Inyo Mountains

[tfwthom]

The old-timers will remember SkyJim.<br /><br />His club (The Local Group of Santa Clarita Valley) in CA and mine (and NEVERS) (Sedona Astronaomy Club) in AZ have been doing a joint star party in the White Mountains, Inyo National Forest in August the last couple of years. We had such a good observing site up there that we lost it last summer to construction.<br /><br />The March 06 Sky & Telescope has an article on page 22 about the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA). These are the radio telescopes that took over our observing site (group camps) in the White Mountains. Well actually they took over the other group camps, we lost ours (Pinon) to administration buildings.<br /> <br />Nine 6.1 and six 10.4 meter dishes are living up there, should be functioning as a single telescope in mid-2006.<br /><br />This year we are planning on going up from 7000ASL to 8000ASL (Grandview campground) just so we don't have to cancel the event. Anyone taking a trip out our way is welcome to join us.<br /><br />We'll check out the new group camps and see if they are any good for observing.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[tfwthom]

Should have added the link.<br /><br /> CARMA <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[tfwthom]

Followong is an exchange I had:<br /><br />Douglas Bock (Project Manager CARMA)<br /> <br />Hello from the Sirius Lookers (Sedona Astronomy Club, AZ) www.siriuslookers.org <br /> <br />Background:<br />For years we have been holding a joint star party in August (as a way to get out of Arizona's monsoons) with a California astronomy club (The Local Group of Santa Clarita Valley) http://www.lgscv.org/ in the White Mountains/Bristlecone Pine Forest area where you installed the CARMA arrays. (Ok we were told that administration buildings were going in Pinon) We have been staying away from Grandview campground because we didn't have the ability to control lights/campfires/etc. Talking to the Forrest Service Rangers we were told that the group camps were being moved across the road (Hwy 168). Last August 2005 we cancelled the trip there because of the unknowns.<br /> <br />Question:<br />Could someone with an "astronomers eye" for horizons look at the new group camps. If it wouldn't be too much trouble. We would like to resume the star party but the 10hr drive from Sedona (or 5hr from LA area) makes reserving a campground impractical without knowing the layout. This year we were planning on trying Grandview (again) but it still makes us nervous. <br /> <br />or<br /> <br />Is it possible to use the CARMA site for visual astronomy/astrophotography? We usually get 10 astronomers from each club to go on the campout/star party.<br /><br />Answer:<br /><br />Dear Thom,<br /><br />As it happens, CARMA has built the new campgrounds on the other side of 168. The new campgrounds have shelters and improved toilets. The horizon in the area is still pretty low, and these campgrounds area a long way from Grandview. We're the nearest neighbor, but try to keep the lights down.<br /><br />I do not think the new campgrounds yet have names, so it may be difficult to book them until later in the year. You m <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>