Hola from Santa Cruz, Bolivia

I'm sending this message from the airport at Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The
Southern Skies Star Party is now over, brought to a somewhat premature
end by the political situation here. Be that as it may I experienced 6
nights of superb observing from the shores of Lake Titicaca at an
altitude of over 12,000 feet. During the course of the week I viewed
hundreds of objects under seventh magnitude skies including the
southern greats such as the Eta Carinae Nebula, Omega Centauri,
Centaurus A, 47 Tucanae, the Jewel Box Cluster, and both of the
Magellanic Clouds using my 15x70 binocular and a number of telescopes
including a Takahashi FS-106, a 10 inch Starmaster Dob, and a 22 inch
Starmaster Dob. Spending time with David Levy while he was hunting
comets in the early morning was quite a treat.

There will be more to follow.

Adios,

Que tal, back!

Having spent time in both places, I'm looking forward to your reports.

Hope you got to see some of the country (daytime excurisions), listen to
the music, and absorb some of the culture while there, too! The
contrasts in terrain across the departments (states) are incredible.

Sprinkle in some observations about those and the political referendum
controversy, too, that is, if you managed to be awake much during the
day (and weren't sleeping off glorious nights)!

We're envious of your skies and observations already!

Larry Stedman
Vestal

On 17 Jul 2004 06:52:26 -0700, Dave Mitsky wrote:

I'm sending this message from the airport at Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The
Southern Skies Star Party is now over, brought to a somewhat premature
end by the political situation here. Be that as it may I experienced 6
nights of superb observing from the shores of Lake Titicaca at an
altitude of over 12,000 feet...


Dave,

I am interested in hearing the impressions by an experienced observer like
yourself of the effect of altitude on your vision. I have never been
attracted to observing at any elevation above 9000 feet due to the oxygen
deprivation. My one clear, moonless night of camping at this elevation, I
saw quite a bit less than I would have liked due to this persistent "white
noise" due to the high elevation. I wonder how long it took you to adapt
to that altitude.

Tom

"Tom Polakis" wrote in message
news
On 17 Jul 2004 06:52:26 -0700, Dave Mitsky wrote:

I'm sending this message from the airport at Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The
Southern Skies Star Party is now over, brought to a somewhat premature
end by the political situation here. Be that as it may I experienced 6
nights of superb observing from the shores of Lake Titicaca at an
altitude of over 12,000 feet...


Dave,

I am interested in hearing the impressions by an experienced observer like
yourself of the effect of altitude on your vision. I have never been
attracted to observing at any elevation above 9000 feet due to the oxygen
deprivation. My one clear, moonless night of camping at this elevation, I
saw quite a bit less than I would have liked due to this persistent "white
noise" due to the high elevation. I wonder how long it took you to adapt
to that altitude.

Tom
Hmm..I attended 2 Fox Park Wyoming star parties in the past, at elevation
9100'...
Using naked eye, the skies were dark but...I saw these strange "patterns" in
the sky. Everywhere. And I don't mean asterisms or constellations. I thought
they were some sort of optical illusions because of the darkness of the
skies but I've never encountered the same at the Nebraska Star parties who
boast even darker skies.

Best regards,
Bill

"Bill Becker" wrote in message
...
Using naked eye, the skies were dark but...I saw these strange "patterns"
in
the sky. Everywhere. And I don't mean asterisms or constellations.

That's cool, as long as you don't "Bogart".... g

On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 14:39:12 -0700, Tom Polakis
wrote:

Hi Tom,

I am interested in hearing the impressions by an experienced observer
like yourself of the effect of altitude on your vision. I have never
been attracted to observing at any elevation above 9000 feet due to the
oxygen deprivation. My one clear, moonless night of camping at this
elevation, I saw quite a bit less than I would have liked due to this
persistent "white noise" due to the high elevation. I wonder how long
it took you to adapt to that altitude.

Tom

I've observed at 8-9000 feet and never experienced any problem. I've
glanced at the skies at altitudes up to about 11,000 feet and didn't
notice any problem. I was backpacking or climbing then, though, and not
staying out observing so I may not have been paying enough attention to
the night skies to be certain there was no effect. I've had severe
problems with diminished night vision above 15,000 feet (also in
Bolivia). Nine days at that altitude after many days at 12-15,000 feet
allowed me to run around as easily at 15,000 as at sea level but it didn't
help my diminished night vision. Not everything returns to normal with
time at altitude and I think night vision is one that doesn't.

Mike Simmons

Hi, Tom

My experiences from 8 nights (in '92-'94) at 12,500 feet have been mixed
due to annoying headaches, some dizziness and decreased visual acuity.
I decided that 8000-9000 feet was personally more comfortable without
the above-mentioned affects and haven't returned since. Nevertheless, I
was thinking of giving the high elevation site another try next month.
In any case, a period of acclimation is certainly necessary.

Steve Gottlieb

In article ,
Tom Polakis wrote:

I am interested in hearing the impressions by an experienced observer like
yourself of the effect of altitude on your vision. I have never been
attracted to observing at any elevation above 9000 feet due to the oxygen
deprivation. My one clear, moonless night of camping at this elevation, I
saw quite a bit less than I would have liked due to this persistent "white
noise" due to the high elevation. I wonder how long it took you to adapt
to that altitude.

Tom