Dark Skies

[colinm]

We used to visit Sark, this is a dark skies island, not surprising when it has a history of very expensive electric prices.

 

[caledonia]

SWMBO has a top end scope, it has a hand held compuer attached to it.

You simple set the thing up, type in what you want to look at and it finds it for you, cost a fortune and she's never even used it.

I set it up and had a play and its just sat there ever since.

My misses has a Meade go to scope that does similar. Expensive ornament

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I sense an ebay link coming up.

 

[Herbenny]

If any have for sale please let me know I may be interested.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Me too if cheap enough.

 

[trevskoda]

Me too if cheap enough.

Skinflint.

 

[groyne]

Dark skies around Levisham on NYMR.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Nah just skint for none essential stuff.

It'd be nice to have a nice bit of kit for once instead of unknown ebay crap that doesn't work.

 

[Harrytherid]

look on Hubble telescope site, fantastic. I was two years in Kenya in the sixties that was pretty good too at high (the higher the better) altitude. 14000 ft on Mt Kenya soo good but jolly chilly even right on the equator. Used to learn the satellite times and not need a watch when on guard duty but Hubble is better.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

It won't fit in the lounge though

 

[GeoffL]

I agree ! …. Im still looking to buy a decent telescope and have joined a local star gazing group. I’ll never tire of watching the night sky, the best sight I ever saw was the Milky Way on a cliff in Helston, never seen anything like it !

You're doing the right way. Don't make the same mistake as I did and rush in. I suspect members of your local astro group will be happy and eager to let you see the heavens through their pride and joy -- and that'll let you decide what sort of astronomy you're interested in (e.g. lunar, planetary, deep sky, etc.) since what's brilliant for planets is too 'high powered' and probably won't collect enough light for most deep sky objects.

The dark skies site is also a handy source of possible stopover sites

Dark Sky Discovery Sites

We will help you find a spot that is ideal for your area from which to view the night sky.

www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk

TBH, the Dark Sky Discovery site (DSD) is of limited use. Much better IMO is a light pollution map (e.g. https://www.lightpollutionmap.info). Some have multiple data sets, so you might need to select the latest. FWIW, DSD told me my nearest dark sky site was about 70 miles away when there was a better one about 5 miles from home!

Another good resource is http://gostargazing.co.uk/ , which not only gives dark sky sites but also has a calendar of events. Most groups/societies run a few 'star parties' each year where the public can see the sky through telescopes/binoculars etc. and also get some info. It also helps to have a good planetarium app on your phone. Other apps that other people swear by are available, but I get good results with Stellarium (https://stellarium.org/), which is free on computers and nominal fee for IOS and Android.

HTH, Geoff

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I have on my phone:-

Star Walk 2 - Night Sky View - Apps on Google Play

Stargazing Guide App. Stars and constellations map. Solar system planets finder.

play.google.com

&

Stellarium Mobile - Star Map - Apps on Google Play

A realistic sky map to observe stars, planets, satellites and constellations!

play.google.com

 

[mistericeman]

I agree ! …. Im still looking to buy a decent telescope and have joined a local star gazing group. I’ll never tire of watching the night sky, the best sight I ever saw was the Milky Way on a cliff in Helston, never seen anything like it !

It's a great fun pass time ....

We have a Celestron C90 for easy quick stargazing AND terrestrial work



And a slightly larger

Sky-Watcher Skyliner-300P FlexTube Parabolic Dobsonian Telescope for when we're somewhere with darker skies ...​

 

[Herbenny]

I wish we could have a star gazing meet ! I promise not to drink, take notes and be very sensible

 

[GeoffL]

I wish we could have a star gazing meet ! I promise not to drink, take notes and be very sensible

Be a good thing IMO. Trouble is it's currently galaxy season -- brilliant for deep sky astrophotography, but not too good for planets. Then we have that there isn't true darkness during the Summer months. So ... towards the end of September? Somewhere central away from the lights of Birmingham etc?

 

[GeoffL]

For anyone interested and in the Wadebridge, Cornwall area, one of the local astronomy groups (Kernow Astronomers) is hosting a "Sun 'n Stars" event on Sat 1st April 2023 at the National Trust Pentire site (GPS 50.582482 , -4.9083993). Solar viewing and displays available from some time after midday (plan is to start setting up then) and views of the Moon, Mars etc. after dark -- weather permitting, obviously!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

 

[Scotia]

We don't have that problem of light pollution here as we have no street lighting whatsoever, my dad used to say you have different stars here i tried to explain to him but he never got to grips with light pollution.

 

[Wully]

I’m up in the Cairngorms the weather’s amazing pure blue skys but you felt like you could almost touch the stars last night. Once seen a UFO up here but that’s a different Story

 

[colinm]

We don't have that problem of light pollution here as we have no street lighting whatsoever, my dad used to say you have different stars here i tried to explain to him but he never got to grips with light pollution.

We have no street lighting in our village, but light polution from surrounding villages and towns makes a big differance.