dark-sky site Danbury CT ?

Started by oosul, 03/09/2005 04:20AM
Posted 03/09/2005 04:20AM Opening Post
Hi, my name is Avi and if I may, a question: I'm from Danbury CT. I've owned my 8" cst for a year and been doing most of my sky gazing from my back yard in Danbury; the thing is I'm realizing that I'll need a little more darkness if I want to see a little more details (casini division, Jupiter storm, any galaxies). I tried finding a dark-sky site on my own but wasn't very successful. Do you have any recommendation for a site within an hour or two from Danbury that is darker? (A public place, apparently big dogs in the dark is no fun!!) Thank you in advance. Avi
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203 797-0359
Posted 03/09/2005 05:32AM #1
Check out the dark sky map for your area, I found this, 49 miles as the crow flies (click the light polution map and road map links):
http://cleardarksky.com/c/LkTagNYkey.html?1

This spot is used by http://www.rocklandastronomy.com/ I highly recommend finding a club, as Jen and I have found observing much more rewarding and fun with other people having a good time.

Dannon
Posted 03/09/2005 09:23AM #2
the thing is I'm realizing that I'll need a little more darkness if I want to see a little more details (casini division, Jupiter storm, any galaxies).
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Hi Avi:

Certainly seeing galaxies in detail requires a dark sky location but planetary detail is unaffected by light pollution so with the proper seeing conditions and eyepiece selection you should be able to see the Cassini division and well as detail in the cloud belts and shadow transits on jupiter from your back yard.

Viewing over trees and buildings is not ideal but with Saturn high in the sky in the early evening, you should be catching a glimpse of the Cassini.

But overcourse, a dark site is a great thing and those DSOs just pop out all over when the sky is dark.

jon