OR: Bald Mountain evaluation run

[Lumpy D.]

Three of us tried out Bald Mountain tonight, thanks to Kurt Kuhlman's work obtaining a permit.  It is a nice location for those on this mailing list who live south of Montebello, and might find this closer and easier to get to.  It is unquestionably an easier drive.  It is also a paved lot large enough for perhaps a dozen vehicles, and has two good bathrooms.  Additionally, it is behind two locked gates, one down the mountain and another at the parking lot.  A third locking gate is on the road immediately after the parking lot.  All three locking gates allow exit after hours, so this appears to be a very secure area.

The drive took 23 minutes from my home in Los Gatos.  It is pure enjoyment on Hicks Road riding its curves twisting creek side through the oaks, climbing above Guadalupe Reservoir until Mt. Umunhum's famous Cube appears.  Soon, around a turn, the parking lot appears on the left.  Today, a weekend day, there were lots of hiker's cars in the lot when I arrived, its a popular 7 mile round trip hike to the Cube up top with a tremendous bay-area wide view.  Hikers are supposed to be out of the parking lot half an hour after sunset (4:50 PM today), but the last hiker left near 6.  I'm sure, as I've been there, it is nearly empty weekdays.

View East toward Morgan Hill and San Martin before sunset.

What I immediately noted while setting up my 10" Dob, aside from the cruddy skies, was that San Jose was barely visible to the north behind me. There is a very good south, east and west.  East features a gap between the mountains, out to the Coyote Valley and Diablo Range beyond.  It turned out Gilroy must be hidden behind mountains, with dimmer parts of Morgan Hill and San Martin visible - at least tonight - very unobtrusive in terms of direct lights.  There was a low have over that area, which may have muted it a bit.

In the dimming twilight, there was a very pretty lineup of a young setting crescent moon, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter spaced nearly equidistant. In my 10" a  shadow transit underway on Jupiter and Venus was showing a large crescent phase.  Wonderful start.

However, the seeing tonight was soft.  The Double Double was scintillating, and features on Jupiter varied between trash can pizza and brief moments of perfection.

Kurt had a C14 out.  We were enjoying, even in poorer conditions, views of The Crab Nebula, NGC 7331 and M15.  I know he was on M31 as well.  I was visiting the Double Cluster (its easy to forget the beauty of this pair and the stunningly red star between them), Albireo and The Blinking Planetary.  It wasn't enough of a night to pursue an observing program, but it was perfect for a short first impression visit.  I'll bring my 18 next time - the views in Kurt's 14 were quite good, and on a not so good night.

I hope Kurt remains TAC's sole contact with MPROSD, both as he is successful with them - no easy task when it comes to this site - and so MPROSD is not overwhelmed with requests.  Slow, thoughtful moves will result in, hopefully, a Montebello style arrangement for TAC ultimately.  Thank you Kurt, the effort is truly appreciated. I would use this new site regularly.

Mark

[John Pierce]

On Sun, Dec 5, 2021 at 8:54 PM Lumpy D. <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

I hope Kurt remains TAC's sole contact with MPROSD, both as he is successful with them - no easy task when it comes to this site - and so MPROSD is not overwhelmed with requests.  Slow, thoughtful moves will result in, hopefully, a Montebello style arrangement for TAC ultimately.  Thank you Kurt, the effort is truly appreciated. I would use this new site regularly.

indeed, +1, at least until the MPROSD is more comfortable with 'us astronomers'...   sounds like an awesome night even with soft seeing.   I don't doubt under the right atmospheric condtions the location is capable of better. 

The Santa Cruz club (disclosure, I'm the VP), has from time to time used a private site that is a hobby winery run by the wife of an ex-coworker who's amenable to use occasionally using the site, this is up on Summit/Skyline not far from where Upper Zayante Rd connects.   it has great south and west horizons, and good shielding from the massive light domes of Silicon Valley, but its been rare at that site that the seeing is better than 'Meh', so I've not made much of a point of advertising any star parties there to the greater SF Bay Area TAC group as there is rather limited parking.

[Kurt Kuhlmann]

I’m happy to keep setting these up at Bald Mountain Parking.  Mark’s review was pretty thorough.  I would add that there was virtually no wind and the site seems well placed in that regard.  I would call it a tie for Montebello with best viewing to the south and west, but not bad to the east as the modest light dome from Morgan Hill is shadowed by some low hills and Gilroy, more SE  is shadowed by some big ones. 

 

Cheers all,

 

Kurt

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[John Pierce]

the winds here have been really calm the last bunch of days.

[Ted Hauter]

+1 on the no wind. Very mild CA going on for weeks. Rain possible Thursday might change things. 

