Sun path for BRC 2012

Ideas, advice, tips, and tricks regarding shelter, shade, tents, and camping. Yes, this includes RV's too.
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captain mcguiver
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Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by captain mcguiver » Sat Aug 11, 2012 4:01 pm

Here's a plot of the sun path for the week of BM 2012. Use it to decide how to place your shade structures and stuffs.

Image

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Canoe
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Canoe » Sat Aug 11, 2012 6:03 pm

Any elevations?
I have to pick the angle for my tilt-up top/roof for my trailer. As in, I'm building it this week.
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by captain mcguiver » Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:02 pm

Here's the peak, let me know if you want the other times...


Image

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captain mcguiver
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Morning

Post by captain mcguiver » Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:09 pm

Morning:
Image

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by CornMan » Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:47 pm

Very cool.
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by BoyScoutGirl » Sat Aug 11, 2012 11:14 pm

This is great for photography! How do I extrapolate the moon's path from this?
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Bob » Sat Aug 11, 2012 11:23 pm

Top of your shade should be parallel to the horizon.

Hope this helps.
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Canoe » Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:51 am

Cool!
No pun intended.
And, another thing to get off the list.

Now we wait for someone to ask why you don't give the values for the hours between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m..
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That's one word I regret googling during breakfast.
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Video games are giving kids unrealistic expectations on how many swords they can carry.
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Sundial » Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:51 am

Given this data, and given that stronger winds tend to come from the Southwest, what would be the best way to orient an a-frame tarp?

Edit: Or maybe a lean to pitch open to the Northwest would make the most sense?
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by captain mcguiver » Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:07 pm

Canoe wrote: Now we wait for someone to ask why you don't give the values for the hours between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m..
Well, Boyscoutgirl kind of did it when they asked for a moon path in a thread about the sun path!
Given this data, and given that stronger winds tend to come from the Southwest, what would be the best way to orient an a-frame tarp?
I assume (incorrectly) that the wind always flows parallel to the 5:30 street and set up structures accordingly. When I set up projection screens on the playa I parallel it to that street so it catches the least amount of wind.

The fact that the midday sun tends to be out of the South as well, leads me to assume that all your klingon deflection shields should favor bad stuff coming from the South to be very general about things.

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Night Night

Post by captain mcguiver » Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:13 pm

Image

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Bob » Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:26 pm

Amazing desert structures & stuff: http://sites.google.com/site/potatotrap/

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Sundial » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:06 pm

captain mcguiver wrote:
Canoe wrote: Now we wait for someone to ask why you don't give the values for the hours between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m..
Well, Boyscoutgirl kind of did it when they asked for a moon path in a thread about the sun path!
Given this data, and given that stronger winds tend to come from the Southwest, what would be the best way to orient an a-frame tarp?
I assume (incorrectly) that the wind always flows parallel to the 5:30 street and set up structures accordingly. When I set up projection screens on the playa I parallel it to that street so it catches the least amount of wind.

The fact that the midday sun tends to be out of the South as well, leads me to assume that all your klingon deflection shields should favor bad stuff coming from the South to be very general about things.
I just finished doing some 3D modelling using those azimuth and elevation values, along with a scale mockup of backpacking tent and a-frame tarp setup. I reckon that if I stake the tarp with the windward side facing Southwest (so most of the wind force would be pushing down the windward side and not pulling up the lee side), it'll still completely shade my tent until late afternoon.
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by FIGJAM » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:20 pm

To me the wind is not as much of an issue as the sun.

I would set up your A frame shade so the open ends are north and south.

That way your shade is effective for the most hours.

I park my truck directly at the sunrise. (no compass)

This was taken about noon with the wind about 25mph.

Image

Image


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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Bob » Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:21 pm

Call me crazy but I currently use a simple flea-market type 10x20 conduit frame closed on three sides, open more or less to the NE, covered w/ a mess of tarps & dropcloths. I'm sure you could figure out a way to close the end(s) of an A-frame arrangement.
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Sundial » Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:22 pm

Bob wrote:Call me crazy but I currently use a simple flea-market type 10x20 conduit frame closed on three sides, open more or less to the NE, covered w/ a mess of tarps & dropcloths. I'm sure you could figure out a way to close the end(s) of an A-frame arrangement.
Which would eliminate the allegedly important cross breeze between the tarp and the tent.
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Sundial » Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:43 pm

For those of you wondering what the fuck an azimuth is.

