DB_Hunter

Vegas sucks for astronomers - WAY too much light pollution, and it's on the floor of a hot desert. However...

Starting on the first of August, I'll start heading out there from Fort Worth. My plan is to hit Big Bend NP for a new days, do McDonald Observatory for a night, drive on up to Carlsbad Caverns for a day of deep caving, then slowly make it to Sin City for the big orgy and kegger. On the way back, I'm doing four days under the rim in the Grand Canyon, followed by a two-day drive back home.


I'd like to see if any atheists in the New Mexico/Arizona area who are also amateur (or professional) astronomers would like to show me some favorite spots, or let me crash on a cot in their observatories (I'm small and take up little space). This is my big solo trip, and I want it to be a memorable one.

I've got a 10" f/5 homebuilt dob with Sky Commander DSC (I love it!) and a 120m f/5 achromat refractor that I'll have with me. The dob's for deep space, the achromat is for wide-field photography. I figure I've got four days of "do nothing" days that I can spend working my way to Vegas and getting in some dark sky time at night.

Anyone in the area up for an improptu star party one night, or a small (big) backyard (research-class) observatory? Maybe a kind heathen with a 30" Obsession...? I've got the Naglers if you've got the giant miror...

DB