Checking In

[Sam Knox]

Hello everybody, it’s been a while. Just wanted to let you know that we’re still here. 

Life got busy for Zach and I so we haven’t been able to schedule any events for a while. That being said if any of you are interested in organizing an event, we can help support you. We can help promote with the newsletter. We can promote it here on this email thread and also help by showing up and bringing our equipment. So please stay in touch! 

In addition, let us know what you all have been up to and what things you might want to do this year as a group. Until then, here’s to clear skies. 

Take care, 

Sam. 

[Dawson]

I like that idea. Have to think about it. 

Dawson

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[sonya bueno]

Thanks for the update. 

Sent from Sonya 

On Mar 7, 2026, at 2:14 PM, Sam Knox <max...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello everybody, it’s been a while. Just wanted to let you know that we’re still here. 

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[Andrew Smigaj]

I would be willing to help or even co-organize an event with someone.  When it comes to organizing club events it's doing it alone and taking on the risk of it being a flop that is the scary part.  

The library event was great, and the ligo tour was awesome and worth the drive, those being the last couple I went to.  I want to take some more stabs at astrophotography in darker skies so want to attend more star parties though those are tough to plan.

Either way if someone does take a stab I will help with research and planning.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, sonya bueno <sj.bu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the update. 

Sent from Sonya 

On Mar 7, 2026, at 2:14 PM, Sam Knox <max...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello everybody, it’s been a while. Just wanted to let you know that we’re still here. 

Life got busy for Zach and I so we haven’t been able to schedule any events for a while. That being said if any of you are interested in organizing an event, we can help support you. We can help promote with the newsletter. We can promote it here on this email thread and also help by showing up and bringing our equipment. So please stay in touch! 

In addition, let us know what you all have been up to and what things you might want to do this year as a group. Until then, here’s to clear skies. 

Take care, 

Sam. 

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[Bob Yoesle]

Hello to everyone,

Patty and I bought a home, and moved to Arivaca Arizona (about an hour south of Tucson) in December and we're still settling in. We're planning on building a home observatory, and putting in a glamping tent for an Airbnb. In the meantime I'm doing some local astronomy outreach, and completing docent training at Kitt Peak National Observatory (about 30 miles NNW as the crow flies), which is just amazing for the amount of public astronomy outreach and education they provide.

Best wishes to all, and please come visit if you're ever down this way - the weather is great most of the time ;-) 

Bob & Patty

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[Ary Esparza]

Hi everyone,

I’m a program coordinator with the library and help plan the annual Astronomy Night events. I also have experience with conference planning including dealing with transportation and other logistics. 

I’m willing to help coordinate any events y’all want to see happen either in the community or visit out of town.

I’m still pretty new to astronomy and only have a small moon telescope, but would love to learn more by attending or hosting more community events. 

On Sun, Mar 8, 2026 at 12:04 AM Andrew Smigaj <smi...@gmail.com> wrote:

I would be willing to help or even co-organize an event with someone.  When it comes to organizing club events it's doing it alone and taking on the risk of it being a flop that is the scary part.  

The library event was great, and the ligo tour was awesome and worth the drive, those being the last couple I went to.  I want to take some more stabs at astrophotography in darker skies so want to attend more star parties though those are tough to plan.

Either way if someone does take a stab I will help with research and planning.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, sonya bueno <sj.bu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the update. 

Sent from Sonya 

On Mar 7, 2026, at 2:14 PM, Sam Knox <max...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello everybody, it’s been a while. Just wanted to let you know that we’re still here. 

Life got busy for Zach and I so we haven’t been able to schedule any events for a while. That being said if any of you are interested in organizing an event, we can help support you. We can help promote with the newsletter. We can promote it here on this email thread and also help by showing up and bringing our equipment. So please stay in touch! 

In addition, let us know what you all have been up to and what things you might want to do this year as a group. Until then, here’s to clear skies. 

Take care, 

Sam. 

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[Dawson]

I would like to suggest an idea. 

We are all bound by the sky conditions.  So anytime we plan something for a specific night we are more likely than not to have a cloud infected sky. 

So my idea is this:  what if we establish a location (and a networked communication) that would allow us to gather on any given night.  

If the skies are clear I attempt to be in my observatory with my permanent setup. But I have a more portable setup that I can take to any given site (within reason). So if we can agree on a location I'm all in.  It matters not to me if it has any amenities. The second part to this is that this could happen on a Tuesday or a Saturday or any day of the week. 

