Merritt Reservoir State Park - Nebraska

This forum is for discussing all things astronomical that aren't directly related to the activities of the MAS.
Post Reply
User avatar
BradNasset
Posts: 206
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:49 pm
Real Name: Brad Nasset

Merritt Reservoir State Park - Nebraska

Post by BradNasset »

Many have been there - the site of the Nebraska Star Party, so I thought I would share some news!

Every now and again I write to the Nebraska Parks Commission about preserving the night sky. From the little lookout point on the north side of the dam at Merritt Reservoir, there are only three streetlights visible. What an easy time to intentionally keep it dark.

I just received a reply from the Nebraska Parks Commission:
"Currently we are finishing up the process to make Merritt Reservoir an International Dark Sky Park. It has been a long process to get to this point but we are hopeful that the IDA makes their final announcement soon. Tommy Hicks, Nebraska Parks Commission."

Nice to be able to share some good news like this!
Brad Nasset
ELO, CGO Keyholder
Celestron Edge HD 8 inch, CGEM mount, with HyperStar system
Celestron C8 (Classic 1975 orange-tube), RA drive, equatorial wedge
Celestron 5 inch truss tube Newtonian, “Astronomers Without Borders” scope
3-D Printed 114/900 Reflector- homemade by me
Celestron 15x70 binocs, Homemade parallelogram binocs mount
Meade 10x52 binocs
Vixen 2.1 x 42 Binocs
FF2Rydia
Posts: 522
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:56 am
Real Name: Kris Hultner
Location: Bloomington

Re: Merritt Reservoir State Park - Nebraska

Post by FF2Rydia »

Yay! That would be a great Dark Sky Park!
Kris Hultner
AAVSO observer HCKA
User avatar
Sureshks
Posts: 1220
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:43 pm
Real Name: Suresh Sreenivasan
Location: Hopkins, MN

Re: Merritt Reservoir State Park - Nebraska

Post by Sureshks »

Hi Brad,

That's great news!! That would be an excellent place for observing... just not in July when it's 106F, fierce storms, winds and mosquitos. :-)

Suresh
Suresh Sreenivasan
B-SIG/FB/Metcalf Comm

Refr: AP 130mm GTX/SW 120mm/Borg 4"/Unitron 150 4"/Jason 2.25”
Dobs: ATM 16"/Orion 12”
Newts: Cave 8" RFT/Criterion RV6/Astroscan 4"/Orion 3.6" TCT
SNs: Meade 6"/Celestron 5.5"
SCTs: Celestron 9.25"/8”/B&L Criterion 4”
Maks: SW 7"/Quantum 4"/Meade 3.5” ETX
Cass: Vixen 8” VISAC/Simmons 4.5"
RC: MallinCam 10"
Sol: Lunt 80mm DS/PST
Bino: Vixen 12x80/Nikon 10x50
Mounts: CGX/EQ6r-Pro/AVX/GDPX/Porta II
User avatar
Dick Jacobson
Posts: 1397
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2004 9:21 pm
Location: Cottage Grove, MN

Re: Merritt Reservoir State Park - Nebraska

Post by Dick Jacobson »

Excellent news! It makes me think that my membership in IDA is doing some good. Thanks for being pro-active about this.
30-inch homemade Newtonian with periscope
20-inch homemade equatorial Newtonian with periscope
14-inch homemade equatorial Newtonian
10-inch Newtonian that folds flat
6-inch Russian Maksutov-Newtonian on Vixen equatorial mount
Too many small scopes and binoculars to mention
User avatar
BradNasset
Posts: 206
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:49 pm
Real Name: Brad Nasset

Re: Merritt Reservoir State Park - Nebraska

Post by BradNasset »

Suresh, Just have to remember it's really about the stories to tell, not the boring ol' "Ya, the weather was nice!" See, feeling like a human bratwurst cooking in our rented, non-airconditioned, pop-up camper with a broken refrigerator is a fun story. And don't forget about the god-awful pickers that barb into your ankles! Although to see the Milky Way cast a shadow is pretty awesome! Sure, I'll be back!
Brad Nasset
ELO, CGO Keyholder
Celestron Edge HD 8 inch, CGEM mount, with HyperStar system
Celestron C8 (Classic 1975 orange-tube), RA drive, equatorial wedge
Celestron 5 inch truss tube Newtonian, “Astronomers Without Borders” scope
3-D Printed 114/900 Reflector- homemade by me
Celestron 15x70 binocs, Homemade parallelogram binocs mount
Meade 10x52 binocs
Vixen 2.1 x 42 Binocs
Post Reply