Best region to build an observatory ?

Stephen Tonkin wrote:

I don't like kent because of the flooding risk

Not much danger of that here on the North Downs (I'm about 10 miles
south of Canterbury). Pretty dark here as well.

Best,
Stephen

Does he mean rivers overflowing or global warming and sea level rise?

If the latter, my part of Kent, Romney Marsh, is doomed. If he means
river flooding then most of England is at risk. It's just a question
of when the rain happens to fall heavily on the land that feeds the
rivers. We have built on flood plains just about everywhere.

In the 2000-01 floods, when Kent got it really badly, Romney Marsh
remained bone dry but without electricity. When I went to buy a
generator 400 feet higher in the Weald, I couldn't get to the
supplier: the roads were under water.

Cheers

Martin

--
Martin Frey
http://www.hadastro.org.uk
N 51 02 E 0 47

It is a difficult one. I have a light pollution map and the largest swathes
of dark are either west of Telford or north of York - a long way from
London - although there are small pockets of darkness elsewhere. I know from
experience and research that flooding risks occur around London in a wide
range of directions. Selsey is popular for observation, but as it once lost
a cathedral to the sea it hardly bodes well on the flooding front! As the
location of the replacement cathedral, inland at Chichester, is 112 km (70
miles) from London Selsey must be a similar distance.

"Takeshi" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

I have a rather bizarre request (possibly the first of a kind asked in
this ng). I hope you do not consider it OT.

Some of you may remember me from my posts some time back in 2003, after
having stumbled across this ng - and it rekindling my interest in
astronomy etc. I am looking to purchase some land (about 10 acres), to
build an observatory (as well as a new home). I thought I may be able to
get some ideas from this ng, as to where we would be a good place (i.e
will not suffer from too much light pollution - but at the same time, is
not in the middle of nowhere). Basically, anywhere within 90 miles of
London will be a potential candidate. I don't like Kent because of the
flooding risk, but other than that, anything falling within the 90 mile
radius should be fair game.

Since we (my wife and I) will also be building our new home there,
hopefully, it should have a rural/village feel to it. Any
suggestions/feedback at all will be very much appreciated. Naturally,
the house will be built first (my wife won't have it any other way!).
but once the main house is completed, I will most likely be returning
here with queries about suggestions on the best telescope/ or if I need
to build my own. Maybe some "crazy" optical physicist/engineer out there
may even help me build the "multiple lens" telescope I was banging on
about last time. I have already downloaded an architectural design for
the observatory and am pretty ready to go.

I would be very interested in hearing from someone who has attempted
this kind of thing (i.e. building a private observatory), w.r.t planning
permission required etc. But first things first, which areas of England
(within 90 miles of London), are the most picturesque/rural - and also
have the least light pollution?

Look forward to your responses.

One presumes the 90 mile radius of London is arbitrary. What is
probably more important is commuting time to and from your place of
work. If the road system is poor in one area, or heavy traffic
massively reduces local motorway speeds to a crawl on a daily basis,
then the arbitrary radius might as well be 500 miles or 5.

It seems almost perverse to try and find a dark sight in England or
reachable Wales where any other choice is possible. It must be one of
the most uselessly light polluted lands on earth. It could all be so
different if anyone cared. The simple substitution of street
downlighters, the banning of lighting on motorways for the sake of it
and nationwide time-switches could reduce it all within a short period
of time. For far less than the cost of just one open-ended military
research project. Which should be paid for by the competing defense
company. Not the taxpayer.

Maurice Gavin's imaging and filtering suggestion only serves to
emphasise the accute problems in the UK. A bit like like suggesting an
industrial mask and ear defenders to live comfortably in London. What a
depressing thought! You couldn't pay me enough to live there!
*
Chris.B
In Darkest Denmark

wrote in message
ups.com...

Maurice Gavin's imaging and filtering suggestion only serves to
emphasise the accute problems in the UK. A bit like like suggesting an
industrial mask and ear defenders to live comfortably in London. What a
depressing thought! You couldn't pay me enough to live there!
*
Chris.B
In Darkest Denmark

M Gavin's filtering will not work if what I found in the latest Milton
Keynes housing development becomes the norm for the UK. "Domestic" street
lighting has gone WHITE, with extensive spread sideways, even if directly
upwards is shielded. And, I do mean WHITE, not high pressure amber or
similar.
Heard that it's to help victims of street violence to more accurately
describe the colour of their assailants clothes.

