Proposed, Unadopted SLAS 2008 Schedule - Hour Nearest to Civil Sunset - SPOC Only Venue

This is a proposed, discussion-alternative schedule for SPOC only that biases SPOC dates to dark sky frames and Saturdays. Biasing SPOC dates towards dark sky frames plays to the strength of SPOC as a semi-dark rural transition zone instead of treating SPOC as another urban observing site biased towards lunar observing - as occurs in the current 2008 schedule. The Salt Lake County venues are interchangable urban astronomy sites; SPOC has a unique strength.

This alternative proposed SPOC schedule is biased towards Saturdays, on the theory that Salt Lake County general public families will be better able to drive to SPOC in Tooele county on the weekends.

This alternative schedule is suggested as a starting framework, with urban star parties being scheduled around unused dates. One additional SPOC day is proposed here as opposed to the adopted 2008 schedule as a make-up or trade-off day for a possible late start on April 27, 2008. Dates not listed here would be filled-in with Salt Lake Valley based urban star parties.

For these proposed SPOC dates, where the Moon is above the horizon near civil sunset, the Moon is in the west and will set within about 1 hour after nautical sunset, except on two proposed season closer dates in October.

This alternative schedule avoids the traditional dark sky private parties that in 2007 were scheduled three or four days before the new Moon and holiday weekends.