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Ron & Dee · 08-05-2005, 02:15 PM

I'm fairly new to the Forum, I have just mostly looked for imformation and this will be my first post.

My wife, 3 cats, a dog, and I will be heading out to Yellowstone National Park 8-10-2005 from Tampa FL.

The Perseids Meteor Shower will be coming up on the night of the 11th and we will be looking for a nice dark site, preferably a State or National Park, to camp in for the evening to watch the Meteor Showers.

If all goes well I hope to be somewhere between Dallas and Amarillo TX on route US 81 & US 287. Does anyone know of a nice campground that is not to far off the main route?

Thanks,

Ron

Ron & Dee · 08-05-2005, 02:15 PM

I'm fairly new to the Forum, I have just mostly looked for imformation and this will be my first post.

My wife, 3 cats, a dog, and I will be heading out to Yellowstone National Park 8-10-2005 from Tampa FL.

The Perseids Meteor Shower will be coming up on the night of the 11th and we will be looking for a nice dark site, preferably a State or National Park, to camp in for the evening to watch the Meteor Showers.

If all goes well I hope to be somewhere between Dallas and Amarillo TX on route US 81 & US 287. Does anyone know of a nice campground that is not to far off the main route?

Thanks,

Ron

brad03ca · 08-05-2005, 02:59 PM

RonDee, Hello and Welcome.

Glad to have you with us. Hope your first post leads to many more.
Maybe someone from the Texas Boomers can help you with a park in that area.

.....Brad

zetron · 08-05-2005, 03:56 PM

Yes I am a star gazer. I just went through some of my equipment while reorganizing the loft. I have lots of eyepieces. I even have an ST-7 CCD camera that I have not used.

My main telescope is a Meade LX-200 8 inch SC. One of y favorite programs is Project Pluto's The Guide.

David/zetron

Edmund A Skibinski · 08-05-2005, 04:28 PM

Ron, Welcome to the IRV2 website, glad you could join us. I am not familiar with that part of the country, possibly some else on the forum can give you that information. Ed.S

Ron & Dee · 08-06-2005, 03:09 AM

Brad, David, and Ed, thanks for the welcome. I'll have to work on an Avatar and signature later. Probably after I get back, as I'm trying to get ready for vacation right now.

David,
I just got into Astromomy about 3 years ago so I'm still a newbie.

I have a Meade 8" LX200GPS and will be taking it with me on vacation.

Ron

Jody & Jeff · 08-08-2005, 06:27 AM

I have to be honest here - I truly never thought about star gazing until I went to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve SP this weekend. I have NEVER seen so many stars in my life. My DH has a friend who has a large telescope that he has mounted inside of his TT with a hole in the roof & hooked up to his laptop computer to star-gaze. I hope to get him to go there with us in the fall and check that out. The park ranger said they have star gazing in the fall when they bring out their big telescope for viewing by the campers! --we'll be going back here--

Jody

jdoc · 08-08-2005, 01:03 PM

Ron, I looked in my Trailer Life campground book and found 2 places that would probably be good for star gazing. They both are on Hwy 287. One is in Vernon, TX. and the other one is in Goodlett, TX. Both of them are Good Sam Campgrounds. Both of these small towns are far away from big city lights. Hope this helps you out.
Jerry

Ron & Dee · 08-08-2005, 03:21 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> I truly never thought about star gazing until I went to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve SP this weekend. Jody </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jody,

Sounds like an interesting place! I had to Google it to find out where it was located. I see it is down by Lake Okeechobee. I'll have to check it out some time.

Thanks,

Ron

Ron & Dee · 08-08-2005, 03:28 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jdoc:
Ron, I looked in my Trailer Life campground book and found 2 places that would probably be good for star gazing. They both are on Hwy 287. One is in Vernon, TX. and the other one is in Goodlett, TX. Both of them are Good Sam Campgrounds. Both of these small towns are far away from big city lights. Hope this helps you out.
Jerry </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Jerry,

I'll sure check those out.

Watching the Weather channel today, looks like it might be raining or cloudy on the 11th. Oh well it will be cool anyway

Ron

Lynnvt · 08-09-2005, 03:24 AM

We will be watching from our fake fuma recliners at River's Bend Campground in New Haven, VT. Just put the seat back and keep an eye on the sky. We don't have a telescope but we have been watching the Perseid showers for years. Including a few years ago when it was really close and the showers were amazing. It was raining meteors. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

Ron & Dee · 08-10-2005, 12:16 AM

Lynnvt,

Hope you get to see many, maybe even raining Meteors that is.

My Astronomy adventure got started with the Leonids of 2001

Ron

Two Bit · 08-10-2005, 10:21 AM

It is kinda off your planned route,but a trip to the McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis Texas is well worth it. They have star parties several nights a week. There is a great Texas State Park about 15 miles from the observatory (Davis Mountains State Park) with full hookups. Do a yahoo search on Fort Davis and McDonald Observatory for more details. State park info is here..... http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...vis_mountains/

Jody & Jeff · 08-11-2005, 10:05 AM

Ron & Dee,
The CG doesn't even show up on MS Streets or Delorme map programs. I called ranger station for directions.
We live near Ft Laud so we just go up the turnpike, exit 152 (Ft Pierce) take 713 (at the light) north to next traffic signal (C-68) go about 25 miles west to US 441 north, go about 1/2 mile north on 441 and turn left on 724 and go about 18 miles to the park. It ends up being about 25 miles north of Okeechobee and due east of Sebring!
We will go back in November or December probably when they break out the telescope there!
Jody