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#21
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
"Howard Lester" wrote "Spanky" wrote "Brian Tung" wrote Porque is because. I thought it was for dinner. You mean "the other white meat?" Yes. It's the French. ;-) 'course, that would probably be more obvious in Lousianna, where I hear tell the seeing is excellent, but the humidity and the skeeters could kill'ya. -Steve |
#22
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
katrinaxx wrote:
Oops, I forgot! You might also like take a look at Cloudcroft, NM. http://www.cloudcroft.com/ A better site with more info for amateur astronomers: http://www.nmskies.com/webpage/ -- Greg Crinklaw Astronomical Software Developer Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m) SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html Comets: http://comets.skyhound.com To reply take out your eye |
#23
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
Hi Paul,
The suggestions so far have all been quite good. I would basically draw a N-S line through the middle of the Dakotas and another approximately in line with the western border of Idaho. Extend both lines through the northern and southern boundary of the continental U.S. and look for something between these lines that's not too near nor too far from any reasonably sized city. Despite this general advice, good sites can be found outside this region. Yet, within this region one could find a *huge* number of suitable locations that would meet the needs of both you and your wife. You'll probably want the nearest city to be large enough to have a Wal-Mart, but not much larger than that and you'll probably want to be at least 20 miles away, though your wife will want to be a bit closer. A suitable compromise (such as 10 to 15 miles) will need to be reached;-) Other possible considerations: Distance to health care facilities such as clinics, hospitals, dentistry, eyecare, etc. (I have to travel 50 miles to the nearest dentist, over 100 miles for a major hospital, over 100 miles for eyecare, etc. At one point in time I had to travel at least 20 miles to the nearest gas station and 50 miles to the nearest (small) clinic, now these basic services have cropped up a bit closer to home;-) Then there's climate. If you want to be able to observe year round without having to worry about having a fair number of sub-freezing nights you won't want to be too far north nor too high in elevation. If you choose a rural area beware that not all roads get cleared of snow, etc. Last winter there were times when my wife's fuel-efficient Honda Civic couldn't make it to or from the nearest paved road. A least three last times last year I had to tow her (stuck) car with my gas guzzeling Jeep. For one full week she parked her car 6 miles away and I shuttled here back and forth in the Jeep. In other words, some locations can have a strong influence on one's choice of vehicle. Then there's wild animals. I just made a blog entry that tells a little about one of the hazards in my area - rattlesnakes! We encountered a bear one evening coming home from a major shopping trip to a "nearby" major (for Montana) city. So, do your research carefully and thoroughly! The darker the sky the more remote you'll be, but it looks like your wife will serve you well in keeping you from moving to a location that's too remote. Listen to her. Astronomy isn't everything. Bill Greer To sketch is to see. http://cejour.blogspot.com http://www.rangeweb.net/~sketcher |
#24
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
Astronomy isn't everything? Total ********. On Jul 22, 11:28*pm, wrote: Hi Paul, The suggestions so far have all been quite good. *I would basically draw a N-S line through the middle of the Dakotas and another approximately in line with the western border of Idaho. *Extend both lines through the northern and southern boundary of the continental U.S. and look for something between these lines that's not too near nor too far from any reasonably sized city. *Despite this general advice, good sites can be found outside this region. *Yet, within this region one could find a *huge* number of suitable locations that would meet the needs of both you and your wife. *You'll probably want the nearest city to be large enough to have a Wal-Mart, but not much larger than that and you'll probably want to be at least 20 miles away, though your wife will want to be a bit closer. *A suitable compromise (such as 10 to 15 miles) will need to be reached;-) Other possible considerations: *Distance to health care facilities such as clinics, hospitals, dentistry, eyecare, etc. (I have to travel 50 miles to the nearest dentist, over 100 miles for a major hospital, over 100 miles for eyecare, etc. *At one point in time I had to travel at least 20 miles to the nearest gas station and 50 miles to the nearest (small) clinic, now these basic services have cropped up a bit closer to home;-) Then there's climate. *If you want to be able to observe year round without having to worry about having a fair number of sub-freezing nights you won't want to be too far north nor too high in elevation. If you choose a rural area beware that not all roads get cleared of snow, etc. *Last winter there were times when my wife's fuel-efficient Honda Civic couldn't make it to or from the nearest paved road. *A least three last times last year I had to tow her (stuck) car with my gas guzzeling Jeep. *For one full week she parked her car 6 miles away and I shuttled here back and forth in the Jeep. *In other words, some locations can have a strong influence on one's choice of vehicle. Then there's wild animals. *I just made a blog entry that tells a little about one of the hazards in my area - rattlesnakes! *We encountered a bear one evening coming home from a major shopping trip to a "nearby" major (for Montana) city. So, do your research carefully and thoroughly! *The darker the sky the more remote you'll be, but it looks like your wife will serve you well in keeping you from moving to a location that's too remote. *Listen to her. *Astronomy isn't everything. Bill Greer To sketch is to see. |
#25
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
Chris L Peterson wrote:
Or, you can go further north into Colorado. There are many smallish mountain towns that are well supported with shops and services, and the transparency is better even than Arizona, although the seeing isn't usually as good... Chris, Is your point about the transparency of Colorado vs. Arizona based on the degree of aerosol contamination or cloudiness? All three states enjoy enough clear nights every year to satisfy almost astronomer. (Utah is astronomically good as well, but I wouldn't recommend that screwy place to anybody!) Yeah, it's unfortunate, as I would otherwise rank it as the most desirable of the four states in the Southwest. Tom |
#26
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
On Jul 18, 3:17*pm, callisto wrote:
