[H] Night Sky Viewing Location

EtherealDeath

United States8366 Posts

August 10 2010 18:27 GMT

Hey guys, anyone know of a really good place to view the night sky? Preferrably somewhat easily accessible, and providing an amazing view, as far from light sources as possible. I'm thinking of something along the lines of the Grand Teton National Park

Preference is that it is as close to North Carolina as possible. I've heard that a stretch of US17 past Elizabeth City is a good place to view it. What would be nice is if the Appalachians nearby have a good viewing spot. I'll upload pics if a good spot is found, cause we'll be going there!

micronesia

United States24797 Posts

August 10 2010 18:34 GMT

I don't have any specific knowledge... especially of that region. All I know is that the further away from cities and other sources of artificial lighting you are the better! (which you already know :p)

Why are you doing this? Fun? School? Other?

EtherealDeath

United States8366 Posts

August 10 2010 18:35 GMT

Yea but I'm sure some areas are better than others anyways. I've found a few potential locations, mainly Creswell, NC. More options the better no? I'd imagine the Appalachians are better due to the thinner atmosphere if we go to a peak, but I dunno if there is much ambient light from cities nearby.

edit: for fun. Friend didn't believe you can see the milky way with the naked eye.

edit2: but Creswell will have rainy /cloudy weather for the near future. fml.

micronesia

United States24797 Posts

August 10 2010 18:36 GMT

Don't climb a mountain unless you already know it's good for viewing since many mountains don't give you a good look at the sky through all the trees XD

EtherealDeath

United States8366 Posts

August 10 2010 18:38 GMT

Yea I know :/ Trying to find all the relevant info >_>

EtherealDeath

United States8366 Posts

August 10 2010 18:43 GMT

Oh dear we might spontaneously drive to Creswell in about 3.5 hours unless someone finds a better location lOl

Badjas

Netherlands2038 Posts

August 10 2010 18:46 GMT

What an excellent question to put up in public. I was wondering the same thing once I was in Finland, where I have the chance of some darkness. Over here in the netherlands it's impossible to find a good spot. Though I guess a nature's reserve park (we have at least one with a decent size) could do the trick.

If you have a cardboard tube you can look through that up in the sky and if you let your eye get adjusted, it is somewhat of an improvement but:
- it is horribly uncomfortable
- it is very limited in aid
Anyone has an experience with a better method akin the cardboard tube? (aka shielding the very local light pollution)

EtherealDeath

United States8366 Posts

August 10 2010 18:50 GMT

Oh my god I could set up poles and stretch black sheeting across. Just made me realize that. Did that once before years ago to improve viewing conditions in the city for my telescope.

EtherealDeath

United States8366 Posts

August 12 2010 02:45 GMT

We ended up going to a national park near Creswell, offroading to get to the dock since the entrances were barred (closed lol), and watching the sky there.

Humidity was relatively high (meh), but there weren't many clouds at all, so that was good. I suppose the ambient light around the area has increased in the last decade, but the light was still restricted to the area around the horizon. Overhead we could see LOTS of stars, the milky way, could see the dark nebula/dust clouds, the center of the galaxy, etc. We even saw a few meteors, and possibly some satellites. There was this object that was relatively bright and non circular (maybe just atmospheric effect?) that was moving slowly, so at first we thought it was the ISS, but then it was moving too slowly perhaps for that... maybe another satellite!

One of my roommates was like WOW WTF because he didn't believe you could see the galaxy from earth. In fact he thought all the google images I provided were either photoshopped or from space. My oh my was he surprised...

Creswell really is a good location (in terms of NC). Go to the dock @ the national park if you want a relatively good place to view the heavens. It's even stranger because you can see pretty much all the way to the horizon (only a couple trees in one direction), so it's an uninterrupted view. The lights are from lighthouses far away, so there is a kind of light emanating all over the horizon, going up a bit, but straight up in a large cone is nothing but galaxy and stars. The combination makes for a really breathtaking effect. Definitely a recommended place.

Too bad our cameras sucked to much to detect anything

. Bad cameras.... bad....

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