How do I find the best observing site for the deep sky objects?
The first step in observing the deep site is finding an observing site.
Avoid the city's lights ~ the best way to look at a good map of the area.
To determine where the lights are the most problem.
Spend some time with those
satellite photos and a map, that you can spot all the large, bright cities
in effort to avoid them!
Observing List
Obvious is that you must make an observing list for the part of the night
sky.
If you are going to the East, do not make the observing list of object for the
West.If you are going to the South, do not make the observing list of object for the
North.
Because . . . you will have
driven for an hour or more and set up the telescope, only to be chasing
objects that are lost in city lights or below the
horizon
That way, they will be "in
the dark" once the sun goes down in the West.
Sky Direction
In general, make an observing list that is in the sky direction you're driving toward, so if you're driving to the East, make a list of galaxies, nebulae and clusters that are well above the eastern horizon.
One light
If you have one light dome in low sky that you are concerned about, if there are multiple cities nearby, you just have to do the best you can.
Your maps
Look at your maps carefully again and minimum the sky brightness of your site.
What seems to be the best site is just dark, quiet country road or at the National Parks , you may
have to determine if the land is privately owned.
Unexpected lights
Occasionally, driving to a new site to find that some unexpected lights are interfering with what we
wanted to observe.
A problem with comets or
other objects, which are often, near the horizon where the lights can be
most bothersome.
If you don't need to get too close to the horizon, then try using hills or trees to block the
unwanted light source.
A vehicle can also be used to block off the lights if it is flat country.
Derek J Rowley © copyright 2004