Dark sites to visit from Triangle area for Milky Way and observing (Raleigh: motel, community college)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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What are some good dark sites that we can visit easily from the Triangle area? If they are a good driving distance from our area, what do people usually do if can't drive back - camp? Find a motel nearby?
A friend told me about the Bare Dark Sky Observatory in Burnsville, NC which is about 4 hours drive from the Triangle. It's in the mountains, so the motels there are very small and could be shady, but I guess I can pick the one with the most reviews. Seems like a cool facility for us in NC - they have telescopes you can use if you reserve a time or I think you can just go there 24/7 with your own equipment. Here's the website:
I absolutely love staying at the Ocracoke Campground. You can sit on the beach all night and listen to the ocean and look up at the stars. There's nothing like it. It has a Class 2 Bortle number and an SQM of 21.97.
What are some good dark sites that we can visit easily from the Triangle area? If they are a good driving distance from our area, what do people usually do if can't drive back - camp? Find a motel nearby?
A friend told me about the Bare Dark Sky Observatory in Burnsville, NC which is about 4 hours drive from the Triangle. It's in the mountains, so the motels there are very small and could be shady, but I guess I can pick the one with the most reviews. Seems like a cool facility for us in NC - they have telescopes you can use if you reserve a time or I think you can just go there 24/7 with your own equipment. Here's the website:
In college, we used to like to (umm, I guess I better be careful here) engage in some activities that made our minds more receptive to the universe and watch the stars on a mountain. I went to App State.
There is a trail called rough ridge, it is on the side of Grandfather Mountain, near the BRP Viaduct. Easy enough hike, and DARK. Probably a little closer than Burnsville. One night in particular, we saw dozens of shooting stars. We all thought it was the (umm, still being careful) condition we were in, but it turned out we were telling some friends, and it was a major meteor shower. That was in the late 1980's and still has a lasting impression on me.
Burnsville is not that far from Asheville, so you could go there and stay in Asheville. or go to rough ridge and stay in Boone, you might also look at areas outside of Mount Pilot, which is a bit closer.
Also, a really cold night is usually best for star-gazing.
Geeze, now I want to (ummmmm) go see some stars. hahahahahaha <--it was a long time ago, I'm sure the statutes of limitations have run out...
I'm currently building out a scope for astrophotography. I've seen Jordan Lake (dam) mentioned as a location close to the Raleigh area with "better" conditions for viewing... however I'm sure still heavily light polluted for astrophotography.
In the best conditions at Jordan Lake, are any DSOs visible with the right equipment? In my case probably an 8" SCT with a good mount... but still researching.
In college, we used to like to (umm, I guess I better be careful here) engage in some activities that made our minds more receptive to the universe and watch the stars on a mountain. I went to App State.
There is a trail called rough ridge, it is on the side of Grandfather Mountain, near the BRP Viaduct. Easy enough hike, and DARK. Probably a little closer than Burnsville. One night in particular, we saw dozens of shooting stars. We all thought it was the (umm, still being careful) condition we were in, but it turned out we were telling some friends, and it was a major meteor shower. That was in the late 1980's and still has a lasting impression on me.
Burnsville is not that far from Asheville, so you could go there and stay in Asheville. or go to rough ridge and stay in Boone, you might also look at areas outside of Mount Pilot, which is a bit closer.
Also, a really cold night is usually best for star-gazing.
Geeze, now I want to (ummmmm) go see some stars. hahahahahaha <--it was a long time ago, I'm sure the statutes of limitations have run out...
Thanks for the map link! I hadn't seen ways to quantify this before. It looks like Bortle Scale 4 is defined as "the Milky Way well above the horizon is still impressive," and spots like Jordan Lake Dam qualify.
The nearest area where you'll get past the city lights looks to be Kerr/Gaston lakes. And Ocracoke / Portsmouth islands are some of the few spots in the eastern US with truly dark skies.
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