Dark Sky Sites Around Rotherham/Sheffield/South Yorkshire

[Wordy]

Hi

Could anyone advise if there are any dark sky sites in or around the Rotherham/Sheffield/South Yorkshire area that are easy to get to? Our back garden is awash with street lights and has direct line of sight to Rotherham Town Centre & its associated lights and it's pretty difficult to see anything.

Thanks

[ronin]

I suspect that you are going to have to look a bit West to the Peak District Nat Park.

Where in there I have no idea - I assume there are areas to park a car at and walk during the day so one of those.

Clubs

Local clubs may have sites they use, maybe join one that you find suitable

Even reasonable dark skies are not common, I was stood out looking for Perseids last week at 1:30 and the skies were not really dark, the MW was only just visible and there were no lights in sight of me for some 4, 5, 6 miles. So what was washing it out I am not sure.

[sungrazer]

Check out http://www.lightpollutionmap.info/, it's just been updated with 2015 data. Peak District NP, as Ronin says, seems to be your best bet, unless you go further afield towards the lincolnshire coast.

[Keltoi]

 Clumber park just over in nottinghamshire and the Moors north east of doncaster (hatfield moors and humberhead peatlands nature res) should all be pretty good.

[Interstellarshaw88]

I would suggest a place called hathersage in the Peak District it's not too far from Sheffield and it's been awarded a dark sky.

I have been several times but just my luck I've not been blessed with clear sky's just rain at the mo !

[bishbosh]

I'm also in the Rotherham area. Looking at the light pollution map the area between Dinnington and Oldcotes seems to be ok and within a short driving distance. The peak district is the best but it takes a good hour to get to Mam Tor, I expect north of Hathersage would also be fine and it's a bit closer.

I'm currently also only venturing as far as my back garden which is in a yellow area although there is a light blue area only a couple of miles away.

[Charic]

I'm local to some very dark sites, its the get up and go that becomes the issue, so much planning, then the rain arrives?

I too suffer from light pollution, plus no views to any point on my horizon.

That said, all is not lost in my zenith. With Polaris 'almost' directly overhead! I can make out several areas of interest around the pole, and can see M31 and the Milky Way, Ursa Major, and Orion for short spell before obscurity behind housing, yet drive away and different skies alltogether!

But I still get good results from my garden, by shielding my eyes from the street lights? Blanket over head, hide in a shadow or use my tent?

keep at it, and try to creat a simple hideaway/shield in your garden, but with ANY telescope, getting away from light pollution will provide the best from that scope.

[rockystar]

Check out these guys: http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/196629-wadas-wakefield-and-district-astronomical-society/

don't think they will be very far from you. I met them a few nights ago, nice group of people. Haven't been out observing with them yet though - clouds, damn clouds and more clouds.