The November 6, 2022, Hero's Facebook entry states: If it's not snowing and completely overcast, I'll park the camper and set up some chairs on the observatory pad. Everyone is welcome to join and I'll keep the heater in the camper running for warm-ups.
I don't think anyone who has been to Van Dyke Park would assume that anyone would be parking within the Park itself- certainly none of the organizers had that in mind. Had anyone suggested as much, I genuinely think it would be taken to be a joke.
The purpose of the pad is for providing a safe surface to set up night time viewing and for setting up astronomy and astrophotography gear that benefits from a stable surface in order to perform high precision tracking at the sub-arcsecond level. It really matters to have that flat surface and space to maneuver around telescopes in the dark. It is not, nor has it ever been, a spot for "parking RVs."
The camper was proposed for the November event as indicated in the timeline, not your February event. You seem to think I have an issue with the observatory and Theresa Whistler. I do not. I think the spot that has been chosen for the observatory is less than ideal; but it's not my city and not my park. I don't know Theresa personally but she seems to be passionate and well-meaning. The point of my reporting is that the project development has followed a path that does not seem available to a citizen without the knowledge or relationships developed by being in office.
I would be delighted to keep my readers informed of your stargazing events. I hope the observatory and your events are great successes.
A minor correction: there was never any intention of parking a camper within Van Dyke, on the pad or otherwise. Since I planned the Feb 11th comet viewing, I'm curious where that idea originated. The social media announcements can still be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/RedLodgeDarkSkies
We'd love to have you and any readers here attend our next stargazing gathering.
The camper was proposed for the November event as indicated in the timeline, not your February event. The November 6, 2022, Hero's Facebook entry states: "If it's not snowing and completely overcast, I'll park the camper and set up some chairs on the observatory pad. Everyone is welcome to join and I'll keep the heater in the camper running for warm-ups."
You seem to think I have an issue with the observatory and Theresa Whistler. I do not. I think the spot that has been chosen for the observatory is less than ideal; but it's not my city and not my park. I don't know Theresa personally but she seems to be passionate and well-meaning. The point of my reporting is that the project development has followed a path that does not seem available to a citizen without the knowledge or relationships developed by being in office.
I would be delighted to keep my readers informed of your stargazing events. I hope the observatory and your events are great successes.
Chairs on the pad, yes. Camper-topper parked on the street. At no point did anyone involved suggest driving anything into the park itself. The idea is just silly.
The November 6, 2022, Hero's Facebook entry states: If it's not snowing and completely overcast, I'll park the camper and set up some chairs on the observatory pad. Everyone is welcome to join and I'll keep the heater in the camper running for warm-ups.
I don't think anyone who has been to Van Dyke Park would assume that anyone would be parking within the Park itself- certainly none of the organizers had that in mind. Had anyone suggested as much, I genuinely think it would be taken to be a joke.
The purpose of the pad is for providing a safe surface to set up night time viewing and for setting up astronomy and astrophotography gear that benefits from a stable surface in order to perform high precision tracking at the sub-arcsecond level. It really matters to have that flat surface and space to maneuver around telescopes in the dark. It is not, nor has it ever been, a spot for "parking RVs."
The camper was proposed for the November event as indicated in the timeline, not your February event. You seem to think I have an issue with the observatory and Theresa Whistler. I do not. I think the spot that has been chosen for the observatory is less than ideal; but it's not my city and not my park. I don't know Theresa personally but she seems to be passionate and well-meaning. The point of my reporting is that the project development has followed a path that does not seem available to a citizen without the knowledge or relationships developed by being in office.
I would be delighted to keep my readers informed of your stargazing events. I hope the observatory and your events are great successes.
A minor correction: there was never any intention of parking a camper within Van Dyke, on the pad or otherwise. Since I planned the Feb 11th comet viewing, I'm curious where that idea originated. The social media announcements can still be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/RedLodgeDarkSkies
We'd love to have you and any readers here attend our next stargazing gathering.
The camper was proposed for the November event as indicated in the timeline, not your February event. The November 6, 2022, Hero's Facebook entry states: "If it's not snowing and completely overcast, I'll park the camper and set up some chairs on the observatory pad. Everyone is welcome to join and I'll keep the heater in the camper running for warm-ups."
You seem to think I have an issue with the observatory and Theresa Whistler. I do not. I think the spot that has been chosen for the observatory is less than ideal; but it's not my city and not my park. I don't know Theresa personally but she seems to be passionate and well-meaning. The point of my reporting is that the project development has followed a path that does not seem available to a citizen without the knowledge or relationships developed by being in office.
I would be delighted to keep my readers informed of your stargazing events. I hope the observatory and your events are great successes.
Chairs on the pad, yes. Camper-topper parked on the street. At no point did anyone involved suggest driving anything into the park itself. The idea is just silly.