Edgardinho Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 I'm currently going through the process of looking for a new house and was wondering what people's views are on the best direction to face.For most people they would want South to SW for the sun during the day but is that really the most interesting piece of the sky? I'm currently facing South and it does seem good compared to the rest but streetlights cover anything other than South at the moment so i'm not entirely sure.Thanks,Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichM63 Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Luckily I can face in any direction, but always seem to gravitate to the East through South to West views.I suppose one consideration you might have is that you would want to be facing away from any town/city light dome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker1947 Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Check out Stellarium on high speed, South is the place to get good views SE and SW either side would be as good as it gets, check out the local (10 miles) area to the South no towns or villages will give you darker southern skies..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgardinho Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 Thanks, apologies for the duplicate post. I can't seem to delete one in a different forum.Yes i do think that south, give or take a bit is the best, but like you say, avoid any big domes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyWB Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 If you face south then, throughout the year , everything will come around to being visible. If you face north, it won't - you'll get more or less the same bit of sky at different orientations. (Opposite way round if in southern hemisphere) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnb Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I'm currently going through the process of looking for a new house and was wondering what people's views are on the best direction to face.Up. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoSuperNova Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I'd go South from East through West. I have an obscured West and always find I want to look at things just out of view, so that may just be me wanting what I can't have. And I simply find the North not to my taste Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveS Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Pretty much agree that south-ish is what's needed, also make sure that you're not facing the houses in the same road when looking south. Use google maps when looking for a house, and take a compass with you. Yes you may get some strange looks but tell them you're an astronomer, I did.Also have a good look around for horrors such as floodlit sports grounds and insecurity lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carbon Brush Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Compass is a good idea. I also received strange looks from the seller. But he wanted to sell and I had the money!Return to the area after dark to get a feel for intemittent and permanent LP.Take some binos with you if the sky is good. OK maybe not a good idea to wander the street pointing binos potentially at houses.I have intermittent LP from a neighbour who, believe it or not is into astronomy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 NE/E/SE was always my viewing direction(s) in my old house. Now in the new house i have N over the roof of the bungalow,E and W views. My S view is limited up to about 30-40 degrees because of trees. Out the front of the house i have nice views in all directions but there are a couple of lamps which are annoying but they dont seem to harm my view too much. I might relocate to observing from the front.South would be ideal as objects travel east to west so you get to observe them longer and when they are at zenith, they will appear better because less atmosphere to mess with views. The light is more direct.....if you know what i mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laser_jock99 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Check out the Avex UK Light Pollution when looking at new houses. It will give you a good feel of how much general light pollution there is in any particular area before you buy a househttp://www.avex-asso.org/dossiers/pl/uk/index.htmlYou should aim for a site with the least built up areas to your southern horizon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrosurf Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Ditto for south. But if you need to polar align, then you'll need a north view at the right angle to get Polaris.Alexxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy-kat Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Legal searches generally do not cover a big enough area so go do digging at council area plan to see where marked for expanded housing or retail etc. development if want to get a big a picture as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acey Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 You want a clear southerly view without prominent light domes. Not sure what the Newcastle light dome looks like from around Morpeth but you'll probably get better sky if you go west, in which case Newcastle light pollution moves towards your eastern horizon. My observing site is near Kirkwhelpington, considerably further from Newcastle, and the light dome is very prominent from there - but mostly hidden by a hill.Only way to check a site is go there at night and look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgardinho Posted November 12, 2014 Author Share Posted November 12, 2014 Thanks everyone - SW it will be.We've found the house which works for me at night and her during the day. Perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrosurf Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Thanks everyone - SW it will be.We've found the house which works for me at night and her during the day. Perfect!Passing ships at dawn,LOL.Congrats on the new house and here's hoping your view SW is full of celestial delights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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