[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Author Index][Thread Index]
Re: [APML] California Desert Night Sky
Hi Chris,
Nice to hear you were back ...*home*... out in the much Fabled, Legendary,
and Great Eternal MOFN! I see there's those pesky and very distant light
domes in pretty much every direction though, but a very nice all-sky Chris.
I made several trips out to (and northward a good 20 miles also) that
general area back when comet IZ was around, got a shot of it passing M31 out
there as both set in the low west at dusk. Not very good though, shooting
out over Indio and Palm Springs on that trip. And I couldn't believe it,
but a very visable hazy smog layer (or maybe particulate dust) did not
improve my effort.
Man, I was out there in an absolutely raging wind-borne sand storm too
once, really unbelievable. I finally headed back, exiting I-10 at the
Joshua Tree National Monument exit and headed exact due south, out the dirt
road and scrambled up the mountains in the rough and wild off-roading
Accord.
I got up high enough to watch a blindingly violent thick black/brown sand
storm blow past (and over me) in waves right up the I-10 corridor heading
eastward further into the MOFN. Managed a few fixed tripod shots as the sun
set, but nothing really worthy of hunting down for a web posting. Kind of a
fun adventure though!
Last time I was out toward the MOFN parts, I continued east "looked around
Blythe" then headed back and pulled right off at Corn Woman Springs Road and
just headed out into the sandy road north of the exit within easy sight of
the I-10 highway and did some shooting before being clouded out at around 1
a.m.
On the way back home west through the nothingness of bleak dark desert, I
managed to reel in a center divider parked CHP radar for a citation of 91mph
in a 70. Though enjoining a cluster of vehicles ahead netted me a "Thank
You Judge" and a scott-free walk from the courtroom on the latter trip out
to Indio.
Nice courthouse they have out there too. I've often thought I might have
enjoyed law school. A now waning conceptual knowledge of electromagnetism
can pay off, I've never encountered a truly perfect radar environment yet.
I've found good old photos to be invaluable in such circumstance.
And quoting Jerry's "The Laws of Physics do not apply to me", warping of
space-time can be totally relative to any perceived inertial frame, and
somewhat easy to ply away from their favor in a contest. I've now seen many
an Officer attempt it, under oath, and fail. I've also seen them out-right
lie. I've even found them in mass numbers, conducting arrests, all the time
in total violation of expressed Federal and State Law.
I still retain my "good driver" discount on auto insurance. <g> Well, so
much for late night star parties in the desert.
Of importance though, have you or ANYONE had a chance to shoot or observe
south of Wilcox, AZ. in Cochise County but still north of the Chirichua
(likely spelled wrong) Mountains? It's a small world sometimes. I have a
chance to purchase a relatively decent 20 acre retirement property out there
in the desert 30 miles slightly southwest of Wilcox, AZ. (specifically about
10 miles due east, as far as I can tell, from "Kansas Settlement".) It's a
1000 mile round trip out to view it. Anyone know if it is a good dark sky
area?
Take care out there with the rattlers and them-there glow'in scorpions, and
Thanx for any info anyone,
Jim Vineyard
www.deepskyphotos.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Cook" <ccook@cape.com>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 10:00 PM
Subject: [APML] California Desert Night Sky
> Hi all -
>
> Here's a shot I did last Friday when I was out in Southern California. I
> had wanted to do this shot when I lived out there but never got around to
> it.
>
> Its an all sky image taken from one of the darkest locations in SoCal,
> between Joshua Tree NP and Blythe in the low Colorado Desert.
> The night this was taken would rate around a Bortle 1 to 2. The LVM is
> easily 7.0 to my eyes and probably 7.5 to those with really good eyes.
> The
> Zodiacal Light was bright and the Zodiacal Band was visible going through
> the ecliptic... both of these were recorded in this image.
>
> Here's the result........ Place your mouse over the image to see it with
> labels.
>
> http://www.abmedia.com/astro/current/dc-fisheye.html
>
> It doesn't get any wider than this! ....well ok, that's not entirely
> correct... you could shoot with the Nikkor 6mm fisheye.... <VBG>
>
> Film can still kick ass. :-)
>
> Hope you enjoy the view!
>
> Chris
>
> -----------------------------
> Chris Cook Photography
> www.cookphoto.com
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Astro-Photo mailing list
> Astro-Photo@seds.org
> http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/astro-photo
>
_______________________________________________
Astro-Photo mailing list
Astro-Photo@seds.org
http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/astro-photo