Tentative OI: Friday July 17 Guacamole Ridge

[Christopher Kelly]

Well this time I have a greater chance of getting out since SCAC has no events.   Arrive by sunset.

Sunset 20:20

Full Dark: 22:07

Moonset: 22:39

Thin crescent moon should be pretty, and not interfere with visual on brighter Messiers, plus some really south globs.

Peak of summer!

Clears

Chris

[Ziad Khouri]

Might be able to join.

Best,

Ziad

[Christopher Kelly]

I’m still planning to make it.   Seeing will be soft but otherwise clear and transparent according to clear sky clock.

Bringing NP101 after some needed refurb.

Hope to see you in the dark!

Clears

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[Ziad Khouri]

Thank you for the update! I should be able to make it. Will likely bring an M715 (Mak).

Ziad

[Daniel Vancura]

Gonna pack and head out after work as well to join ya!

Daniel

On Jul 17, 2026, at 1:12 PM, Ziad Khouri <zikhou...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Chris In Felton]

Just to round out a meh set of observing nights this run, I arrived about 2 min past sunset; Daniel was there but not for long.   Ziad pulled up 5 minutes later.  Daniel I remembered from the March MM earlier this season.

I took a pano to show the odd skies we were getting in too.  At least it was pretty.

Two minutes later a woman pulls up and pleads that we just have to move so she could observe the endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox; GR is apparently a hot spot due to their scat.   After about 5 min discussion the three of us pulled up stakes to a dirt road location in the middle of the valley. 

Winds were none at GR, but in the middle of the valley were pretty fierce although at 78F.  We had a steady hum from overhead power lines in the wind, but were otherwise not bothered by a single car all night.

Daniel set up his 8”sct for imaging.   I used my Np101 w binoviewer and Ziad brought his Intes 7”Mak to bear (great image scale.)  I grabbed some eye candy as the moon set but the wind made it difficult.   All of us were set up in the lee of our cars as protection from the wind.

Re-offed my list were faves such as M27, M57, M11, M5, M9, M107, M30 and the Saturn Neb.  Daniel being an imager put his rig on auto and rolled into his Rivian for a good night sleep.

By midnight it was clear that the clouds were going to get the better of us and I was logging that the seeing was getting soft ahead of the cloud front.  We traded objects between the 7” and 4”.   The view of M15 through the 7” Mak was outstanding, as was a comparison of M11.

At 2am the clouds covered the sky and decided to shut it down.

Glad to meet new Astro friends! 

An OK but weird nite - should have known since it was first light after refurbing my NP101.  

https://groups.google.com/g/sf-bay-tac/c/PhTvJt1I6IE

Clears

Chris in Felton

[Brad Templeton]

She was going to observe this kit fox at night?    You said you had arrived after sunset.    I presume you had not set up much or polar aligned etc. if she was able to talk you into moving.

[Chris In Felton]

Hi Brad. Yeah all three of us had just arrived within a few minutes of sunset, and just took our tripods out of our cars. She was going to be using red light, and potentially some white lites if the critters showed up. I hope she was successful; FWIW usually there are 2-3 cars with brights on for the whole night.

So we let her have the site since she could tell us about fox poop.

Chris



https://groups.google.com/g/sf-bay-tac/c/PhTvJt1I6IE

Chris in Felton

[Brad Templeton]

If there are usually cars there with bright lights, what makes it worth the 2.5 hour drive each way?  I haven't been out there myself as yet.   I mean that valley is a close place with dark skies, to be sure.

[Chris In Felton]

Hi Brad. Well, it all depends upon where you are coming from I suppose. It’s 2 hours for me to a pristine dark sky. I can trade that for 2 sets of headlights on the county road. Yes no The best scenario would be absolutely no car headlights all night. In today’s world that’s hard to achieve for any public place that can be used after hours, and a Pristine dark sky behind a locked gate would be the holy grail. Pinnacles West is closer, has a locked gate, but poorer horizons and more LP and cost $20 unless you have a Golden Eagle pass (0$ for seniors or veterans).

GR is free with easy access.

As for the lights, you can see them coming for miles and be prepared. Next time we could go on one of the dirt roads and have zero headlight :-) .

I guess your mileage just has to vary.

Clears