How to find observing sites?

Well, o.k., at least I hope this question isn't as boring as "what telescope
should I buy?". :-)

I'm getting back into observing after a hiatus of 30 years. (Yeah, I know,
gak.)
Getting a decent scope for Xmas. No questions on that front...yet.

But, I live in a city, and the sky in my back yard is...well, I'd
guess magnitude 3; might be worse than that. So my new scope
is (oops, I mean will be) very portable, and I expect to do most
of my viewing elsewhere. Especially since DSOs is my thing.
Or at least it was 30 years ago.

So I have a stupid question. I know I can find much better skies
within, say, 30 minutes of here, but how should I go about finding specific
sites that are (a) open to the public after dark, (b) safe, (c) whatever
other factors I need to consider? Parks and such seem
like a good choice, but I can't find any parks that (according to their
web sites) are open after dark. (There might be some, but many web sites don't
even say.) Is there some category of site that I'm not thinking of?
In short, any suggestions? I'm willing to do the leg work but I'm not
sure where to start.

Thanks.

Mike Keith
Word play, math, music:
http://users.aol.com/s6sj7gt/mikehome.htm

know I can find much better skies
within, say, 30 minutes of here, but how should I go about finding specific

Join an amateur astronomy club.
In my club we have several sites and all we have to do is tell the local police
what were doing. Since they know they wont sneak up behid us and say "Put up
your hands". I addition we have sort of a protection because they'r on the
look out,

I know I can find much better skies
within, say, 30 minutes of here, but how should I go about finding specific
sites that are (a) open to the public after dark, (b) safe, (c) whatever
other factors I need to consider?

Astro-clubs in your area always know the best sites:
http://www.astroleague.org/al/general/society.html

I remember seeing a site posted in this group where you could type in
your location and various nearby dark sky sites were mapped. I'll try
to dig it up, but I gotta go to work now.
As for myself though, I just went out and drove around looking for
dark country roads. A low area is actually kind of good, because seeing
is usually rotten at the horizon anyway, and surrounding hills can block
out distant lights.
Marty

As for myself though, I just went out and drove around looking for
dark country roads. A low area is actually kind of good, because
seeing
is usually rotten at the horizon anyway, and surrounding hills can
block
out distant lights.

That's what I did and it only took an hour or so of driving around
(once I got in the area) to find a suitable site. I've been using that
site now for four years. It turned out to be private property, but
most land is. If its unfenced and undeveloped, chances are that the
owner won't mind you using it. In my case the owner and his kids just
happened to be there one night but once he saw that I was harmless he
said I could use it anytime for this purpose. I've only seen the owner
that one time in a couple dozen visits.

Cheers,
Ritesh

In article , movac5
@webtv.net says...
I remember seeing a site posted in this group where you could type in
your location and various nearby dark sky sites were mapped. I'll try
to dig it up, but I gotta go to work now.
As for myself though, I just went out and drove around looking for
dark country roads. A low area is actually kind of good, because seeing
is usually rotten at the horizon anyway, and surrounding hills can block
out distant lights.
Marty

Is this what you were thinking about? It's on Phil Harrington's
website : http://www.philharrington.net/dssd.htm

--

-- Len Philpot - --
------ ----- http://philpot.org/ --

I find topo maps useful in finding back roads and out of the=20
way places to observe from.

-Florian

In article ,
says...
I find topo maps useful in finding back roads and out of the=20
way places to observe from.

-Florian

Of course in Louisiana, road maps look pretty much like topo maps -
No much topography here, just flat, flat and more flat... :-)
(and mosquitoes and water)

--

-- Len Philpot - --
------ ----- http://philpot.org/ --

Is this what you were thinking about? It's
on Phil Harrington's website :
http://www.philharrington.net/dssd.htm
--
=A0=A0-- Len Philpot -

I don't think so, because the one I remembered had some spots in Iowa...
That's a nice site though!
Marty

It might seem a bit macabre, but grave yards can be found which are dark and
lonely; perfect spots for observing. The local tenants are quiet and never
complain.

Mike

"Mike Keith" wrote in message
...
Well, o.k., at least I hope this question isn't as boring as "what
telescope
should I buy?". :-)

I'm getting back into observing after a hiatus of 30 years. (Yeah, I
know,
gak.)
Getting a decent scope for Xmas. No questions on that front...yet.

But, I live in a city, and the sky in my back yard is...well, I'd
guess magnitude 3; might be worse than that. So my new scope
is (oops, I mean will be) very portable, and I expect to do most
of my viewing elsewhere. Especially since DSOs is my thing.
Or at least it was 30 years ago.

So I have a stupid question. I know I can find much better skies
within, say, 30 minutes of here, but how should I go about finding
specific
sites that are (a) open to the public after dark, (b) safe, (c) whatever
other factors I need to consider? Parks and such seem
like a good choice, but I can't find any parks that (according to their
web sites) are open after dark. (There might be some, but many web sites
don't
even say.) Is there some category of site that I'm not thinking of?
In short, any suggestions? I'm willing to do the leg work but I'm not
sure where to start.

Thanks.

Mike Keith
Word play, math, music:
http://users.aol.com/s6sj7gt/mikehome.htm