ArtCentrics

Information and listed events associated with the East Valley Astronomy Club

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Picketpost Trailhead

Current Status/Plans 
02/22 11:00 am - Weather looking good for this evening. 

Please NOTE: If you are planning on meeting at Lowes the departure time has been updated to 5:30pm since sunset is about 6:18pm.  

Make sure to check out the observation list at the bottom of this page for a list of potential targets for the evening.

Download the February Evening Sky Map (PDF) from skymaps.com here.

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.

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 5:30pm 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.
• 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.

Highlights of the evening: Listed below are some objects currently visible in the evening sky that you may want to check out. Difficulty rating is based on a person with very limited experience.

Additionally, you can download a sky chart (PDF) for the month on the skymaps.com website downloads page.

Object	Difficulty	Constellation	Best Time	Type	Other Identifier	Notes
Almach	Easy	Andromeda	19:45	Double Star	SAO-037734	Gold/Blue Pair
WZ Cas	Difficult	Cassiopeia	19:45	Optical Double	SAO-021002	Red/Blue Pair
Owl Cluster	Medium	Cassiopeia	19:45	Open Cluster	NGC-457	Looks like an owl
Venus	Easy	Pisces	19:45	Planet	N/A	Observe Phase
Pleiades	Easy	Taurus	19:45	Open Cluster	M-45	Large well known cluster
Jupiter	Easy	Taurus	19:45	Planet	N/A	Observe bands and moons
M-79	Difficult	Lepus	20:00	Globular Cluster	NGC-1904	Small Globular low on horizon
Orion Nebula	Easy	Orion	20:00	Nebula	M-42	Best nebula in Northern Sky
48 Ori	Medium	Orion	20:00	Multiple System	SAO-132406	Fantastic 5 (4 visible) star system
Crab Nebula	Hard	Taurus	20:00	Super Nova Reminate	M-1	Dim object, difficult to locate
Polaris	Easy	Ursa Minor	20:15	Double Star	SAO-000308	Nice double very easy to locate
Wasat	Medium	Gemini	21:30	Triple Star System	SAO-079294	Nice Triple fairly easy to locate
Castor	Easy	Gemin	21:45	Double Star	SAO-060198	Two bright stars 5.2″ seperation
M-46	Hard	Puppis	22:00	OC & PN	NGC-2437	Open Cluster with Planetary Neb. visible in large aperture telescopes
Bodes Galaxy	Hard	Ursa Major	00:15	Galaxy	M-81	Wide field views will show both M-81 & M-82
Cigar Galaxy	Hard	Ursa Major	00:15	Galaxy	M-82	Wide field views will show both M-81 & M-82
Owl Nebula	Difficult	Ursa Major	01:30	Planetary Nebula	M-97	Very faint; large telescope may be required
Mizar	Easy	Uras Major	03:30	Double	SAL-028737	Nice Double easy to locate
Garnet Star	Medium	Cepheus	04:00	Carbon Star	SAO-033693	Quite a red star

• Portable Document Format (.pdf)
• Astro Planner (.apd)
• Excel Spreadsheet (.xlsx)
• Sky Safari Pro (.skylist) – Instructions on loading the list can be located here.

Weather forecast for Picket Post Trailhead (Astrospheric)