Stargazing Advice

[flxc4p4str]

Hello All,<br />I'm planning a road trip across the U.S.. I've rented an RV and my wife and I with some family/friends will be making the drive March 28-April 7. Starting in southern Cali, up the coast, redwoods, yellowstone, mt rushm. and I don't know what else. My question is this. Can anyone recommend good stargazing opportunities? Time/places/what to look for. I'm not familiar with the science, but i'm sure that i'll be driving through some very remote areas, which i know is an important ingredient. Maybe someone knows of an amateur club that meets somewhere.<br />Would love to see something like this:<br />http://www.space.com/amazingimages/cte.php?guid=449eec248d1ce8.83100503&cat=s<br />Thanks in advance for any help<br />Rob<br />www.supportthewall.net

 

[tfwthom]

That's the Milky Way so that's no problem. You can see that away from a large city.<br /><br />You are the one that knows where you are going to be on any given night so you could contact clubs and see if they have anything going on the nights you are going to be there. <br /><br />Good point: The Moon is right during your trip so the sky should be good.<br /><br />Bad point: Clubs don't really like non-astronomers going out with them on dark nights<br /><br />To find a club in the area that you are going to be try http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/organizations <br />You might be better off just going to a Observatory or a Planetarium along the way.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

You most certainly can't see the Milky Way from a large city, unless your definition of a large city is much different than mine <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />Edit, I missed the away in your statement, too many ways next to each other. Sorry <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> Thanx for pointing that out heyscottie.<br /><br />Edit:<br /><br />If you have never seen the Milky Way under dark skies, you will be shocked and astounded.<br /><br />You won;t see the color in the image you linked to, because the brightness is not enough to activate our cones which dicriminate color.<br />But the brightness is not far off <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Regarding Astronomy clubs, perhaps your experience has been bad.<br />Perhaps some are that way.<br /><br />The NJAA welcomes and encourages all newcomers.<br />New people (especially kids) are the future of astronomy.<br /><br />If they annoy with lights , we educate them....fast. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[heyscottie]

He said you can see the Milky Way [bold]away[/bold] from a large city.<br /><br />To the original poster, I'd highly recommend that you get yourself a quality pair of 8x56 or 10x70 binoculars. There are many things you can pick out very easily with good binoculars, and they are ultimately portable. If you don't mind lugging a telescope along with you, then get yourself a 4.5" reflector or better!<br /><br />If you want to know things what the sky should look like at any given place at any given day, check out http://www.heavens-above.com.<br /><br />An excellent book I can recommend for beginning astronomers with a pair of binoculars or with a starter's telescope is "The Monthly Sky Guide" by Ian Ridpath & Wil Tirion. It only costs about $10 or so, and will help you learn the sky and show you where to find some interesting targets to view.<br /><br />Good luck!