--
M Stewart
Milton Keynes, UK
http://www.megalith.freeserve.co.uk/oddimage.htm

"Malcolm Stewart" wrote in
message ...
M Gavin's filtering will not work if what I found in the latest Milton
Keynes housing development becomes the norm for the UK. "Domestic" street
lighting has gone WHITE, with extensive spread sideways, even if directly
upwards is shielded. And, I do mean WHITE, not high pressure amber or
similar.
Heard that it's to help victims of street violence to more accurately
describe the colour of their assailants clothes.

I don't understand this concept of street lights making it safer - it's just
easier to spot victims. With rechargeable batteries, anyone can afford to
carry a torch which allows identification of any would-be assailant without
the risk of exposure.
Grim

Makes a decent weapon to defend yourself too if you get a good one.
Then you can see the colour of their blood in the nice white torch
beam.
*
Chris.B

Grimble Gromble wrote:
"Malcolm Stewart" wrote in
message ...
M Gavin's filtering will not work if what I found in the latest
Milton Keynes housing development becomes the norm for the UK. "Domestic"
street lighting has gone WHITE, with extensive spread
sideways, even if directly upwards is shielded. And, I do mean
WHITE, not high pressure amber or similar.
Heard that it's to help victims of street violence to more accurately
describe the colour of their assailants clothes.

I don't understand this concept of street lights making it safer -

Ah well, this little number is peddled by the Institute of Lighting
Engineers, and boy, do they like using it.

http://www.urbislighting.com/lightingandcrime.html

Chef!

On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:46:22 -0000, "Malcolm Stewart"
wrote:

wrote in message
oups.com...

Maurice Gavin's imaging and filtering suggestion
Chris.B
In Darkest Denmark

M Gavin's filtering will not work if what I found in the latest Milton
Keynes

--
M Stewart
Milton Keynes, UK

I didn't mention "filtering" in my mail -that's Darkest Denmark's
invention.

The wide dynamic range of astro CCD cameras even without any selective
colour filters before the camera, allows the bright background [light
pollution] to be removed in post image processing - but you knew that
anyway.

PS we could all come and live in Darkest Denmark and bring our
security and Xmas lights - and press the Govt for desent street
lighting like back-home ! Entry permit "Name one famous Dane".

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 09:37:07 GMT, (Maurice Gavin)
wrote:

PS we could all come and live in Darkest Denmark and bring our
security and Xmas lights - and press the Govt for desent street
lighting like back-home ! Entry permit "Name one famous Dane".

Who nose?

Sorry - that's as bad as a Christmas cracker joke ;-)

--
Pete
http://www.digitalsky.org.uk
Home of the Lunar Parallax Demonstration Project

Takeshi wrote:
Hi all,

I have a rather bizarre request (possibly the first of a kind asked in
this ng). I hope you do not consider it OT.

Some of you may remember me from my posts some time back in 2003, after
having stumbeld accross this ng - and it rekindling my interest in
astronomy etc. I am looking to purchase some land (about 10 acres), to
build an observatory (as well as a new home). I thought I may be able to
get some ideas from this ng, as to where we would be a good place (i.e
will not suffer from too much light pollution - but at the same time, is
not in the middle of nowhere). Basically, anywhere within 90 miles of
London will be a potential candidate. I don't like kent because of the
flooding risk, but other than that, anything falling within the 90 mile
radius should be fair game.

Since we (my wife and I) will also be building our new home there,
hopefully, it should have a rural/village feel to it. Any
suggestions/feedback at all will be very much appreciated. Naturally,
the house will be built first (my wife won't have it any other way!).
but once the main house is completed, I will most likely be returning
here with queries about suggestions on the best telescope/ or if I need
to build my own. Maybe some "crazy" optical physicist/engineer out there
may even help me build the "multiple lens" telescope I was banging on
about last time. I have already downloaded an architectural design for
the observatory and am pretty ready to go.

I would be very interested in hearing from someone who has attempted
this kind of thing (i.e. building a private observatory), w.r.t planning
permision required etc. But first things first, which areas of England
(within 90 miles of London), are the most picturesque/rural - and also
have the least light pollution?

Look forward to your responses.



Guys,

Many thanks for all the feedback. Wish you all a very happy, prosperous
New Year !!

"Takeshi"