Some Panorama shots of the Dark Sites
This is a Bortle Light Pollution map of the Colo. Front Range, Cheyenne,
Laramie, and Western Nebraska. There is extensive embedded text in
this image. (S&T makes you accept the Cookies or you don't
get to see the page.)
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Directions
to Star Party Sites
Pawnee
Prairie Grasslands (Cactus Flats)
Great Mapping
Site
Microsoft
Terraplex (Hint:turn OFF the cookies!!!!)
This site is on undeveloped
parcel of prairie about 6 miles west of Briggsdale. Take
Colorado Highway 14 East from I-25 (Exit 269). From there about
19 miles east to the center
of Ault. The road is just BEFORE (west) of the milepost 170 (now
you have gone 37 miles),
from the I-25/C-14 exit), now go NORTH, one mile, on dirt Ct.Rd.65.
The site is at the curve,
stop. You've made it. Now go through one of the gates on your right
(no road), close gate and
set up. Beware of the cactus! 40* 39' 15" N
by 104* 26' 52" W (the Baker Draw Quad).
BUT!
In 2001 several houses were built one mile south of our site. One
of the homesteads now
has a yard light that 'BEAMS' an objectionable
ray of light at us. So for a darker site go 1/2
mile DUE North this is Cactus Flats
North, follow the dirt trail to a little draw, and setup
on the
east side close to the trail. This little depression also results
in blotting out about 10* of the
Denver/Greeley light dome and is nice and dark. You may use that
site, if you stay at least within
a 100 yards of the trail and don't go 4-wheeling around the prairie.
After torrential rains (ha ha)
two nice little ponds fill up.
Our standard nights are the weekend of the New Moon. Sometimes the
weekend before and
the weekend after, IF the moon sets at an advantageous time.
If the weather is bad on a
Friday night we will try Saturday night and remember, Mother Nature
always has first say.
(Nobody I know has a anti-cloud filter, yet!) Both sites are officially
wheelchair accessible,
but there are no facilities so bring essentials. Call Tom
Teters, 970-482-5702 or write
him
with questions about the star party status, site or dates.
P.S. See the NCAS home page for the MoonCast!
Thanks Randy.
Virginia Dale
We were allowed access to this site Sept 2,2000. This star party site on the Colorado/
Wyoming border on Hwy 287. This site is quite a bit darker than P.P.G. and almost as
dark as Fox Park, Wyo. The limiting magnitude is about 6.8. It's 40 miles from the
hospital in Ft. Collins and about 18 miles from Laramie. The coordinates are
40° 59' 52"N, 105° 24' 48"W - CHEROKEE PARK quad. Elev. 7550'
NCAS held the 2001 Invitational Star Party there May2K1 new moon. There is more information
about this site in the star party notes page. This is a very EXCELLENT site!! Coyote seranade included.
Deadman west of Red Feather Lakes
During the summer months the N.C.A.S. holds several star parties at The Deadman site. It is a
GREAT SITE!! From Ft. Collins travel north on State Road 287 to Livermore (it's about 8 miles North
of Ted's Place). Turn west, this is the Red Feather Lakes road (74E), from where the pavement ends go
about 12 miles this becomes State/County Road 162. Go PAST the North Lone Pine Trailhead, PAST
the Killpecker Trailhead. The turn-off is several hundred yards PAST the Deadman Experimental Forest
Road 260 (I don't even know if that one is marked). The star party road turn-off is to the north, it's
Forest Road 303 and that makes it about 17 miles from the end of the pavement. The site is about 100
yards off the road and completely surrounded by trees, but the view is excellent. (This road is just before
you start going down the mountain to the river valley to Four Corners, which is off the mountain). The coordinates
are 40° 48'31"N by 105° 45' 48" W (Deadman Quad) Yes this is a GOOD clear air site. It's at 10,370 ft. and
there are NO services. So bring your own TP, food, water, bug juice and WARM clothes, it can get cold
at night; and be kind to your eyes, bring a red light. Coyote seranade at midnight!!
Come early, drive slow and enjoy the view. Bring a camera. Be Prepared!!! WOW !!!
Rocky Mt. National Park- Beaver Meadows
On these spring/summer star party nights, Ken VanLew, Dan Lazslo and some of the other NCAS members will
be setting up scopes at 8PM and the party will start at dusk with a little constellation talk. This site is several
miles west of Estes Park and west of the main entrance to the Rocky Mt. National Park, and about 1.5 miles
west of the Ranger Station, don't use the Fall River entrance. The coordinates are 40° 22' 21"N, 105° 36' 43"W
from the LONGS PEAK topo quad. Birds & Elk will provide the music.
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Rocky Mountain National Park Starwatching 2005
Here are proposed dates for NCAS volunteers to assist public starwatches at the end of the
Upper Beaver Meadows road, starting at dusk onFriday evenings in Rocky Mountain National
Park: Ranger Jeff Maugans plans to add New Moon weekends. The Summer 2005 dates are
June 10 and 17
July 1
July 15
July 29
Aug 12 and 26
Contact Dan Laszlo if you plan to bring a scope and help, djlaszlo"at"aol.com, 970 498 9226.
A weather cancellation message can be consulted at 472-3990 after 5 PM.