Heading into the dark
- Lowjiber
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Heading into the dark
Located in Nye County, about half-way between Reno & Las Vegas, lies the sleepy little burg of Tonopah, Nevada. In the late 1800's, the area in/around Tonopah was the hub of gold & silver mining in the state. Nowadays, it's just living in the past without a Walmart in sight.
That said, if one is looking for dark it is the place to go. http://www.tonopahnevada.com/stargazing/
The better-half and I are heading out tomorrow for a four-day adventure in the area. We've been there several times and have never been disappointed as the light from the Milky Way darn near casts one's shadow on the ground... It's DARK. :Clap:
I just called the Moon and it's gonna be turned off at nightfall... should be another good road-trip. :thumb:
That said, if one is looking for dark it is the place to go. http://www.tonopahnevada.com/stargazing/
The better-half and I are heading out tomorrow for a four-day adventure in the area. We've been there several times and have never been disappointed as the light from the Milky Way darn near casts one's shadow on the ground... It's DARK. :Clap:
I just called the Moon and it's gonna be turned off at nightfall... should be another good road-trip. :thumb:
John (Urban Astronomer) Apertura AD10 Dob; XLT 150 Dob; XLT 120EQ; Lunt Solar 60 PT/B1200; ES AR102; SW Pro 100ED; 2 SW Pro 80ED's; 90mm Eq; WO Z-61; SW 90mm Virtuso Mak; 2 Orion ST-80's; Quark-C; Cams: Polemaster, ASI120MM-S, ASI174MM & ASI174MM-C
- pakarinen
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Re: Heading into the dark
IIRC, it was also once a large railroad hub. On the SP maybe?
Anyway, enjoy!
Heading to the cabin tonight, but forecast calls for clouds and rain. Whoever thought northern Illinois would have a monsoon season?
Anyway, enjoy!
Heading to the cabin tonight, but forecast calls for clouds and rain. Whoever thought northern Illinois would have a monsoon season?
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
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AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
- bladekeeper
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Re: Heading into the dark
Sounds amazing, John! I hope you and Dana have an excellent trip!
Bryan
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- Lowjiber
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Re: Heading into the dark
We had a great trip. Tonopah is some ten degrees cooler than Las Vegas, making me don the jeans in the morning hours... Ninety degrees is cold to a Las Vegas guy.
Our center of operation was a completely refurbished hotel from the early 1900's that needs to be seen to be believed...
https://www.themizpahhotel.com/
Tonopah has two main attractions, DARK skies and silver/gold mining history from the 1850's.
Below are pics of our observing site and a sign on the main street in town to catch travelers' eye. (That's me in the pic.)
Our center of operation was a completely refurbished hotel from the early 1900's that needs to be seen to be believed...
https://www.themizpahhotel.com/
Tonopah has two main attractions, DARK skies and silver/gold mining history from the 1850's.
Below are pics of our observing site and a sign on the main street in town to catch travelers' eye. (That's me in the pic.)
John (Urban Astronomer) Apertura AD10 Dob; XLT 150 Dob; XLT 120EQ; Lunt Solar 60 PT/B1200; ES AR102; SW Pro 100ED; 2 SW Pro 80ED's; 90mm Eq; WO Z-61; SW 90mm Virtuso Mak; 2 Orion ST-80's; Quark-C; Cams: Polemaster, ASI120MM-S, ASI174MM & ASI174MM-C
- helicon
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Re: Heading into the dark
Sounds great John. I always follow Tonopah real estate to see what pops onto the market as a 2nd home. Will pull the trigger on one eventually. Can't wait for those dark skies.
-Michael
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Latitude: 48.7229° N
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
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- KingNothing13
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Re: Heading into the dark
Whoa - that location looks BRILLIANT.
-- Brett
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- Lowjiber
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Re: Heading into the dark
Michael, here's the best Beer & BBQ in town...
John (Urban Astronomer) Apertura AD10 Dob; XLT 150 Dob; XLT 120EQ; Lunt Solar 60 PT/B1200; ES AR102; SW Pro 100ED; 2 SW Pro 80ED's; 90mm Eq; WO Z-61; SW 90mm Virtuso Mak; 2 Orion ST-80's; Quark-C; Cams: Polemaster, ASI120MM-S, ASI174MM & ASI174MM-C
- OhNo
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Re: Heading into the dark
Looks like parking spots are at a premium....
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Re: Heading into the dark
John,
Were you able to capture any images?
That spot looks great! I would image Nevada has quite a few dark sky locations as the populations are pretty much Reno and Vegas.
Were you able to capture any images?
That spot looks great! I would image Nevada has quite a few dark sky locations as the populations are pretty much Reno and Vegas.
Gordon
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ZWO mini guider.
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- Lowjiber
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Re: Heading into the dark
Not really. To the right of the picture there is a parking lot. Businesses are few-and-far-between on the main street of Tonopah... One rarely has to park over fifty feet from anything.
No. I didn't do any dark sky imaging and didn't take any solar equipment with me. Daytime was for grabbing some sleep anyway.
Clear Skies
John (Urban Astronomer) Apertura AD10 Dob; XLT 150 Dob; XLT 120EQ; Lunt Solar 60 PT/B1200; ES AR102; SW Pro 100ED; 2 SW Pro 80ED's; 90mm Eq; WO Z-61; SW 90mm Virtuso Mak; 2 Orion ST-80's; Quark-C; Cams: Polemaster, ASI120MM-S, ASI174MM & ASI174MM-C
- Tillibobs
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Re: Heading into the dark
Sounds like you had a good time John, one of these days I'll have to find some dark(ish) sky over here .
- Lola Bruce
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- bladekeeper
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Re: Heading into the dark
Sounds amazing, John! I need to get out there and try some of that barbeque one of these days.
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100
- mcolbert
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Re: Heading into the dark
and in the correct order too! ;')
Refractor - APQ 130 Reflector - Meade SCT Au coating. Mount - AYOMaster (on order)
Cameras - Blads, D70s, D3300, Lunar and Planetary Cameras (2)
DIY Glass - German military and opthalmic sourced items, AGFA AVIPHOT DIA C
Cameras - Blads, D70s, D3300, Lunar and Planetary Cameras (2)
DIY Glass - German military and opthalmic sourced items, AGFA AVIPHOT DIA C
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