Any Austin, Texas Amateur Astronomers here?

Hi,

My question is regarding Mansfield Dam as
I keep getting conflicting information.

Some say the dam was closed to foot traffic after 9/11 and never reopened.
Some say if you go on the right night (which night would that be?)
or have a telescope with you "they" will let you on the dam.

Can anyone here update me on this?

I am looking for a relatively dark location, not to far away from where I
live.
I have tried 2 fields here in Round Rock. One I was asked to leave by the
police
(what on earth can be harmful about a girl with a telescope?) and one was a
rewrite
of the "attack of the killer fire ants". Texans will understand how painful
that trip was.

Thanks,

jojo

Have you tried the local astronomy club yet? I'm sure they know some good
(and safe) dark sky sites.

http://www.austinastro.org/



"jojo" wrote in message
y.com...
Hi,

My question is regarding Mansfield Dam as
I keep getting conflicting information.

Some say the dam was closed to foot traffic after 9/11 and never reopened.
Some say if you go on the right night (which night would that be?)
or have a telescope with you "they" will let you on the dam.

Can anyone here update me on this?

I am looking for a relatively dark location, not to far away from where I
live.
I have tried 2 fields here in Round Rock. One I was asked to leave by the
police
(what on earth can be harmful about a girl with a telescope?) and one was
a
rewrite
of the "attack of the killer fire ants". Texans will understand how
painful
that trip was.

Thanks,

jojo

"Bill Nunnelee" wrote in message
ink.net...
Have you tried the local astronomy club yet? I'm sure they know some good
(and safe) dark sky sites.

http://www.austinastro.org/



"jojo" wrote in message
y.com...
Hi,

My question is regarding Mansfield Dam as
I keep getting conflicting information.

Some say the dam was closed to foot traffic after 9/11 and never
reopened.
Some say if you go on the right night (which night would that be?)
or have a telescope with you "they" will let you on the dam.

Can anyone here update me on this?

I am looking for a relatively dark location, not to far away from where
I
live.
I have tried 2 fields here in Round Rock. One I was asked to leave by
the
police
(what on earth can be harmful about a girl with a telescope?) and one
was
a
rewrite
of the "attack of the killer fire ants". Texans will understand how
painful
that trip was.

Thanks,

jojo




Bill, I have not tried them yet...Going to check out WCAS as well, since
they meet just a few blocks from me!
Thanks,
jojo

The dam is always closed, and "they" will never let you on it.

However, that is irrelevant, because the viewing takes place in an scenic
overlook area adjacent to the dam. It consists of a large (~800' diam.),
paved circular drive overlooking the down-stream face of the dam.

The scenic overlook area is open 24/7, the dam security people are used to
astronomers setting up there, and they're friendly. As urban/suburban
viewing sites go, it's probably one of the safer ones due to their presence.
The site has an almost perfectly unobstucted horizon. The down sides are
suburban-intensity light pollution from Austin's light dome (milky way
visible but dim), and occasional lights from non-astronomers driving through
the overlook. Most Friday nights you will find a fairly large crowd there,
with a dozen or so scopes set up.

Jim

"jojo" wrote in message
y.com...
Hi,

My question is regarding Mansfield Dam as
I keep getting conflicting information.

Some say the dam was closed to foot traffic after 9/11 and never reopened.
Some say if you go on the right night (which night would that be?)
or have a telescope with you "they" will let you on the dam.

Can anyone here update me on this?

I am looking for a relatively dark location, not to far away from where I
live.
I have tried 2 fields here in Round Rock. One I was asked to leave by the
police
(what on earth can be harmful about a girl with a telescope?) and one was
a
rewrite
of the "attack of the killer fire ants". Texans will understand how
painful
that trip was.

Thanks,

jojo

LCRA, which owns and operates Mansfield Damn, closed the dam to both
foot and vehicle traffic when the new section of FM620 was built below
the dam. Because I "know people" I've been on the dam - it is quite
dizzymaking and nothing I care to repeat.

LCRA maintains a park on the south side of the dam, which is open to
both foot and vehicle traffic. Take your scope and have a good time
but don't be surprised if a Sherrif's deputy mosies by to see what
you're up to.

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 12:54:48 GMT, "jojo"
wrote:

Hi,

My question is regarding Mansfield Dam as
I keep getting conflicting information.

