How to find dark sky sights?

[Ritzycat]

Hello! I live in a light polluted area but I really want to get away and see the sky without severe light pollution. How do you guys find your dark sky sites? 

[Charic]

Seeing the light pollution directly with your own eyes does not help. Are you able to hide in the shadows and avoid direct  eye contact with the pollution. This alone can help . A blanket / cover over the head also helps shield your eyes. Once your eyes are accustomed to this new level of darkness, your observations may improve, unless your telescope points directly at a street light.  as for locating dark skies, I'm just surrounded by nothing if I drive a few miles out of the City. If I drive for about 50 mins in one direction, I can setup in places where there are no visible lights for about 15 miles in any direction, except for the occasional car lights that may pass.

Any site that is darker than your present site is a bonus, but often a car trip is necessary to get there. but hiding in the shadows or covering up does help. 

http://cleardarksky.com/lp/StLouisMOlp.html?Mn=optics

[ronin]

Looking at google maps the closest looks like the other side of the 255 towards Columbia (NOT the big one along I70). Millstadt area looks like it should be dark.

There are 2 Astro Clubs in St Louis, Boeing (I assume you have to be an employee) or River bend Astro Club: http://riverbendastro.org/

I have heard of River Bend, so they may well be a big club.

Looks like 2 clubs at Springfield (Why do I have a feeling I have done this before - Springfield sounds familiar)

Springfield AS: http://www.springfieldastronomy.org/

Ozarks AA: http://oaac.oakwire.com/

[acey]

Looks like 2 clubs at Springfield (Why do I have a feeling I have done this before - Springfield sounds familiar)

Maybe Homer and Bart are members

For dark sites: shielding from direct light is a start, but doesn't make the sky darker - it just makes you better able to adapt to the brightness of the sky rather than your neighbour's light. To find a dark sky you need to get as far as possible from urban lighting, i.e. drive to somewhere rural. You will still see "light domes" on the horizon from distant towns or cities. If you can get about 30 miles from any major town then you should have very good darkness overhead. Otherwise just try rural spots until you find somewhere safe and convenient where you can see the Milky Way easily with the naked eye.

[scarp15]

Local knowledge from people you might meet at astro clubs / star parties would make a good starting point.  As would knowledge of your outlying environment, particularly if say you go out walking / cycling etc. Drive to and anticipate a sense for how the location might feel if used for an evening stargazing. As acey has pointed out, 30 miles from a major Town is a good place to be, though you will still get a distant light dome glow, the sky above however will be in good shape. Then aim to invest in a Sky Quality Meter.

[Ritzycat]

Thank you for all of your help. I'm sort of burdened down by school for the next while but perhaps in the next few months I can arrange to go pretty far away.

I'm actually going to be visiting Rolla this winter, so perhaps I can make a quick detour if the weather is permitting and we can find a good spot.

[nashtok]

For the States,  check out this site:

http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/

I've found that site to bit a little bit easier to use than the cleardarksky site.

Cheers,

_N