The BEST atmospheric seeing in the American Southwest

[evwark]

I realize that this question will end up being at least in part a matter of opinion and luck...

I've been doing more planetary imaging lately, and I'm starting to reach the point where the atmosphere itself is my biggest problem. So lets say I'm willing to travel a few hundred miles to find the most stable sky in the Southwest... where should I go? The site will need vehicle access, but I'm not concerned about light pollution and although access to power would be very nice, it's not completely necessary.

What do you all think?

[geonuc]

It's one of the few national parks in the American west I've not been to, but the Great Basin National Park boasts excellent viewing conditions.

http://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisi...-night-sky.htm

[Tog]

Bryce Canyon in southern Utah is another option.

It sits at 8,000 to 10,000 feet and the Eastern edge of the road drops off to nothing until you get to Colorado. The western horizon is more crowded.

The road is a dead end, so there is minimal nighttime traffic and nearly everywhere you could want to set up is a paved overlook.

On the downside, you're quite a ways from any real town and the one restaurant there knows that. They are usually packed and expensive. Rooms aren't that expensive all things considered.

Last trip down, we stopped at Zion National Park at night. This is a much lower park and most of it is in the bottom of a canyon, so sky views are limited. We stopped the car and the first thing I noticed was that I couldn't actually see the ground. My legs just faded away. When I looked up, it took me several minutes to identify the Big Dipper. It was lost in the sea of other stars.

[redshifter]

It's one of the few national parks in the American west I've not been to, but the Great Basin National Park boasts excellent viewing conditions.

http://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisi...-night-sky.htm

Indeed! I've been there twice. I've also been to areas outside Phoenix as well as the "Star Hill Inn" outside Las Vegas, NM. So, I've been to a few SW US locations for observing. And, I can say that Great Basin is incredible for astronomy! The seeing was comparable to Phoenix and Las Vegas, but they can't touch the transparency that can be experienced at Great Basin. With the incredible dark skies, dry air, and observing at 9300 ft. elevation, it's a wonderful experience. I've never seen M8, M13, M31 so easily with the naked eye before.

I will also say that the best seeing I've ever experienced is right here in my home state of WA at the Table Mountain Star Party outside Ellensburg, WA. There's about a 6 week window in late July - August where the air can be very stable.

Anyways, if you're strictly interested in planetary viewing/photography, and light pollution isn't an issue, you probably don't 'need' to go to Great Basin NP. If you can get 40 - 50 miles outside Phoenix, you should get a very stable sky, though there will still be some light pollution from Phoenix. If you go east of Phoenix, you can get a mtn. range or two between you and Phoenix which will help, though there will still be light pollution.

If you want good seeing, dark skies, and mind blowing transparency, go to Great Basin.

[evwark]

Excellent information. Thanks all!