-grade GEM, an astrophysics 144mm? aperture refractor (one of the best refractors on the market), a Celestron C8 on a fork mount, and an astrophotography set up that uses the same brand of mount I own (A Losmandy G11 Gemini) with a Williams Optics 80 mm widefield Megrez refractor, and a profressional grade astronomical CCD camera. In addition to these goodies, we also have a 16 inch dobsonian, a 14 inch dobsonian, aa 10 inche dobsonian, and an 8 inche dobsonian. We also have vrarious and sudry accessories such as binoculars. And that is what is generally available to members, not to mention the scopes each member owns (there are about 180 members). Anyway, this is my offer for anyone interested. Like I said, if we have a decent sized group, the society would have to charge a small fee per person for the use of the facility, and would expect that everyone would clean up after themselves, and not destroy or steal any of the equipment (though on the clean up part has ever been an issue).

Guys, let me know if anyone is interested, and I can make arrangements.

Here is a link to our web site:

http://www.louisville-astro.org/

Here are some photographs of the observatory:

http://louisville-astro.org/gallery/main...emId=18562

One of our public nights at the Observatory:

http://louisville-astro.org/gallery/main...emId=17445

[Cinjin]

@ orogenicman

I can't speak for anybody else, but I think it's a great idea and if it were planned out for some time next spring or fall. I'd be in.

[The Grand Nudger]

definitely down for that, I'll bring the showers.

[thesummerqueen]

golden ones?

[Cinjin]

golden ones?

really?


... isn't you always calling us the dirty ones??

[thesummerqueen]

Cinjin, when we meet up I hope you get a better idea of my constant state of nefarious and quicksilver humor.

[Epimethean]

Dirty bird, summer!

Orogenic, I'm totally in for that if we can do it during a time when I'm not teaching.

[Cinjin]

Cinjin, when we meet up I hope you get a better idea of my constant state of nefarious and quicksilver humor.

and you mine, my dear.

[orogenicman]

Here's the catch. Astronomy is a risky business in the midwest because of the weather, as some of you may know. So what we need to do is get a list of all those who can go, and the best times they can do it. I would prefer that it be nearer the beginning of the month rather than nearer the end. The new moon usually occurs close to the beginning of the month anyway, and that will allow us to view more deep sky objects with better views. But like I said, the weather is always going to be an issue, so if we commit to a date, there is no guarantee that the weather will cooperate. That doesn't mean that we can't grill out, and camp out, and otherwise have discussions such as who is bringing the showers (we have bathrooms for the golden kind).

Fall is a good time because it is usually drier (though it's been raining rather steadily each week here since last november, but hopefully this fall will bring us better skies), and that makes for clearer skies. Although us hard core observers will go out anytime the skies are favorable, keep in mind that although winter observing can be aswesome, it is usually very cold in the midwest during the winter, so camping might not be a good idea (even though our multipurpose building is heated). But then, nothing beats seeing the Orion nebula through a large telescope for the first time.



Spring gives us lots of faint galaxies, and is actually the time most hard core observers are out. But the weather here doesn't always cooperate. Summer, of course, is Milky Way time, but is often hot and humid. IO like fall because it's not too cold, you can still camp, it's usually drier and clearer (except in winter when it is usually really clear (when it isn't cloudy), and there is a lot to see. Anyway, let's start a list of those who want to go and when they would be available to do so. I could also use some help organizing this. And I would need definite commitments in order to get the facility for a day or two. Weekends are usually the most convenient for everyone but not always available, but most week days the facility is nearly always available.