I've been on the fence about planetary observing.  I know the standard is lower power and find the same details but back when Jupiter was best I sat around waiting at high power and got great glimpses.  I stared at mush for an hour though. Thinking and wandering helps.

The thing about points of light is that everyone needs to add an hour or two + to the normal acclimatization times to get things to perfect.

 

On Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 11:36 PM John Pierce <jhn.p...@gmail.com> wrote:

the winds here have been really calm the last bunch of days.

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[MarkW]

At my arrival yesterday at 4 o'clock, there was a pretty good chilly wind from (I think) the northwest.  It died out an hour after sunset.

The sky was quite hazy last night.  I was also surprised early on to see long contrails forming behind jets overhead, which persisted throughout the two hours I stayed - just before I departed one jet left a very long ghostly trail through zenith,  just a thin line that crossed over half the sky.  So, conditions were sub-optimal.  I was impressed at the view of M1 and NGC 7331 given the soft seeing and haze of varying thicknesses across the entire sky.  This, BTW, was an example of the weather model not matching conditions - forecast was for 0% cloudiness, excellent transparency and average seeing.  Those dice do roll.

I'll also mention how very nice it was having only one vehicle drive up the road after dark, obviously someone with regular access, who was able to open the electronic gate just past the parking lot.  Headlights up there are a non-issue.  Impressed.

[Kurt Kuhlmann]

 

I plan on doing another observing run at the Bald Mountain parking lot the

day after Xmas.  It seems weather and moon preclude an earlier session.

Plus this way y'all can try out your new planewave RC scopes you just got as

presents.   Show up by 4:30 and I need car license plate and make if you

plan on coming

 

 

Kurt

 

From: Kurt Kuhlmann [mailto:ku...@ampedinnovation.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2021 10:59 PM
To: 'sf-ba...@googlegroups.com'
Subject: RE: [TAC] OR: Bald Mountain evaluation run

 

I’m happy to keep setting these up at Bald Mountain Parking.  Mark’s review was pretty thorough.  I would add that there was virtually no wind and the site seems well placed in that regard.  I would call it a tie for Montebello with best viewing to the south and west, but not bad to the east as the modest light dome from Morgan Hill is shadowed by some low hills and Gilroy, more SE  is shadowed by some big ones. 

 

Cheers all,

 

Kurt

 

From: sf-ba...@googlegroups.com [mailto:sf-ba...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of John Pierce
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2021 10:03 PM
To: sf-bay-tac
Subject: Re: [TAC] OR: Bald Mountain evaluation run

 

 

 

On Sun, Dec 5, 2021 at 8:54 PM Lumpy D. <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Lumpy Darkness]

Im in.  Sending info privately.

Thanks 

Mark

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From: sf-ba...@googlegroups.com <sf-ba...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Kurt Kuhlmann <ku...@ampedinnovation.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 8, 2021 6:32:36 PM
To: sf-ba...@googlegroups.com <sf-ba...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [TAC] OI Bald Mountain Dec 26 Mt. Umuhnum

 

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[Christopher Kelly]

Glad to see this prime local viewing spot in use, finally legally!

Clears

Chris

[Kurt Kuhlmann]

 

 

FYI,  I cancelled this one since it will be at least cloudy and likely raining

 

From: Kurt Kuhlmann [mailto:ku...@ampedinnovation.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2021 6:33 PM
To: 'sf-ba...@googlegroups.com'
Subject: OI Bald Mountain Dec 26 Mt. Umuhnum

 

 

I plan on doing another observing run at the Bald Mountain parking lot the

day after Xmas.  It seems weather and moon preclude an earlier session.

Plus this way y'all can try out your new planewave RC scopes you just got as

presents.   Show up by 4:30 and I need car license plate and make if you

plan on coming

 

 

 

Kurt

 

From: Kurt Kuhlmann [mailto:ku...@ampedinnovation.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2021 10:59 PM
To: 'sf-ba...@googlegroups.com'
Subject: RE: [TAC] OR: Bald Mountain evaluation run

 

I’m happy to keep setting these up at Bald Mountain Parking.  Mark’s review was pretty thorough.  I would add that there was virtually no wind and the site seems well placed in that regard.  I would call it a tie for Montebello with best viewing to the south and west, but not bad to the east as the modest light dome from Morgan Hill is shadowed by some low hills and Gilroy, more SE  is shadowed by some big ones. 

 

Cheers all,

 

Kurt

 

From: sf-ba...@googlegroups.com [mailto:sf-ba...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of John Pierce
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2021 10:03 PM
To: sf-bay-tac
Subject: Re: [TAC] OR: Bald Mountain evaluation run

 

 

 

On Sun, Dec 5, 2021 at 8:54 PM Lumpy D. <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

--