vlebo Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 I dropped a client off in Wingrave the other night at about 11.30pm . On my way home through the back roads I came across a huge concreted semi circular area on the side of the road , so I pulled in and got out to have a look at the night sky. I was absolutely gobsmacked by how crystal clear the night sky was. I was a long way from any street lights or towns and the seeing conditions were perfect. I must have been there for a good twenty minutes and not a single car passed by. There were great views through 360 degrees at 10 degrees above the horizon.It was quiet and peaceful and a perfect place to set up and spend an enjoyable evening under the stars. I marked it on my satnav and was home in 40 mins. Looks like I have found myself a little spot to call my own !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightfisher Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Great, A dark site is worth its weight in gold, its like putting another couple of inches onto the aperture of the scope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah and Colins Astro Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Brilliant, I wish we could find somewhere that good so close to home! Hope you enjoy and you get some clear skies soon :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davedownsouth Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Yes, if I am ever driving home from a different direction and I have got some time on my hands, I quite often cut off down some random country lane and drive around looking for places to set up. It is always trying to find the spot which is far enough off the main road so head lights stop being an issue which is the hard part. One day I will find the perfect spot within a 20 minute drive of me, but not quite there yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertI Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Sounds like a great find, something to look forward to. I found a good place literally a mile from where i live. Like yours it was a concreted area on a backroad. Not the darkest place but at least away from car lights and street lights. Eventually i got permission from the farmer (who was only too happy to help) as my sessions were being spoiled by the worry of being 'moved on'. I used the site numerous times until some moron decided to dump a load of rubbish there - haven't used it since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Scunthorpe Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Sounds like thats a real gem. Hopefully be no problems when you head out there proper.Matt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooseholla Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Was it near fields? You sure it isn't going to be filled with potatoes and sugar beet at some point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beulah Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Dark sites are a rare thing!!My neighbour's hubby is a farmer and without me even asking they said I was more than welcome to set up on their land. Was well chuffed, as other dark sites have cars cruising around at night... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcolbert Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 one of the good things about living away from cities is not only the abundance of potential sites like farms, but you could also talk to the local shire/council about using disused sites of theirs. Close to the outskirts of our small town as an example there is an old water tower, been out of service for years, set on a hill, away from the town proper, no trees to obstruct the views etc. So maybe sometime spent with a county map can identify other possible sites as well?michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cotterless45 Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 It would be good to have a SGL data base of dark sites , suitable for safe viewing. We're very near Hicks Lodge in south Leicestershire. Much darker than the surrounding area. Lots of wildlife !Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlebo Posted April 26, 2015 Author Share Posted April 26, 2015 it seems like a large area where you can pull into off the road. it is not an entrance into anywhere, just a large flat area of concrete off the road , so nobody to ask permission to use really. I will take my large bino's and set up and see how it goes next time i'm free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asset189 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 it seems like a large area where you can pull into off the road. it is not an entrance into anywhere, just a large flat area of concrete off the road , so nobody to ask permission to use really. I will take my large bino's and set up and see how it goes next time i'm free.hummmmm, dont know if id go out there in the dark on my own, sounds like the kind of place the aliens use for a landing pad !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrManQ Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Hmmm. Large semi circluat concreted patch at edge of road? Sounds like a bus terminus Great find ! Jealous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callisto Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Great, A dark site is worth its weight in gold, its like putting another couple of inches onto the aperture of the scopeTook the words right out of my mouth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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