We Are the Dark Rangers...
Meet the Family
Dark Ranger Telescope Tours is a small family business dedicated to improving science literacy, building enthusiasm for humanity becoming a space-faring civilization, and heightening awareness of the importance of protecting natural darkness, for its myriad of values, against the malignancy of light pollution. We further these goals through public presentations and tours of the night sky using telescopes. Our observatory, The Dark Ranger Observatory, is located just outside Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Not only do we have one of the largest collections of publicly accessible BIG telescopes in the U.S. Across our staff we have 2 century of stargazing experience. Above all, and as our Trip Advisor reviews attest, we pride ourselves on being entertaining, educational, and energetic hosts.
We are the Dark Rangers® -- a family (by blood, marriages, and shared enthusiasm for astronomy) who scope together, and mope NEVER!
We are the Dark Rangers® -- a family (by blood, marriages, and shared enthusiasm for astronomy) who scope together, and mope NEVER!
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Andy "Chef" Years of Astronomy Experience: 6
Education: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Electronic Media Arts and Communication Astrological Sign: Construction Ahead Favorite Telescope: Arthur: 180mm Stellarvue Refractor on CGE Pro (with On-step upgrade) mount Favorite Telescope Object: Caroline's Rose (NGC 7789), an old but still dense, open star cluster Favorite Sci-Fi 'Verse / Character: Red Dwarf / Dave Lister Fun Fact About Me: I've visited 47 U.S. States, and lived in all 4 contiguous time zones in the U.S. Gaya "Earth Goddess" Years of Astronomy Experience: 3
Education: Florida Institute of Technology (Graduating 2027) with B.S. in Astronomy and Astrophysics Astrological Sign: Watch for UFOs Ahead Favorite Telescope: Magrathea, 14" Meade RCX 400 SCT on CGE Pro Mount. Favorite Astronomical Object: Hercules Globular Star Cluster (M13) 500,000 stars like so many diamonds on black velvet Favorite Sci-Fi 'Verse / Character: Louise Banks / Arrival Fun Fact About Me: I grew up in Kenya. Jan "Mother of Danes" Years of Astronomy Experience: Maybe a month's worth over last 12 years?
Education: Utah State University, Forestry B.S. Astrological Sign: $1000 Fine for Littering Favorite Telescope: Whichever one somebody else sets up for me. Favorite Astronomical Object: Sol, like during a solar eclipse, because I don't have to stay up late to see it. What can I say? I'm diurnal! Favorite Sci-Fi 'Verse / Character: Star Trek / Jean Luc Picard Fun Fact About Me: George Lucas (yes, THAT George Lucas) thought I was an entertaining telescope operator. |
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Kevin "The Boss" Years of Astronomy Experience: 26
Education: USU, 2 BS degrees in Forestry & Recreation Resource Mgmt. with 4 minors in: Geology, Biology, Wildlife Mgmt., & Anthropology. Astrological Sign: Gusty Winds May Exist Favorite Telescope: Moby, The Improbable Sperm Whale, 12.5" Meade Newtonian on equatorial mount with a star drive and rotation ring Favorite Astronomical Object: Stargate Cluster, (STF 1659), most unnatural looking deep space object, which is perfect for 'punking' UFO buffs. Favorite Sci-Fi 'Verse / Character: Stargate / Teal'C Fun Fact About Me: I got married to Jan with rings of meteorite and tungsten, under the ring of stone, under the ring fire (i.e., during an annular solar eclipse at Rainbow Bridge Nat. Mon). LIam "Lemur" Years of Astronomy Experience: 10
Education: University of Massachusetts, BS in Astrophysics Astrological Sign: Crab Crossing Favorite Telescope: Trillian, C-11" on CGX-L mount Favorite Astronomical Object: Arp 271 (NGC 5426 & NGC 5427), a beautiful pair of spiral galaxies interacting at perpendicular angles. Favorite Sci-Fi 'Verse / Character: Star Wars / Plo Koon Fun Fact About Me: While working at NASA I made the 3D animations for the Uncrewed Artemis 1 mission Logan "Logang" Years of Astronomy Experience: 15
Education: EMT, NPS Ranger School Astrological Sign: SLOW! Children at Play Favorite Telescope: Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz, 25" Obsession Dobsonian, currently DRTT's largest telescope Favorite Astronomical Object: Omega Centauri, the undigested core of a smaller galaxy the Milky Way engulfed long ago. Favorite Sci-Fi 'Verse / Character: Firefly / Hoban "Wash" Washburne Fun Fact About Me: I've hiked 1000+ of miles at Bryce Canyon as a Search & Rescue / Backcountry Patrol Ranger MckennA "Space Cowgirl" Years of Astronomy Experience: 6
