Stargazers - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lucky Larry · RV-Dreams Community Member

Stargazers

jjhoyle · RV-Dreams Community Member

Lucky Larry, hi. My husband and I are into looking at the stars. We do not have a telescope, but our volunteer experiences have allowed us to indulge the hobbie.

Usually we rely upon our binoculars for finding interesting sites. We have spent four stints (summer and winter) as hosts in an Oregon State Park in central Oregon, Prineville State Park. They have a 16" Dobsonian telescope which we would help visitors view constalations, planets and galaxies.

If you have an intrest in volunteering there are quite a few state parks we have heard have star gazing programs.

Lucky Larry · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi jj

My scopes have been gathering dust since Mr. Broadway moved in and I'm itchy to use them again.

Volunteering requires more energy than I have - I'm interested in finding places where you can't see your hand in front of your face after sunset, but are easy to reach with a TT.

Openmind · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Larry, Hi JJ,

I'll be heading up the Western side of the US in July. Bringing my 8" Meade 200 LX with me. I'm imagining clear dark skies and I'm smiling.

Openmind

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Be sure and try Bryce Canyon. I believe it is #2 on the dark sky list. They actually do "dark sky" ranger presentations there. Also Yellowstone campground is actually pretty dark. I really enjoyed seeing the Milky Way again when we were there.

Bill

jjhoyle · RV-Dreams Community Member

There is a place in Idaho, Bruno Dunes S. P. Close to Mountian Home, ID. They have a great astronomy program. Another good place is a small community south of Lordsburg, NM called Granite Gap. They are trying to set up a RV community with observatories.

In the western US if you avoid cities you should have good night viewing.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

jjhoyle wrote:
There is a place in Idaho, Bruno Dunes S. P. Close to Mountian Home, ID. They have a great astronomy program. Another good place is a small community south of Lordsburg, NM called Granite Gap. They are trying to set up a RV community with observatories.

In the western US if you avoid cities you should have good night viewing.

Not to be a spell checker, but for the benefit of anyone wanting to look it up, that is Bruneau Dunes State Park near Mountain Home, Idaho. We didn't participate in their astronomy program, but I did go to the state park and saw the building for their telescope.

By the way, if you are in that area, also go down and check out Bruneau Canyon, which is further south.

Terry

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

We will be bringing Ran's 3" refractor with us when we hit the road next month. Looking forward to some dark skies!