[CMAS] Baxter Park and Stars Over Katahdin

[Colin Caissie]

Excellent ideas.  I will get the bunks. It's going to be easy.  It's not
too far from Millinocket, so a beer run, hardware or other errand is
simple.  I will email you your copy of the reservation so you can drive in
anytime on the 19th (before 8:30 p.m.mandatory).  It's on the WEST side of
the park up past Abol...not the east side as I said.

A 12 volt battery will be great, one from my truck can be switched in and
out and recharged.  Setting up out of the way for imaging will work, some
risk of headlamp intrusion, but probably not as bad as at a star party.

I will be checking the Park rules, but will be hauling the 16" dob to SOK
and will have it with me at Nesowadnehunk field.  One out of 3 nights will
be clear I expect. The dark sky should be WOW and I expect to dazzle the
other campers.  No bugs, no lights, open sky....YES!

Your imaging work is really coming along and the hours are paying off.

On Fri, Aug 23, 2019 at 10:04 AM Jeffrey Messikian <c172jeff at comcast.net>
wrote:

> Colin,
>
> No prob. I’ll leave the drone at home.  I’ll bring some books and stick to
> photography.
>
> I’m primarily interested in the prospect of dark skies and camping.  Well,
> that with a C9.25 setup for imaging, capturing data.
>
> I’d also like to learn a bit about this event and the park itself/just
> relax.
>
>
>
> About 3 weeks ago, I went to Jackman, ME and camped at a campground/site.
> I thought it was pretty dark.  Being only 600 feet from the town, it
> probably is nowhere near as dark as Baxter.
>
>
>
> I camped 4 for nights and managed to take the attached picture on the last
> night (my first stacked pic of 17 3 min exposures).  The other three nights
> were spent polar aligning and testing different things like dew heater,
> guiding, balance, plate solving, computer.  Since then, I have been *super
> anxious* to redo this process and start capturing image data much
> sooner.  I think this time it would only take 1.5 hours to get to the start
> of picture taking where I can let the camera run for hours.
>
>
>
> I am right now wiring up a 12 volt battery/inverter to test/power the
> scope to do this at a campsite.
>
>
>
> If you reserve those 2 nights for $24, I can commit to that.  I will pay
> $24 regardless.  If it is expected to rain or be very cloudy, I likely will
> not go and someone else can take the spots if they want for free.
>
>
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
> *From:* Colin Caissie [mailto:cscmachinedesign at gmail.com]
> *Sent:* Friday, August 23, 2019 5:29 AM
> *To:* Jeffrey Messikian; CMAS Listserv
> *Subject:* Re: [CMAS] Baxter Park and Stars Over Katahdin
>
>
>
>
> Jeff:
>
> You should first check out to see if drone flying in the park is allowed.
> I'm fussy and averse to the idea of any kind of unnatural noises or lights
> myself, being a Mr. Natural, but there must be plenty of locations up there
> outside the Park.  The park has many restrictions, being devoted to a pure
> natural environment.  I don't have much exposure to drones, other than
> having one buzz me while ice climbing.  I wasn't able to find anything to
> throw at it.
>
>
>
> Drone flying could be a show-stopper, so check it out. Photography and
> swimming (will be brisk September in the nearby streams, other ponds maybe
> ok) is a definite GO.
>
>
>
> C
>
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 22, 2019 at 3:18 PM Jeffrey Messikian <c172jeff at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> Ok, Colin, I am in for that.  Put me down for the two nights $24 in the
> bunkhouse and I’ll be there for that and the Camping at SOK.
>
>
>
> I’ll look at logistics in getting there and maybe stay over, Thanks.
>
>
>
> I won’t be hiking.  I plan to take my rc drones/plane and fly that if
> there is a big enough field nearby.  I have to see how else I can occupy my
> time.  Maybe take pictures or go swimming.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Colin Caissie [mailto:cscmachinedesign at gmail.com]
> *Sent:* Thursday, August 22, 2019 1:49 PM
> *To:* Jeffrey Messikian; CMAS Listserv
> *Subject:* Re: [CMAS] Baxter Park and Stars Over Katahdin
>
>
>
>
>
> No Jeff, you can't just drop a tent.  I haven't made reservations.  What
> would work easily is renting bunk space at a bunkhouse for $12 a night.
> There are open bunks still available.  I'm not too sure that there's open
