Out with all the lights

[user 30781]

I've gone out to see starlink so many times I've lost count. I saw exactly two satellites out of what was supposed to be 12 or so once.

 

[wayne49]

"Were you able to see much of the Perseids in August? "

I caught them. I was above Austin, NV and just happened to step outside to reset an outside thermometer's high/low for the next day. Looked up and saw the streaks across the sky. Great viewing angle, as the shower was visible low in the western sky. Back in 2002 or so, I had to lay on my back to watch the shower overhead in northern Kentucky.

 

[user 423]

slow2day: Around mid 70s so ten years earlier.

Oh geez. Since you were in FL, I thought you meant one of the failed NASA launches.

That sure wasn't a magical experience.

 

[wayne49]

Somewhat related to the thread's title.

It seems there has been some proliferation of fairy lights at the RV park while I was away dispersed.

Protection from dark spirits? Do the lights keep feral cats from hanging out? If the latter is true, I would be interested.

One Class A has set out a rectangle of led strings on the ground surrounding their rig, that vary in color and vary between flashing and being solid on.

 

[user 423]

Still hope to drag my sorry ass out of bed to see the Starlink trains go by.

I haven't paid much attention to that project but I now have the tracker site bookmarked.

For my location it's supposed to be another 5 days or so to maybe get a look.

 

[user 423]

It seems there has been some proliferation of fairy lights at the RV park while I was away dispersed.

Protection from dark spirits? Do the lights keep feral cats from hanging out? If the latter is true, I would be interested.

Many feel the lights keep mice away. I have a small strobe light that I use just in the engine bay for that purpose. The flashes are dimly visible on the ground but I don't think they'd bother anyone.

 

[txmnjim]

thank goodness there are still dark places to see the heavens, and an upcoming star party in Oklahoma is one of the darkest areas i've ever been. http://www.okie-tex.com/

 

[NctryBen]

I live in northern Minnesota near the Boundary Waters Canoe area. I’ve spent as many as 40 days up there and enjoyed many star lit nights. At home I’ll take my canoe out on our little lake and kick back and watch. Not sure if we’re “darkest” but it’s pretty magnificent. Full moons are pretty neat too, but the stars are harder to see. Especially in January with several feet of snow on the ground. Great time to strap on the snowshoes and see how alive the woods are when we’re sleeping. No more of that... I’ll shift those efforts to desert life. Haha.

 

[user 423]

thank goodness there are still dark places to see the heavens, and an upcoming star party in Oklahoma is one of the darkest areas i've ever been. http://www.okie-tex.com/

Dang, I was in Taos not long ago and if I'd known about this I might have changed my route so I could check it out.  I've stayed a couple of times at the nearby Black Mesa State Park in OK.

 

[user 423]

I live in northern Minnesota near the Boundary Waters Canoe area. I’ve spent as many as 40 days up there and enjoyed many star lit nights. At home I’ll take my canoe out on our little lake and kick back and watch. Not sure if we’re “darkest” but it’s pretty magnificent.

Yeah, I'd think that the BWCA would be great for stargazing. In years past I've camped on Lake Winnibigoshish and although I mainly was there to enjoy the water, the stars were nice,too.

 

[Scorpion Regent]

Thanks to slow2day's post title, I have had Pat Traver's 'Boom Boom Out Go The Lights' stuck in my head since yesterday.

 UFO's 'Lights Out' is always on high rotation on my Brain Boom Box.

 

[gsfish]

My dad took me outside to see ECHO when I was in the second grade. Passive communication satellite.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Echo

Guy

 

[jacqueg]

My dad took me outside to see the first Sputnik. 

Yeah, I'm old. Still like skywatching.

 

[txmnjim]

Dang, I was in Taos not long ago and if I'd known about this I might have changed my route so I could check it out.  I've stayed a couple of times at the nearby Black Mesa State Park in OK.

yes, made it a couple of times and i really love that area (no money for it this year plus my dog has been sick). they got some pretty cool dino tracks somewhere around there...

 

[txmnjim]

Yeah, I'd think that the BWCA would be great for stargazing. In years past I've camped on Lake Winnibigoshish and although I mainly was there to enjoy the water, the stars were nice,too.

it gets really dark but the humidity is what spoils it for me and want to get down to Okie-tex

 

[txmnjim]

I live in northern Minnesota near the Boundary Waters Canoe area. I’ve spent as many as 40 days up there and enjoyed many star lit nights. At home I’ll take my canoe out on our little lake and kick back and watch. Not sure if we’re “darkest” but it’s pretty magnificent. Full moons are pretty neat too, but the stars are harder to see. Especially in January with several feet of snow on the ground. Great time to strap on the snowshoes and see how alive the woods are when we’re sleeping. No more of that... I’ll shift those efforts to desert life. Haha.

are you starting that this year? i want to know just how resentful i need to be when i'm shoveling this season

 

[Calaverasgrande]

Lived in NYC for 6 years and was in Oakland Ca for 15 before that.
Both places have terrible light pollution. New York is awful, you cannot see any stars at all sometimes.
On a good day, maybe a dozen.
When I got back in to camping in my late 20's that was one of the things that made a huge impression on me.
Getting outside of the umbrella of HPS streetlights. Being able to see the visible universe which surrounds us.
Its truly breathtaking.
And did you know we are in the middle of a low density bubble in the universe?
Most of the rest of what we can see is more densely packed than our sparse local group.