Location location location

[fedster]

http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/dark-sky-discovery-sites/map.html

after looking at this map, and comparing it to the light poloution one ive got http://naeg.org.uk/resources/DarkSkyMap.jpg

i dont understand why some locations are so close to minor pollution, or do good scopes not get a much interference from the light pollution

when ever i get a chance i tend to just head to 3 locations to get a good view of the sky (just a place to pull in and forget about the stress of work for a hour.

Llanogllen : panorama road head turn either way once on it from Llangollen and you have a choice of a few lay bys and car parks

Bwlch penbarras : its a road above mold high up as well.

Llandegla Forrest : turn left at the plough inn of the A 525 Then after about 1/4 a mile the road splits. its just a big loop so either way is good.

all 3 are a bit of a trek for me from warrington but alas it seems the nice dark areas with minimum light pollution.

Winters hill is also good but a lot of ambient light about. So how accurate are these maps and is their any better marked maps showing the light pollution.

Cheers Tony

[Mr Q]

It may be the map's resolution. Here in the NE U.S., my state is loaded with light pollution but if I drive about 30 miles to a state forest, the sky is very dark even though there are a few large towns only a dozen miles away. Dark sky maps show this area as light polluted but actual photos from space show a tiny area (the forest - 3x4 miles in size) where I go. Typical VLM there is 5.5 to 6.0 but where I live, about 3-4 on average. The nearest light sources (houses and street lights) from the forest is only about a mile so it doesn't take much moving to escape a lot of light polluted areas around the world.

Dark skies is where you find them...but you have to look by actual visits

[laser_jock99]

Your fist link seems to be of little value- for instance one of the darkest areas of the UK, the Mid Wales mountains isn't even rated or mentioned ???

Try the full screen zoomable interactive map here:

http://www.avex-asso.org/dossiers/pl/uk/index.html

You can zoom down to village level to search out dark pockets.

The Needless site is worth a look too.

http://www.need-less.org.uk/

Happy hunting