[CMAS] Baxter Park and Stars Over Katahdin

[Colin Caissie]

confirmed. Print the reservation attached and it will be your pass. i'll be
getting another confirmation later and I'll fwd anything necessary.  Last
minute detail we can yack about.

bueno
C

On Fri, Aug 23, 2019 at 10:17 AM Colin Caissie <cscmachinedesign at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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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