Light Pollution

[Johnboy2011]

Does anyone know what is the best free light pollution map? I'm trying to work out the nearest dark sky to me (Poole, Dorset)?

Thanks

[jwallis]

Not sure on maps John, but i live near poole at canford heath. The new forrest is good for dark skies, and i keep meaning to have a look at a place called Badbury Rings as this a little bit closer for nights in the week.

Your more than welcome to tag along if you like when i go up there to see if it is ok.

Jon

[reddoss]

There is the Philip's Dark Skies Map ISBN 0540086126 which sell for about £6/7 from some astronomy retailers. PulsarOptical sell them.

[Superewza]

need-less light pollution

There's a simulator on there, might not be as accurate as you're after but you get a general picture.

[kharga]

Try CPRE - Campaigns and click on your area in related docs on the right hand side.

[Trull]

Don't forget to get your Star Count results in to help others in this tricky position.

Only takes a few minutes - and really helps!

[perrin6]

Lovely Dorset ! - it has my three favourite things, geology, nature and dark, dark skies.

[mikeknowle]

This excellent site was posted by a fellow member just now....

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

I'm looking around it now doing some planning for my journeys around the UK with a suitable Dob. in my car....

Mike

[ArcturusMDS]

http://www.mydarksky.com is currently trying to map areas and find dark sites and highlight light pollution hotspots. Data is limited as it's still fairly new but the more of us who get involved the more useful it'll be for us all.

You can also view the map complete with the light pollution layer mentioned by mikeknowle. This feature is still being developed so it's not perfect yet.

MyDarkSky - SQM Map

[ObeyOne]

Not sure on maps John, but i live near poole at canford heath. The new forrest is good for dark skies, and i keep meaning to have a look at a place called Badbury Rings as this a little bit closer for nights in the week.

Your more than welcome to tag along if you like when i go up there to see if it is ok.

Jon

Badbury Rings (An Iron Age Hill Fort) - close to me too and a good dark site. Go there regularly with the kids for a weekend stroll, but also a few years ago used to go there with a friend and his scope.

Karl