Quick report from Chamonix

[LaVey]

Well just got back from Chamonix on my second snowboarding trip of the year.

We were staying in a chalet about 5 miles outside of the town in a 'very' dark location - unfortunatley i dont have a 'travel' scope.. but one of the guys in out group was a merchant sailor and new a lot about constellations. All I can say is 'my god its full of stars!'

I dont think in all my years that i have ever seen so many stars, we had a limited viewpoint because of the height of the alps around us, but orion was amazing.. from my backgarden i can see the 2 top and 2 bottom stars plus the 3 of the belt, out there the whole area was just awash with hundreds of tiny pinpricks, I'm sure you could see the nebula with naked eyes as well, I know this isnt much of a report.. but I just thought i would share as i was completley awestruck by the amount of stars visible and the amount we dont see here at home.

Just wish i could afford the 1.5 million euro price tag for a holiday home in chamonix... stars and snowboarding

[lunator]

LaVey

Going to a dark site is always an eye-opener the only snag is coming bback to the orange skies of home...

Cheers

Ian

[Talitha]

Sounds like the sky was absolutely stunning.

Is there a travel scope in your future, then?

[thing]

Where my lad lives in Queensland the skies are incredible. I just sit in the garden with my jaw open for hours looking at the sky. My lad usually reminds me that 'They're stars dad, they're there every night you know.'