So, my set up is not the most portable.  I have established an observatory in my backyard, primarilyfor astrophotography.  It has an acceptable sky to the north (approx. 15°), NE & east (approx. 25°), south, SW (approx. 20°), west (bad, 75°). Trees are the greatest obstacles. So in the leafless seasons the options improve. I do not have good skies: most usually I'm at a Bortle 6 or sometimes even an 8 when the baseball season is in full swing. Visual viewing can be difficult from my location. 

Anybody else open to "anytime,  somewhere" getting together. Perhaps somebody has space,  openness to intruders 😉, and better skies. 

Dawson

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[Sam Knox]

I like the idea Dawson, and predicting the weather is part of why it’s hard to schedule ahead of time. 

As for locations, my place is only marginally better than in Yakima. I’d prefer to find a darker location. There are public lands just north of Selah on the LT Murray that might work. Also a few parking areas for jeep trails along Wenas road heading toward the lake. 

[Dawson]

Hmmmmm,  I'm not familiar with that area.  I'm going to check that out on Google earth. 

[Sam Knox]

Here's one possible location out of Sheep Company Road in the LT that could work:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oYzi8y4asYuodk5c7

And maybe this along North Wenas:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EfrpZD3qpMQE8vWM6

I haven't been down Hessler Flat road yet, but it looks promising from the map.

And of course there's Bear Canyon trailhead on highway 12. You have to carry your stuff a couple hundred feet from the parking area, but it's very open and very dark once you get on the flat.

[Elizabeth Lara]

I like Dawson's idea, since it's hard to plan ahead due to the weather. I normally check the clear sky chart on the Goldendale Observatory website and type in my zip code to check visibility conditions. https://www.goldendaleobservatory.com/weather-moon

I have been wanting to make a trip to the Goldendale Observatory as well. If anyone wants to go, we should coordinate! 

For a location, what about the parking lot of Snow Mountain Ranch? Located at 2648 Cowiche Mill Rd, Cowiche, WA 98923. There's not much light pollution.

Respectfully,

Elizabeth 

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[Dawson]

Sam, these look like good spots. They're both off the beaten trail,  so fewer vehicles to deal with. 

The nice thing about bear canyon is the barrier to highway 12 vehicle lights when they do appear. 

All three are about 30-40 minutes from my house,  very doable. 

Dawson

[Dawson]

Wow!,  Elizabeth.  That to is a great spot.  And still closer for me,  only 20-25 minutes.  

Week that is 4 very doable locations.  Any comments from others? 

BTW, last night was a great night for Bode's Galaxy (M81 and it's partner M82). I'll post it later today as well as pass it on to Sam for the club web site. 

I was able to get more than 3 hours of integration, flats and biases. I only used an IR/UV Cut filter. 

Yea!  It was clear last night! More clear skies to you all! 

Dawson

On Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 4:14 PM Elizabeth Lara <lara...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Suki Smaglik]

Oops. Looks like I only sent this to Sam. 

There’s also an easy to access spot just west the 12-410 Y. Right across from the Waterworks trail head.  It’s on state land and needs Discover Pass but I’ve only been checked once in many years  There are a few lights at a distance but I’ve been going out there fairly regularly. It’s dark enough to see the Milky Way with plain eyes on a clear night. Good open sky to the east. Obscured by mountains in other directions but no worse that Bear Canyon. 

Suki

sukis...@mac.com

Sent from my iPhone

sukis...@mac.com

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 22, 2026, at 8:22 AM, Dawson <dawson....@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Dawson]

Cool that makes 5!. We can alternate between sites, choose a couple to be the most frequented, perhaps by the month.  Rotate every month with couple months off when appropriate. 

Dawson

[Dawson]

Cool.  What are your horizons like? 

On Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 8:55 AM Steve Potter <steve....@sfg.ag> wrote:

I’ll also add my property to the mix since having power is a nice option for some set ups especially imaging. I’m about 3 miles west of Wiley city so its relatively decent Bortle skies. 2 acres for parking and setting up things.

 

Steve

 

 

 

From: yakima-valley-...@googlegroups.com <yakima-valley-...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Dawson
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2026 10:00 AM
To: Suki Smaglik <sukis...@mac.com>
Cc: Elizabeth Lara <lara...@gmail.com>; Sam Knox <max...@gmail.com>; Ary Esparza <esparz...@gmail.com>; Andrew Smigaj <smi...@gmail.com>; sonya bueno <sj.bu...@gmail.com>; Yakima Valley Astronomy Club <yakima-valley-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [YVAC] Checking In

 

[External Sender]

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[Steve Potter]

Semi unrelated but not, t-3:50 minutes left till Artemis launch view it here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf_UjBMIzNo 

Bonus points for the first of us to be able to capture the transit across the moon on camera! :)

Steve

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[Sam Knox]

Yes, that was an amazing launch!

[Dawson]

🥰😊😉👍

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