17 New Dark Sites in UK

[DRT]

I just picked this up on BBC Breakfast so it might not be "news" to some others here...

http://www.stfc.ac.uk/news/stargazing-sites-free-from-light-pollution/

 

[Timebandit]

46 minutes ago, DRT said:

I just picked this up on BBC Breakfast so it might not be "news" to some others here...

http://www.stfc.ac.uk/news/stargazing-sites-free-from-light-pollution/

 

 

Nice one Derek. You don't hang around passing the news onto us SGL members, you should be our own dedicated SGL news report me think's?. I have just been looking at that myself.

I understand the TV news crew this morning were at and in the kielder observatory, looked well impressive set up.  Some great views from there from the night sky images shown and the impact of light pollution, The before light pollution image and after light pollution image . And what a complete difference in available view, just amazing what impact light pollution has on our sky's and to amerture astronomy like ourselves.

They did bring up the possibility some sort of regulations to control light pollution and hopefully with added interest in astronomy and news articles like the one seen in the TV slot this morning it will bring more pressure to control the light pollution problems.

But a nice little article on the TV this morning and we all like dark sites for amazing views, so need more of them?

[estwing]

No excuse for not using them...get yourselves out there folks!

[Stu]

Thanks Derek, nice one!

[DRT]

It was good to see the BBC dedicating some time to this but my one criticism is that during the article they fell into the old trap of showing processed images of various DSOs giving the impression that if you go to a dark site and look through a telescope that is what you would see.

 

 

[SteveNickolls]

Dark Where?

I was first filled with interest in this announcement but it quickly turned into disappointment on finding out my nearest truly dark site was ‘Suprise View’ near Hathersage off the A6187 and an mere 45.7miles away (taking 1 hour 21 minutes to get there with no account of traffic and another 1 hr 21 minutes coming home). I’m certainly not wanting to shoot the messenger here either but 92 miles and 2 hrs 42 minutes?

Good luck to those who are closer to such locations or who feel the trip is well spent. I just think it shows how generally poor conditions are in this island of ours.

 

Anyway thanks for the information.

Cheers,
Steve

[estwing]

2 hours ago, SteveNickolls said:

Dark Where?

I was first filled with interest in this announcement but it quickly turned into disappointment on finding out my nearest truly dark site was ‘Suprise View’ near Hathersage off the A6187 and an mere 45.7miles away (taking 1 hour 21 minutes to get there with no account of traffic and another 1 hr 21 minutes coming home). I’m certainly not wanting to shoot the messenger here either but 92 miles and 2 hrs 42 minutes?

Good luck to those who are closer to such locations or who feel the trip is well spent. I just think it shows how generally poor conditions are in this island of ours.

 

Anyway thanks for the information.

Cheers,
Steve

If you rock climb you go to mountains, If you observe you go to dark skies

[Scott]

14 minutes ago, estwing said:

If you rock climb you go to mountains, If you observe you go to dark skies

If you rock climb you go to mountains that have known good routes. If you observe you go to dark skies that are known to be clear. I'm sure half of the dark site in the uk are only so because the clouds block the moon :(

 

 

[swamp thing]

3 hours ago, estwing said:

No excuse for not using them...get yourselves out there folks!

Exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself.  

[SteveNickolls]

57 minutes ago, estwing said:

If you rock climb you go to mountains, If you observe you go to dark skies

I rather think most of us have to observe/image under a lot of light pollution for most of the time and maybe get to a darker location one week a year if fortunate when on holiday. As I said before, good luck to those who are closer to such locations or who feel the trip is well spent. Remember though there are people who have access difficulties and for whom astronomy is also their hobby. Astronomy is for all people across many circumstances and regardless of their access or ortherwise to dark sites.

Cheers,
Steve

[scarp15]

Good to learn of this cheers and good news concerning awareness for the campaign for preservation of these pockets of dark sky regions. I had been aware of the Forest of Bowland as a dark sky location,  I have family living not so far from here, might be nice to go stargazing there sometime.

[DRT]

8 minutes ago, scarp15 said:

Good to learn of this cheers and good news concerning awareness for the campaign for preservation of these pockets of dark sky regions. I had been aware of the Forest of Bowland as a dark sky location,  I have family living not so far from here, might be nice to go stargazing there sometime.

Yes, I think this particular announcement is more about raising awareness than actually identifying new places with dark skies. It seems that all that has actually changed is that these 17 have been formally classified by a particular organisation.

I've been promising myself a trip to Surprise View for two years but just haven't found the time

 

[faulksy]

5 hours ago, SteveNickolls said:

Dark Where?

I was first filled with interest in this announcement but it quickly turned into disappointment on finding out my nearest truly dark site was ‘Suprise View’ near Hathersage off the A6187 and an mere 45.7miles away (taking 1 hour 21 minutes to get there with no account of traffic and another 1 hr 21 minutes coming home). I’m certainly not wanting to shoot the messenger here either but 92 miles and 2 hrs 42 minutes?

