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 BIG telescopes in the 4-corners region (Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado), we also have well over a century of collective 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 "Mother Earth" Years of Astronomy Experience: 3
Education: Florida Institute of Technology (Graduating 2027) with B.S. in Astronomy and Astrophysics Astrological Sign: TBA 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: TBA Fun Fact About Me: TBA 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 B.S. degrees (Forestry & Recreation Resource Mgmt.) with 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, B.S. in Astrophysics Astrological Sign: Crab Crossing Favorite Telescope: Trillian, C-11" on CGX-L mount Favorite Astronomical Object: TBA 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: B.S. degrees in Astrophysics & Astrobiology, (currently in their 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. |
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Ray "RocK Man" Years of Astronomy Experience: 12
Education: Utah State University: Double major in Geology & Hydrology. Astrological Sign: TBA Favorite Telescope: Fenchurch, Televue 101mm refractor on a Losmandy G8 mount Favorite Astronomical Object: The Orion Nebula (M42), because you can see real color even in small telescope. Favorite Sci-Fi Character: Star Wars / Baby Yoda Fun Fact About Me: TBA Richard "Star Geezer" Years of Astronomy Experience: 45
Education: East Texas State University, English B.A. 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: B.A. in Astrophysics & East Asian Studies, in Astrophysics PhD program at Berkeley Astrological Sign: No Weenies Allowed Favorite Telescope: Deep Thought: C-14" on a CGE Pro (On-step upgrade) mount Favorite Astronomical Object: TBA 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 "Late Night" Years of Astronomy Experience: 15
Education: Davis Technical College A.A.S. 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, B.S. Political Science Astrological Sign: Not Every s Needs an Apostrophe Favorite Telescope: R2D2, 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 9 Utah State Parks designated as Dark Sky Parks by the International Dark Sky Association 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 (On-Star upgrade) . Favorite Astronomical Object: TBA 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. |
