FarrOut
OBSERVATORY
28° 19' 1.98" N
82° 7' 48.91" W
The Leo Triplett (M66 group)
The image above was taken at FOO by Curt Walker on February 9, 2008.
PART OF THE VIEWING FIELD AT STAR PARTY HELD MARCH 8, 2008
(WHERE ARE ALL THOSE SCOPES POINTING?)
Talk about diving head first into a renewed interest in astronomy.
I live in Tampa, about 10 miles north of the airport. Not what you, or anyone else, would call a dark sky site. I can see the planets on a clear night, but sometimes not Polaris. There is a street light directly across the road from my drive way. Not much viewing opportunity at home.
So, what's the alternative? Go to a dark sky site.
I joined the Chiefland group and went there once. A
great place with probably some of the best viewing in the state of Florida.
But, it's a two hour drive, still a good alternative.
I went to Alafia River State Park with the St. Petersburg
Astronomy Club. Not bad accommodations and a great group of folks.
But, still a two hour drive from my home.
So, I found a piece of property in Pasco County, just south east of Dade City that is about two miles from any main highway and in the middle of hundreds of acres of farm land. The property had a double wide on it, electric service, water well, and a septic tank. All the basic requirements. I bought it with the express purpose of using it as an observation area and a place for my old Boy Scout troop to use as a camp ground. And, it's about an hour drive from my home.
SCHEDULED VIEWING DATES FOR 2008
Click here to view the new on line calendar with upcoming events.
If you are intetested in coming to the observatory for any of these dates, please contact me via email at dennis@farrout.org
PLANNING ON COMING TO AN OBSERVATION SESSION?
CLICK HERE FOR SOME RULES
Below is a light polution map courtesy of Cleardarksky.com showing the approximate area of the property:
SOME PICTURES OF THE PLACE
Work crew after repair of the double gates. June 30, 2007
11/23/05 |
04/01/065 |
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Here is the current and forcasted viewing conditions at the site:
And the moon phase forcast
(The Farrout observatory and activities that take place there are not sponsored or endorsed by the Museum of Science and Industry [MOSI] in Tampa, or by the the Museum Astronomical Resource Society [M.A.R.S.])