I've been reading a bit on the aviation forums lately. Having found myself not working I wanted to pick up a hobby as quickly as possible before I end
up doing something stupid like going out to make money again. I'm hobbling around a bit now. I can't do any real uneven terrain in the dark and can't
do anything but short fairly level walks in the light. I'm needing to get some advice from our, quite demonstrability astute, ATS contributors on
where I would be best advised to set up a small area to sit and watch the sky while I enjoy a pipe and perhaps a draught of liquor. Sadly I can't
really sit out all night.
Keep in mind I have ZERO aviation background. I'm obviously able to look up rudimentary information about air strips, bases, etc. and I have tried.
I've gone out a few nights and observed lights going due W to due E with red lights. I, again with no background, assume these were commercial flights
out of SeaTac or PDX that had already reached a fairly high elevation (going strictly by naked eye and the lights being tiny. I also figure it is most
likely SeaTac. A small telescope is not out of the question for me though.)
Okay, not to essentially give you my dox. I am just shy of 100 miles SSW of the Yakima Training Facility. About 150 miles ENE from PDX. I'm about 200
miles almost perfect SE of SeaTac, but I haven't been to SeaTac in two decades. I know I'm close based on my estimate though. While having little
aviation experience I did live quite close to a commercial airport growing up and before 9/11 we could go and watch them. A fond memory I have with an
aunt of mine is going to watch the planes take off. We often lived under flight paths when I was a kid as well.
I also live in what used to be considered a Dark Sky Park and in spite of their efforts to regain that status I'm quite convinced the California
refugee and Western Washington population coming in will want their big night lights to protect them from all the terrifying small mammalian
population. I AM fortunate to live in a passably remote area. I have a viewing corridor that runs pretty open from N to S though probably only about
some less favorable W to E views of 45% on either side. There is an actual small observation platform next to my shop, but I am not convinced that
it's not ideal as it has a roof. I believe the open drive in the front of the shop is the best location. I also can't actually climb us there
safely.
Strangely I don't know what to call the view. I'm sure there is some way to express it properly. The view will be all around. The approximate view is
MAYBE 135% all around.
The moon tonight was a bit of a problem. I had to look to the sky to the north for a few minutes to catch anything. Too lazy to check the moon cycle,
but back when I wasn't a gimp I would have hiked 6 or 8 miles in that moonlight no problem, now that I think of it though it's not brighter than a NE
moon event..... way more if there was snow on the ground and had nary a problem. Either way I think you all can gather what you need from what I've
passed on.
I've become interested. All I want to really see before my heart kicks the last time is to see one single black triangle doing what they do.
If you have any advice for where I should set up I'd be happy to hear it. I will not give any more identifying formation on me as far as geography (I
will actually, but only a few members I feel are reliable source). I have a good idea who is reliable and why. That's as far as I'll go there.
Either way I just want to see the triangle, one or twice, and it would make me happy. I think I'm in a decent flight path. If I was able to haul
myself to Portland and sleep nearby I would. I would, but my body just doesn't have it in me. I certainly would have a long time ago because she
sounds beautiful.
So I'd settle for a look at her now.
edit on 9/18/19 by Ksihkehe because: Missed things.
edit on 9/18/19 by Ksihkehe because: God dammit I missed more.