Image
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by captain mcguiver » Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:47 pm

steve.t.sullivan wrote:For those of you wondering what the fuck an azimuth is.
It's the black part of his diagram! :)

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Sundial » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:01 pm

captain mcguiver wrote:
steve.t.sullivan wrote:For those of you wondering what the fuck an azimuth is.
It's the black part of his diagram! :)
Here's the azimuth diagram in a different image format. I just found out some browsers don't support SVG images (I'm looking at you, IE8).

Image
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by BBadger » Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:52 pm

I merged the wind and sun info into one diagram:
SunWind.png
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by captain mcguiver » Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:23 pm

Sweet! Thanks Badger!

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Bob » Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:49 pm

Image

Image

Image

Again, the weather station is in Gerlach, so add five or ten degrees/mph for the playa.
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Canoe » Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:24 am

What lat & long are you using?
I got different values at the site Bob posted. Azimuth slightly different, peak time slightly different, but max elevation notably less (59 instead of 67).
4.669
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That's one word I regret googling during breakfast.
.
Video games are giving kids unrealistic expectations on how many swords they can carry.
.
, but don't harm the red dragon that frequents the area from time to time. He and I have an agreement.

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Sundial » Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:42 am

Canoe wrote:What lat & long are you using?
I got different values at the site Bob posted. Azimuth slightly different, peak time slightly different, but max elevation notably less (59 instead of 67).
1.) Punch W119 12, N40 47 into google maps
2.) Adjust if necessary
3.) Punch final coordinates into form B here (7 hours west)
4.) PROFIT!!111

Edit: Hmm. I'm getting an elevation ten degrees lower as well. I'm more inclined to trust the military website than the phone app.
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by garyt » Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:24 am

Bob wrote:Call me crazy but I currently use a simple flea-market type 10x20 conduit frame closed on three sides, open more or less to the NE, covered w/ a mess of tarps & dropcloths. I'm sure you could figure out a way to close the end(s) of an A-frame arrangement.
Bob, I've got a very similar setup! 10x10 of it will be covered on all sides like a bedroom.

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Bob » Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:47 am

The sides on my conduit hut are set 3 ft out at the base, on a plane with the guy lines. If I were going this year I'd probably add crisscrossing rope in addition to the straight guy lines, and maybe a few battens on the windward side to help it keep it from dishing.

Oh, and a sundial and a birdbath for you sun path people.
Amazing desert structures & stuff: http://sites.google.com/site/potatotrap/

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Sundial » Wed Aug 15, 2012 6:04 am

FIGJAM wrote:To me the wind is not as much of an issue as the sun.
This quote is from someone in BRC now to Trilobyte:
"Over a 100 degrees everyday by 3pm. At 7-8pm for the last 3 nights we have had 60+ mph winds with dust whiteout. The playa is getting scrubbed by these high winds. We lost 2 roof so far from the Temple camp kitchen/camp area. We are running out of 40x50' tarps !!!!! Be prepared - all the town locals & old burners say this is one of the highest wind years. We expect continued storms for the next 2 nights. We had a 20' tall 50x50' structure demolised last night & it was just substructure of 2x8" wood - ripped off the foundation. Not enough cross bracing yet - uugh. "
"I will not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. I will face my fear. I will let it pass through me. Where the fear has gone, there shall be nothing. Only I will remain."

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by Fufa » Wed Aug 15, 2012 2:44 pm

I just printed out Badger's lovely diagram and spent 15 minutes working out the "best" camp shade orientations considering all these factors. Thanks so much for this!
Image

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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by skippy3k » Wed Aug 15, 2012 4:01 pm

Fufa wrote:I just printed out Badger's lovely diagram and spent 15 minutes working out the "best" camp shade orientations considering all these factors. Thanks so much for this!
I did too. I ended up doing "Hmmm...this will work. Wait....no, this is better. Wait....if the sun is here, then should be here. Wait....everyone else will be here too. What if....awww, forget it. I'll just see where I end up."

Though I am curious as to what you arrived at for being "best"?
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Re: Sun path for BRC 2012

Post by garyt » Wed Aug 15, 2012 4:30 pm

[quote="Bob"]The sides on my conduit hut are set 3 ft out at the base, on a plane with the guy lines. If I were going this year I'd probably add crisscrossing rope in addition to the straight guy lines, and maybe a few battens on the windward side to help it keep it from dishing.

Oh, and a sundial and a birdbath for you sun path people.[/quote]

Bob....you're not going this year?

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