Good luck to those who are closer to such locations or who feel the trip is well spent. I just think it shows how generally poor conditions are in this island of ours.

 

Anyway thanks for the information.

Cheers,
Steve

£20 worth of fuel is a lot cheaper than a ep and you will see a lot more

[Timebandit]

 

I think the Dob mob have turned up to have there point of view Steve?(your out numbered).  I understand that we cannot all get to dark sites to get the best images possible through our scopes and as a mostly back yard astronomer myself I appreciate where you are coming from. It is so easy in the evening/night to step outside the door and look up and your hobby is on your doorstep, such an easy hobby to get to . And in all fairness you can still gain a lot out of this hobby even if you do have mild light pollution(as the best scope is the one that gets used). I have got some great views of DSO, planetary from back yard observing. Some observing is better than no observing and lots of people are content with the back yard .But the Dob mob with there big cannons do go for the full experience and obviously being dark site specialists they can get into places and have views we can only dream about. But I do recommend a dark site if at all possible as the mob have made clear it is well worth it for a tank of petrol?

[reddoss]

As I live in central Cardiff right next to night security lights the only chance I get to image is mainly at Star Parties. Sometimes I go to a campsite on my own and will spend a few nights there in the hope that at least one or two are clear.

However I do understand that other people may be much more tied to a home life and not have the freedom my work gives me.

[DRT]

I think we all just need to accept that different people enjoy this hobby in different ways and have circumstances that do or do not allow them to reach a dark site regularly.

Each to their own

 

[Bigwings]

Nice to have dark skies , be nice to have time to travel to them. Really excited to hear the news and so disappointed that there is not one within a few hours of me.

Anyone give me a pointer as to where the best sites are near Retford, Lincoln , Newark?

[DRT]

1 minute ago, Bigwings said:

Nice to have dark skies , be nice to have time to travel to them. Really excited to hear the news and so disappointed that there is not one within a few hours of me.

Anyone give me a pointer as to where the best sites are near Retford, Lincoln , Newark?

Clumber Park is just a few miles up the A1 from you and is apparently about the darkest area you will find around where you are. The alternative is to head directly east towards the coast but I don't know of any specific sites out that way.

[Bigwings]

2 minutes ago, DRT said:

Clumber Park is just a few miles up the A1 from you and is apparently about the darkest area you will find around where you are. The alternative is to head directly east towards the coast but I don't know of any specific sites out that way.

Full of boy racers and has a reputation for [removed word] after dark so the National Trust have patrols out and its supposed to be closed after dark. Do you know if the Nat Trust have an agreement of any kind for people with stargazing in mind.

[DRT]

5 minutes ago, Bigwings said:

Full of boy racers and has a reputation for [removed word] after dark so the National Trust have patrols out and its supposed to be closed after dark. Do you know if the Nat Trust have an agreement of any kind for people with stargazing in mind.

I don't know. I was aware of the reputation but thought that was a thing of the past. It would be worth giving them a call as it's a big space so maybe there are areas that would be suitable.

[SilverAstro]

6 hours ago, SteveNickolls said:

Dark Where?

I was first filled with interest in this announcement but it quickly turned into disappointment on finding out my nearest truly dark site was

Good question Steve, rubbish report on the beeb headlined "17 new dark sites", but the story itself was all about (a repitition of ) Kielder and the naughty polluters and yongsters who had never seen nuffink, not a word about where the 17 sites were lurking in temptation !

[Pete Presland]

I found this statement most depressing, I suppose I take it for granted that I can see Orion  

“Orion” sites. At these sites, the seven main stars in the winter constellation Orion are visible to the naked eye. Typically, this means away from, or shielded from, bright lights such as street lights, security lights or approaching car lights"

[DRT]

15 minutes ago, bunnygod1 said:

I found this statement most depressing, I suppose I take it for granted that I can see Orion  

“Orion” sites. At these sites, the seven main stars in the winter constellation Orion are visible to the naked eye. Typically, this means away from, or shielded from, bright lights such as street lights, security lights or approaching car lights"

I work in London regularly and on a cloudless winter night would struggle to find more than half a dozen bright things in the sky. It makes me appreciate what I can see at home

 

[SilverAstro]

20 minutes ago, bunnygod1 said:

bright lights such as street lights, security lights or approaching car lights"

I find it depressing that people need to be instructed on the types of light which are bright.

 

[Davey-T]

1 hour ago, Bigwings said:

Nice to have dark skies , be nice to have time to travel to them. Really excited to hear the news and so disappointed that there is not one within a few hours of me.

Anyone give me a pointer as to where the best sites are near Retford, Lincoln , Newark?

I think there's a like minded group in Lincolnshire who go to Badgers Farm ? perhaps one of them will spot this.

Lincoln AS possibly

Dave