Education: Florida Institute of Technology: 2 BS degrees in Astrophysics & Astrobiology, (currently in their Masters / PhD program) Astrological Sign: Wildlife Crossing Favorite Telescope: Ford 12" SkyWatcher Newtonian on CGX-L mount Favorite Astronomical Object: The Owl Cluster (NGC 457) because Favorite Sci-Fi 'Verse / Character: Dr. Who / River Song Fun Fact About Me: I'm DRTT's future pilot. I already have my pilot's license. I just need "The Boss" to buy us a plane. Morgan "fisher queen" Years of Astronomy Experience: 15
Education: Utah State University: BS Degree Fisheries & Aquatic Systems. Astrological Sign: Gone fishing. Be back after dark. Favorite Telescope: Total Perspective Vortex, 20" Starmaster Dobsonian Favorite Astronomical Object: Hercules Globular Star Cluster (M13) Favorite Sci-Fi Character: Spaceballs / Dark Helmet Fun Fact About Me: I collect hobbies like pokemon: crochet, sewing, sourdough fishkeeping, birdwatching, etc. Got to Catch them all! |
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Ray "RocK Man" Years of Astronomy Experience: 15
Education: Utah State University: 2 BS Degrees in Geology & Hydrology. Astrological Sign: No Vehicles Beyond this Point Favorite Telescope: Fenchurch, Televue 101mm refractor on a Losmandy G8 tracking mount Favorite Astronomical Object: The Swan Nebula (M17), has a Swan-like profile in a eyepiece, though its just a hot mess of gas in astrophotography. Favorite Sci-Fi Character: Star Wars / Baby Yoda Fun Fact About Me: I'm a recovering astrophotography addict. Richard "Star Geezer" Years of Astronomy Experience: 45
Education: East Texas State University, English BA Astrological Sign: Wrong Way Do Not Enter Favorite Telescope: Wowbagger: 7" F8 wooden refractor on Meade LDX 650 mount Favorite Astronomical Object: Markarian's Chain (M84 etc); because you can see 7 galaxies in the same eyepiece. Favorite Sci-Fi Character: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy /Arthur Dent Fun Fact About Me: I never took a single university course in Astronomy, but I learned how read well, and that was enough to catch me up. Savannah "Scary" Years of Astronomy Experience: 8
Education: Wellesley College: BA in Astrophysics & East Asian Studies, in Astrophysics PhD program at Berkeley Astrological Sign: Slower Traffic Keep Right Favorite Telescope: Deep Thought: C-14" on a CGE Pro (with On-step upgrade) mount. Favorite Astronomical Object: M92 Globular Cluster, not as famous as nearby M13 this ancient beast is charging Earth at 250,000 mph! Favorite Sci-Fi Character: Star Trek / Captain Janeway Fun Fact About Me: My body is a machine that turns frogs on the ground into frogs in my hand Seth "The Late Night GUY" Years of Astronomy Experience: 15
Education: Davis Technical College AAS Welding & Metallurgy Astrological Sign: Objects in Mirror are Farther Than They Appear Favorite Telescope: Arthur: 180mm Stellarvue Refractor on CGE Pro (with On-step upgrade) mount Favorite Astronomical Object: Trio in Leo, three distinct galaxies visible in the same eyepiece. Favorite Sci-Fi Character: Red Rising / Sevro au Barca Fun Fact About Me: Since I own a business called "That 'Ought Hold Welding" I repair telescopes & mounts as fast the Dark Rangers can break them. |
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Shelby "6 White Horses" Years of Astronomy Experience: 10
Education: University of Utah, BS Political Science Astrological Sign: Danger! High Voltage. Favorite Telescope: Wall-E, C-11" Nexstar GPS Favorite Astronomical Object: Saturn; because it's a crowd-pleaser Favorite Sci-Fi Character: Star Wars / Yoda Fun Fact About Me: I worked hard to get 7 Utah State Parks designated as Dark Sky Parks by the International Dark Sky Association. Thomas "Mr. DeeP Sky" Years of Astronomy Experience: 9
Education: Penn State B.S. in Astronomy Astrological Sign: Beware of the Dog Favorite Telescope: The Earth, C-14" HD on CGE Pro (with On-Step upgrade). Favorite Astronomical Object: Triffid Nebula (M20) is a mostly gray star-birth nebula in an eyepiece, but rich red & blue even in beginner-astrophotography. Favorite Sci-Fi 'Verse / Character: Star Trek / Spock Fun Fact About Me: I'm now the Telescope Troubleshooter at Dark Sky West where I help other astrophotographers get amazing images while building upon my own catalogue that I started when I was working at DRTT. Thomas "talks-a-Lot" Years of Astronomy Experience: 10
Education: Cornell B.S. Astronomy with Sci-Comm minor; St. Andrews (Scotland). MSc in Astrophysics; Queen University of Belfast (in Astrophysics PhD program) Astrological Sign: Men at Work Favorite Telescope: Agrajag, C-11" on CGE Pro (with On-Step upgrade). Favorite Astronomical Object: Dumbbell Nebula (M27) because its the brightest star death nebula in the northern sky. Favorite Sci-Fi 'Verse / Character: The Iron Giant / The Iron Giant Fun Fact About Me: I am ambidextrous, which means I can do delicate things poorly with BOTH hands. |
