ArtCentrics

Information and listed events associated with the East Valley Astronomy Club

---

Picketpost Trailhead

If you would like to receive notice on this and other star parties, please feel free to email me and asked to be added to my distribution list.  -James Yoder
Current Status/Plans 
The Next few weeks I will be out of town, so I currently have no plans at the time.  You can always check/register with the AZ-Observing group in Groups.io here, this is where many folks post when they are going to PicketPost.

Observation Resources
Below are a few resources and recommendations
• Download the This months Evening Sky Map (PDF) from skymaps.com here. (Note the back has some good targets for the month)
• Binoculars: A New Catalog of Stellar Richfields for Binoculars by Bill Dellinges
• General Targets: Star Hoppers Guide to the Universe by Jim Mazur – Identifies some of the best targets in each constellation
• Deep Dive: Yoder’s Constellation Guides by James Yoder – A deep dive into each constellation (48 of 88 completed)

Some Constellations and targets you may want to check out:
• The Planets: Venus and Jupiter
• M-81 & M-82 in Ursa Major – Two fairly bright galaxies visible in low power.
• Boötes
   o Alkalurops – Triple Star System
   o Xi Boötes – Colorful double star system
   o Izar – Double star with orange and sea-green pair
• STAR 20 in Corvus – “The Stargate” an interesting asterism in the shape of a triangle inside a triangle (6 stars)
• Ghost of Jupiter in Hydra – (Caldwell 59) Planetary Nebula with shape of Jupiter
• Messier 48 in Hydra – A nice Open Cluster
• Messier 13 in Hercules – Best globular cluster in the northern hemisphere.
• 56 Her in Hercules – Nice double star system with orange and greenish pair.
• Omega Centari in Centaurus – The biggest globular cluster in the sky.  VERY low, transits at 10:43pm (Best time to view).  Usually only well positioned a couple of weeks out of the year.  Contains over 10 million stars!
• Albireo in Cygnus – One of the most beautiful double stars with contrasting yellow and blue stars



    

Picketpost Trailhead is just outside of Superior (the turn before the Boyce Thompson Arboretum) on US 60.  Just past mile marker 221 There is a sign indicating the picketpost trailhead where you turn off onto a dirt road heading south (Uno Trail).  After about a mile the road comes to a "T" where it intercepts E. Saddleridge Trail road.  Turn East (Left) onto Saddleridge road and follow this road to the Trailhead parking lot.  Generally, the Observers will park in the West side of the parking lot while the images will park in the North side of the parking lot;  This is so the observers don't upset the imagers with their lasers, or when they leave the parking lot.  There are bathrooms there, but no running water.

Sky Conditions: SQM = 21.58 | Bortle = Class 4

Make sure to check road conditions/closures before you leave HERE. your destination should be “Picketpost Trailhead, Superior, AZ, USA”.

Anyone worried about finding Picketpost trailhead are welcome to meet at Lowes in Mesa where we will depart promptly at 6:00 pm as a caravan. We will gather in the southern area of the parking lot. Please make sure you arrive in time!

Observing Etiquette

• No White light – Make sure you have a red-beam flashlight. This will preserve you night vision.
• Back-up Your Vehicle – Park your vehicle so you don’t have to backup when leaving, this will help cut down on the time it takes to leave and minimize lights from your vehicle.
• Minimize Laser use – It’s okay to use lasers, but use them only briefly, remember there are imagers close by and we don’t want to ruin their exposures.
• Observers, park in the West section of the parking lot so we don’t disturb imagers who congregate in the North section of the parking lot.
• Music/Alcohol – Alcohol is not allowed on the premises; Music is generally frowned upon.
• Be Kind – This is a great time to meet others; Introduce yourself to your neighbors, but please keep conversations away from politics, religion or other controversial topics.

Weather forecast for Picket Post Trailhead (Astrospheric)