Pacheco 4/25/2004 ... was Re: interesting new location?

by Jeff Crilly

one thing I meant to ask... were this friday and saturday particularlly dark clear nights everywhere? While I didn't have any sort of scope with me, the stars seemed very bright and clear, with only minimal twinkling.

I thought the seeing on saturday was a bit soft at pacheco saturday... may be a localized thing. Friday was pretty solid at houge park.

The MW at pacheco was pretty spectacular, but the sky was a bit on the gray side. There are light domes to the east, west, and northwest.

Btw, regarding pacheco saturday night 4/25/2004....

The dust was ok.. the grassy area is somewhat dry and has clumps of "fertilizer" here and there. Personally, I'm considering setting up near the eastern-most firepit (if I go back). Its packed sand and flat there. There's also picnic tables, and the awnings wont be an issue if east is of interest.
Two annoying lights: one to the west on the edge of the hill, presumably near the ranger house, another to the north-east at the new house near 152. These are annoying mercury vapor lamps. The new houses to the northeast also have their share of lights. (I say "new houses" as these werent there a couple years ago when I first ventured down that way.) I parked the truck as to block said lights.
Light dome to the east. Hmm. I can only presume this is the resevior. Given this, I *suspect* coe is darker to the east. (I presume the west light dome is holister and northwest is gilroy.)
To the south, the bottom of scorpius (the "J" part) is visible. Fwiw, I was shooting the antares region, around 2:30 am when it its about highest, and for some reason it was right in the flight path.
Negligible cool breeze. Totally still by early a.m. No dew to speak of, the car got about 25% wet.. my starbound chair (which is a dew magnet) was only slightly moist. I suspect this is just cuz it was sooo dry.
There's a posted star party for may 1. Full moon, but the planets should be good.

Posted on sf-bay-tac Apr 25, 2004 23:47:08 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.1 Jul 10, 2004 19:33:25 PT