Some say the dam was closed to foot traffic after 9/11 and never reopened.
Some say if you go on the right night (which night would that be?)
or have a telescope with you "they" will let you on the dam.

Can anyone here update me on this?

I am looking for a relatively dark location, not to far away from where I
live.
I have tried 2 fields here in Round Rock. One I was asked to leave by the
police
(what on earth can be harmful about a girl with a telescope?) and one was a
rewrite
of the "attack of the killer fire ants". Texans will understand how painful
that trip was.

Thanks,

jojo

"SlinkyToy" wrote in message
...
LCRA, which owns and operates Mansfield Damn, closed the dam to both
foot and vehicle traffic when the new section of FM620 was built below
the dam. Because I "know people" I've been on the dam - it is quite
dizzymaking and nothing I care to repeat.

LCRA maintains a park on the south side of the dam, which is open to
both foot and vehicle traffic. Take your scope and have a good time
but don't be surprised if a Sherrif's deputy mosies by to see what
you're up to.

Thanks ST! I don't mind the police, just as long as they don't run me off!
;-)
jojo

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 12:54:48 GMT, jojo wrote:

Hi,

My question is regarding Mansfield Dam as
I keep getting conflicting information.

Some say the dam was closed to foot traffic after 9/11 and never
reopened.
Some say if you go on the right night (which night would that be?)
or have a telescope with you "they" will let you on the dam.

Can anyone here update me on this?

I am looking for a relatively dark location, not to far away from where I
live.
I have tried 2 fields here in Round Rock. One I was asked to leave by the
police
(what on earth can be harmful about a girl with a telescope?) and one was
a
rewrite
of the "attack of the killer fire ants". Texans will understand how
painful
that trip was.

Thanks,

jojo


Call the folks who run Austin Astronomy and Science on Anderson Mill
Road. Jay or Michelle can direct you to the local sited they and
others in the area go to regularly. One is at or near the dam,
the other is at Canyon of the Eagles.

Cheers,
Larry G.

Call the folks who run Austin Astronomy and Science on Anderson Mill
Road. Jay or Michelle can direct you to the local sited they and
others in the area go to regularly. One is at or near the dam,
the other is at Canyon of the Eagles.

Cheers,
Larry G.

Thanks Larry!
jojo

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 7:54:48 -0500, jojo wrote
(in message m):

Hi,

My question is regarding Mansfield Dam as
I keep getting conflicting information.

Some say the dam was closed to foot traffic after 9/11 and never reopened.
Some say if you go on the right night (which night would that be?)
or have a telescope with you "they" will let you on the dam.

The dam area is open. Usually every clear Friday night there is a group
there. The skies are not particularly dark but it can be fun with a group.

You might consider joining the Austin Astronomical Society
(www.austinastro..org). We have some other ideas about dark sites. We also
maintain an observatory out at the north end of Lake Buchannan.


Can anyone here update me on this?

I am looking for a relatively dark location, not to far away from where I
live.
I have tried 2 fields here in Round Rock. One I was asked to leave by the
police
(what on earth can be harmful about a girl with a telescope?) and one was a
rewrite
of the "attack of the killer fire ants". Texans will understand how painful
that trip was.

Thanks,

jojo





--
Bill Tschumy
Otherwise -- Austin, TX
http://www.otherwise.com

"There would be no be no bright stars without dim stars, and,
without the surrounding darkness, no stars at all."

Alan Watts

"Bill Tschumy" wrote in message
. sbcglobal.net...
On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 7:54:48 -0500, jojo wrote
(in message m):

Hi,

My question is regarding Mansfield Dam as
I keep getting conflicting information.

Some say the dam was closed to foot traffic after 9/11 and never
reopened.
Some say if you go on the right night (which night would that be?)
or have a telescope with you "they" will let you on the dam.

The dam area is open. Usually every clear Friday night there is a group
there. The skies are not particularly dark but it can be fun with a
group.

You might consider joining the Austin Astronomical Society
(www.austinastro..org). We have some other ideas about dark sites. We
also
maintain an observatory out at the north end of Lake Buchannan.




--
Bill Tschumy
Otherwise -- Austin, TX
http://www.otherwise.com

"There would be no be no bright stars without dim stars, and,
without the surrounding darkness, no stars at all."

Alan Watts


Alan Thanks!
I am very interested in visiting the observatory and joining AAS.
The timing is off right now. I have 2 trips in the next month and a
feisty one year old at home...so maybe in November.
jojo