> sky access at South branch Pond, but I do know that there is a great field
> for setup within the campground at Nesowadnehunk, and it's close enough to
> the bunkhouse, car parking and toilets, etc.
>
>
>
> I attach a map of the Neso. campground.  It's in Baxter park, and can be
> reached by car on the East side of the park.  I'll wait to hear back from
> you, but i do plan to rent bunk space at that bunkhouse for the nights of
> thursday Sept 19, and Friday the 20th.  then drive the hour to Stars over
> Katahdin.  I plan to camp in a space same as last year...not too far from
> the SOK event, free camping, but pretty rustic.  There you'll be able to
> park your car, roll out your scope and set a tent right there.  I can help
> you out with all that.
>
>
>
> Let me know what you want to do, ASAP so I can nail the required bunk
> spaces.
>
>
>
> I can put you up at my house if you think the trip from CT to northern
> Maine is a bit much.
>
>
>
> So, nobody other than you and I have looked into this.  My intention is to
> maximize hiking time in the park, and get one or two evenings of observing
> in before the observing event over in the Woods and Waters Monument...Stars
> over Katahdin.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 21, 2019 at 10:22 AM Jeffrey Messikian <c172jeff at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> Hi Colin,
>
>   I was wondering if you got this reservation?  If so, what is the site
> #.  I was interested in looking at an aerial map and seeing how far things
> might be from my parked car and Hartford, CT.  Is there a risk of anything
> filling up?
>
>
>
>    Worst case, couldn’t I just bring my tent and camp next to my telescope?
>
>
>
>    I am under the impression it is a 1.5 hour drive to get to this area on
> un paved roads at slow speed?
>
>
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
> *From:* CMAS [mailto:cmas-bounces at maineastro.com] *On Behalf Of *Colin
> Caissie
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 13, 2019 8:32 AM
> *To:* CMAS Listserv
> *Subject:* Re: [CMAS] Baxter Park and Stars Over Katahdin
>
>
>
> Jeff from Hartford, CT has expressed interest in the Baxter/SOK plans, so
> I will start reservations at Nesowadnehunk Field Bunkhouse.  There will be
> access parking nearby, and an open area for scope setup.  I plan to have
> the 16" dob with me, and will plan to hike in the area...several peaks that
> I haven't visited in Summer, good swimming in the river, etc. This will be
> Thursday and Friday nights, September 19,20.  A one hour drive from there
> gets to The KWWM monument and Stars over Katahdin for Saturday the 21st.
>
>
>
> Bunks are $12 per night.  I believe they are all open at this time.
>
> Email me ASAP for final confirmation and I'll make some final actions.
>
>
>
> Colin
>
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 10, 2019 at 6:33 AM Colin Caissie <cscmachinedesign at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Right.  So planning a camping thing in Baxter would be too much?   I get
> it.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 9, 2019 at 3:35 PM satillite1965 <satillite1965 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Looks like ill be lucky to make it to the maine state star party and
> arcadia.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Smartphone
>
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
>
> From: Colin Caissie <cscmachinedesign at gmail.com>
>
> Date: 8/8/19 1:44 PM (GMT-05:00)
>
> To: CMAS Listserv <cmas at maineastro.com>
>
> Subject: [CMAS] Baxter Park and Stars Over Katahdin
>
>
>
> Time to secure a bunkhouse or leanto in Baxter Park.
>
>
>
> Stars over Katahdin is Saturday night, September 21, and I plan to be in
> Baxter Park for a couple days before that.
>
>
>
> If there are some members who'd like to camp and do some dark sky viewing
> in Baxter park, then I can rent a leanto at South Branch Pond where there
> is likely open sky for viewing or Nesowadnehunk Field where there are open
> areas. I plan to have the 16" dob for this and the S.O.K.
>
>
>
> Otherwise, I will book a leanto at Chimney Pond, as I have plans for some
> climbing. There will be no chance of lugging a scope up to Chimney Pond.
>
>
>
> How about anyone wanting to do camping/viewing in the lowlands, let me
> know by this weekend?
>
>
>
> C
>
>
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