Here are good resources to find dark areas:
darksitefinder.com/maps.html (world coverage but not really detailed)
http://avex-asso.org/dossiers/pl/france/zoom/cdf-normale.htm... (France only, very detailed)
Falling in Love with the Dark
31–40 of 41 posts
Re: Falling in Love with the Dark
#32The worst part is that we're failing even on simple things that could reduce light pollution, such as using outdoor fixtures that direct the light only downward.
The International Dark Sky Association exists, but I don't know how successful they have been. http://www.darksky.org/lighting-codes/simple-guidelines-to-l...
Re: Falling in Love with the Dark
#33Here are good resources to find dark areas: darksitefinder.com/maps.html (world coverage but not really detailed) http://avex-asso.org/dossiers/pl/france/zoom/cdf-normale.htm... (France only, very detailed)
Attilla Danko has some really useful information on his website http://cleardarksky.com/csk/
He can generate clear sky charts for most of Canada and the U.S. You can see light pollution maps and there are links to this Google Maps light pollution overlay:
http://djlorenz.github.io/astronomy/lp2006/overlay/dark.html
Re: Falling in Love with the Dark
#34Once a year, some buddies from all over the country and I get together to spend a week in the deserts of Southern Utah and the Colorado Plateau. It's a driving adventure (we all drive old Land Rovers) but nights are spent in improvised campsites, as far as we can get from paved roads and civilizations. The rocks and the trees are beautiful but the night sky...the night sky is indescribable. We sit on our chairs aroun…
A couple of summers ago I did a week on the Grand Staircase. Some of the stuff that truly astounded me, even after spending a lot of time in the rural midwest as child:
* Lying on my back and looking straight up presented more stars than I usually see in the entire sky.
* When the moon rose, it woke me up with the brightness of it. The first night I thought it was morning for a moment.
* Watching satellites go overhead wasn't reserved for just the very reflective ones.
* I thought I'd seen the milky way before. I was very wrong.
* The sparks and tiny flame from a cigarette lighter were painfully bright. The glow of a cigarette lit my companions' faces when they had one (dimly but noticably).
* Staying one night at a motel in the tiny town of Kanab before heading back to civilization, I had trouble sleeping because it was so bright. Staying the next night in Vegas was even worse.
Re: Falling in Love with the Dark
#35In Tucson AZ we have few streetlights. It's nice. You can take a walk and see better because your night vision is not constantly being reset. A 45min drive up any of our local mountains and the Milky Way is bright and center, satellites whizzing by. The International Dark Sky Association (unsuprisingly based here) has resources for people interested in reclaiming their night sky: http://www.darksky.org/
Factoid: At Kitt Peak National Observatory, a working astronomical site, you get more light pollution from the Homeland Security / Border Patrol checkpoints that you do from the nearby city of Tucson. 1,000W bulbs: Just Say No.
I was in the Santa Ritas last weekend and noticed the same thing. The local interrogation point outshined the city. Our tax dollars at work.
Re: Falling in Love with the Dark
#36Here are good resources to find dark areas: darksitefinder.com/maps.html (world coverage but not really detailed) http://avex-asso.org/dossiers/pl/france/zoom/cdf-normale.htm... (France only, very detailed)
Attilla Danko has some really useful information on his website http://cleardarksky.com/csk/ He can generate clear sky charts for most of Canada and the U.S. You can see light pollution maps and there are links to this Google Maps light pollution overlay: http://djlorenz.github.io/astronomy/lp2006/overlay/dark.html
This is great, thanks.
Re: Falling in Love with the Dark
#37Once a year, some buddies from all over the country and I get together to spend a week in the deserts of Southern Utah and the Colorado Plateau. It's a driving adventure (we all drive old Land Rovers) but nights are spent in improvised campsites, as far as we can get from paved roads and civilizations. The rocks and the trees are beautiful but the night sky...the night sky is indescribable. We sit on our chairs aroun…
How can I learn to prepare for something like this? How can I find out where the good spots are? My wife and I would love to go on such an adventure, but we fear for things like bears and other predatory animals.
Re: Falling in Love with the Dark
#38Anyone knows what is a good place around the Seattle area to watch the sky at night? I know I'll probably have to drive quite a bit out of the city, but I'm looking for an option where I don't have to leave the state just for that :)
Re: Falling in Love with the Dark
#39The City Dark is a pleasant documentary about the loss of our night skies and what it means for us and other animals. Great soundtrack.
Re: Falling in Love with the Dark
#40Once a year, some buddies from all over the country and I get together to spend a week in the deserts of Southern Utah and the Colorado Plateau. It's a driving adventure (we all drive old Land Rovers) but nights are spent in improvised campsites, as far as we can get from paved roads and civilizations. The rocks and the trees are beautiful but the night sky...the night sky is indescribable. We sit on our chairs aroun…
How can I learn to prepare for something like this? How can I find out where the good spots are? My wife and I would love to go on such an adventure, but we fear for things like bears and other predatory animals.