The Travel Thread - U.S. Version

[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.