I am an amateur astronomer and have recently retired. *I would like to know where I could retire in the US to maximize my enjoyment of this hobby. *I know there are many considerations such as seasonal sky conditions, having an astronomy club nearby where it would be possible to participate in many activities (e.g., see telescopes of others, hear talks, go on trips including star parties, etc). *Another of my interests is participating in outreach and giving PowerPoint talks to people of all ages. . . . |
#27
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
"Howard Lester" wrote in message acomip... "Brian Tung" wrote Paul (callisto) wrote: I am an amateur astronomer and have recently retired. I would like to know where I could retire in the US to maximize my enjoyment of this hobby. Personally, I'd go for New Mexico. Porque? No, not Porque, NM..... Why, and where in New Mexico? One reason I'd vote for Arizona (only in terms of astronomy) is its much better seeing than is typical elsewhere. That's in addition to spectacular transparency outside of the cities and towns. But I know this because I live in Arizona. I don't know what New Mexico offers, other than transparency and, I imagine, different politics and population. There have to be more factors than just astronomical to take into consideration when selecting a new place to live. Howard Also there is the higher elevation and less dust to consider with Arizona over New Mexico. Utah is also very good, if you can put up with the natives. I drove into Utah from Colorado once via highway 50 (the loneliest road in America. Upon crossing the border into Utah, I noticed a sign that said "Utah. It's still just right", and someone had written in big red letters "wing". :-) George |
#28
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
"George" wrote About 5 years ago I heard a talk at NEAF by Todd Gross (former 'scope reviewer' and Boston TV weather person) on this vary subject. One place that he mentioned as having great potential because of seeing and dark sky was the area in northwest Florida around the Chiefland Astronomy Village location. That area of Florida still has very dark sky, and Florida's famous excellent seeing conditions. The dark area extends from Chiefland all of the way over to the Gulf shore. Two Florida friends, one living in the Keys right next to the WSP site and the other living in Orlando, both told me that sky conditions are better in the Chiefland area then in the Keys, but of course you lose a little of the far southern sky and you have to survive the occasional hurricane. I would also consider the US Virgin Islands where one island is mostly US national park, and I understand that one of the Hawaiian islands is still pretty dark. The sat views of Cuba show it's pretty dark, so maybe when Castro goes, it might be a nice location for at least a vacation home & observatory. George N |
#29
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
George Normandin wrote:
About 5 years ago I heard a talk at NEAF by Todd Gross (former 'scope reviewer' and Boston TV weather person) on this vary subject. One place that he mentioned as having great potential because of seeing and dark sky was the area in northwest Florida around the Chiefland Astronomy Village location. That area of Florida still has very dark sky, and Florida's famous excellent seeing conditions. The dark area extends from Chiefland all of the way over to the Gulf shore. Two Florida friends, one living in the Keys right next to the WSP site and the other living in Orlando, both told me that sky conditions are better in the Chiefland area then in the Keys, but of course you lose a little of the far southern sky and you have to survive the occasional hurricane. I would also consider the US Virgin Islands where one island is mostly US national park, That would be the island of St. John. "Astronomical" aptly describes the cost of real estate there. Seniors have to consider the sparse availability of medical services in the Caribbean. My wife and I vacation at Caneel Bay on St. John, and the skies are, indeed, superb. On the other hand, I met a couple from St. Croix, USVI, at NEAF a few years ago and I told them that I had been there and that I envied their skies. "Not perfect," they said. "Huh?" "Dust." "Huh?" "Dust from the Sahara Desert." "Ah. Having lived in the Sahara, and experiencing sandstorms that turn day into night and cause the temperature to drop 40 degrees (from 140 to 100) in seconds, I understand." The St. John Board of Realtors says "Expect to pay around $350,000 for a "handyman special" home; super luxurious homes can top the $10,500,000 mark. *The average home goes for $1,250,000. *Condominiums range from around $300,000 for a studio to $1,500,000 for a two-bedroom unit. *The average condo goes for $675,000." and I understand that one of the Hawaiian islands is still pretty dark. See St. John remarks above. The sat views of Cuba show it's pretty dark, so maybe when Castro goes, it might be a nice location for at least a vacation home & observatory. Is it necessary to wait until Castro goes? Americans seem to be liked and welcomed in Cuba. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from moving to a dark-sky site, merely pointing out that one needs to be circumspect; it's not a perfect world. Too hot. Too cold. Too remote. Too expensive (for most)... Davoud -- Don't re-elect the past. Vote for the futu Obama in 2008! usenet *at* davidillig dawt com |
#30
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best places to live for amateur astronomers
"Davoud" wrote .... ........ I'm not trying to discourage anyone from moving to a dark-sky site, merely pointing out that one needs to be circumspect; it's not a perfect world. Too hot. Too cold. Too remote. Too expensive (for most)......... Yep, all of those reasons are why a few places are still dark: no one wants to live there. People mention the southwest desert, but you really need to experience the heat before deciding to move there. I personally don't want to get stung for the 4th time by a scorpion; 3 times in one lifetime are enough. Politics can also be a cause for dark sky, like in Cuba (or North Korea, with real dark skies, and it also has the dust you mention at times, yellowish brown clouds of dust carried off the Gobi. They have the same in South Korea, plus the place is lit up like New Jersey). Even in my own little "dark sky paradise", a rented house in NY's Adirondack Park (gray or black on the Clear Sky Chart), life can be difficult at times, and thus my wife is unwilling to live there full time. There's the bone chilling winter temps and deep snow (how else would you have boreal forest?) and it is 90 minutes on a good day to the nearest emergency room (and even worse for my wife, over 90 minutes to the nearest Wal-Mart). It all makes Chiefland FL sound attractive, at least until the next cat 5 hurricane hits. If you want to live in dark sky country, you have to make sacrifices. George N |
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