Here are some observing sites around Arid-zona that are frequented by the various clubs.  While you need not be a member of the specific clubs to use most of these sites, good manners are to affiliate yourself with one of the clubs.  Entries marked private land are not accessible except during specific club sponsored events. 

As always, pack out what you bring in, leave nothing but footprints and used photons! 

Any Naglers or PanOptics I find are mine to keep....

** This has been reclassified as a DAY USE ONLY area (with the prerequisite signage) however the hosts of the site and the agency that oversees the site allow telescope use as long as you are not camping there for the night.  Stay as long as you want, just don't sleep!

Picket Post directions: Phoenix, take U.S. 60 east. Midway between mile markers 221 and 222, look for Forest Road 231 heading south. Follow it 0.3 mile to a "T" junction, then turn east and follow the road 0.8 mile (the sign says 0.6) to the large parking area.

Flat Iron Directions: Phoenix, take I-10 west to 339th Ave exit.  North on 339th to Indian School Rd, go west (left).  Go 2 miles to Wickenburg Rd., go North (right).  Travel northerly until you reach mile post 23.  Just after the marker (about .3 mile) there is a dirt road angling off to the right at a sharper than 90 degree angle.  If you get to the cattle guard and BLM sign on Wickenburg Rd. after passing the 23 milepost, you went too far.  The observing site is about 0.9 mile in from the road lon the left (west) side.  There are a couple of lone trees at the site.

Hovatter Directions: Phoenix, take I-10 west to Exit 53, about 100 miles from Central Phoenix.  The site is 2.0 miles south of I-10, the road goes past an large cell phone antenna farm, hence the name.  After two washes, there is a large desert  pavement on the left.  It is easy to spot since someone has dumped an old washing machine there.

 

Astronomy Clubs

Updated 5/1/07

© Copyright 1997-2008 by Bill VanOrden