Black Nugget Lake Dark Site
Clear Sky Clock for Black Nugget Lake
Black Nugget Lake Campground is the future home of Edmonton Centre's observatory, the Black Nugget Lake Observatory (BLNO). It is also the home of the Northern Prairie Starfest. Through an agreement with the Beaver County council, the Edmonton Centre has acquired a 10 year sublease on a portion of land at the north end of the campground. The site is still a work in progress. To date the Observing Field has been cleared, graded and graveled by the County, and electrical service has been installed; the shared power service and distribution equipment will shortly go to construction as the County has given D2 Electrical the go ahead; the shared Toilet Building is being designed by us for tender and construction by the County, hopefully to be completed by the spring of 2008. We have plans to construct storage facility to store equipment and shelter for observers.
To access the site, travel south east on highway 14. Continue about 10 km past Tofield until you get to Range Road 182. Turn south for another 11 km until you reach Township Road 492 (map 1 and map 2). Currently, you will have to access the site though the main park entrance, but eventually there will be a gate on the north end of the campground 300 metres east on TR 492.
We have yet to develop detailed procedures for shared RASC/public use, but the following general principles have been agreed to with the County.
- During RASC months (September to May), the site will be available to the public whenever there is an RASC member at the site, except when exclusively booked by RASC members for special projects, such exclusive booking time not to exceed 25%.
- The RASC will sponsor an annual Star Party, which is to be open to the public. Fees for the star party event attendees shall cover star party operating costs only and not contribute to the overall operation of the astronomical facilities. Star Party dates will be negotiated on an annual basis with the County.
- During RASC months the RASC will make the site available for public access observing nights at each new moon, on nights that are opposite those open to the public at Blackfoot. The RASC and the County will advertise the hours when the site will be open to the public.
- The RASC will make the site available for the County to run School and other group Astronomical Outings using County supplied facilitators trained by the RASC.
- During County months (May to September), the campground operator will endeavour to offer Astronomical Interpretive Programs to campground users though County provided and RASC trained facilitators, for no additional fee to campground users.
- During County months, the public and RASC members will be able to use the Astronomical Facilities subject to campground programming and site rentals.
- Gates, fencing, locks and other site security are being negotiated with the County.
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| View of Chalet |
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| Satellite Photo of Black Nugget Observing Site |