TheSkySearchers-Welcome!

My question is, how many of you have a dark site to retreat to? Are some of you observing in city light conditions only? If so, what are you using for equipment and how effective is it working for you?

My queries are based on the fact I have decided there is no way I can see much of anything in a usually orange Bortle zone condition and 10x50 binos.

The fault is not with my binos. I love them, but I am just wondering how you yourselves get around suburban or urban LP issues.

Are you shaded from street and housing lights?

I manage, though the LP is worse now than it was in 2012, when I started up in the hobby again. Aperture is a bit helpful with fainter objects. In my Bortle 6/7 skies I was able to see M81 and M82 as well as NGC 4565 last night - three of my favorite galaxies. I couldn't see M51 because it was right at the zenith (the Bermuda triangle for Dobs as it is very hard to maneuver the scope).

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 6:24 pm Are you shaded from street and housing lights?

Not in the least, Gabby. I need some sort of baffle.

helicon wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 6:27 pm I manage, though the LP is worse now than it was in 2012, when I started up in the hobby again. Aperture is a bit helpful with fainter objects. In my Bortle 6/7 skies I was able to see M81 and M82 as well as NGC 4565 last night - three of my favorite galaxies. I couldn't see M51 because it was right at the zenith (the Bermuda triangle for Dobs as it is very hard to maneuver the scope).

Excellent Michael, thank you. Your reference helps me with my situation. I had the very same issues when I had my 10" Dob under very similar circumstances.

Some black tarping and PVC/ ABS plastic piping can be used to make light shields so you can become more ark adapted.

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 6:53 pm Some black tarping and PVC/ ABS plastic piping can be used to make light shields so you can become more ark adapted.

I understand the materials you are speaking of, but I can't picture the construction. Do you have a link or picture? Is it like a pup tent?

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 6:57 pm

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 6:53 pm Some black tarping and PVC/ ABS plastic piping can be used to make light shields so you can become more ark adapted.

I understand the materials you are speaking of, but I can't picture the construction. Do you have a link or picture? Is it like a pup tent?

I sent a PM

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 7:20 pm

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 6:57 pm

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 6:53 pm Some black tarping and PVC/ ABS plastic piping can be used to make light shields so you can become more ark adapted.

I understand the materials you are speaking of, but I can't picture the construction. Do you have a link or picture? Is it like a pup tent?

I sent a PM

Duly received

Where I live, I have found that observing after midnight which means after most folks have gone to bed and turned off a significant portion of their house lights, I typically get a half magnitude gain in my NELM.

It doesn't sound like much but it does help.

Cheers,
JT

I'm in a yellow zone south east of Charlotte.

So, Charlotte's light dome is in the trees to my north.
My southern view is not too bad.

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 6:57 pm

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 6:53 pm Some black tarping and PVC/ ABS plastic piping can be used to make light shields so you can become more ark adapted.

I understand the materials you are speaking of, but I can't picture the construction. Do you have a link or picture? Is it like a pup tent?

Check my gallery. I've modified the design. but it's a basic idea. And I use black shower curtains - very quiet and light weight.

Addendum: I painted all the PVC flat black.

My club has a dark site and observatory about 35 mins south of here.
It's a first class place with a meeting room.

It's a bit darker than my yard, but I hate driving after dark.
But I will camp there

JayTee wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 10:30 pm Where I live, I have found that observing after midnight which means after most folks have gone to bed and turned off a significant portion of their house lights, I typically get a half magnitude gain in my NELM.

It doesn't sound like much but it does help.

Cheers,
JT

Now, how will I ever find my way home without your pizza beacon?

This d****** leaves his porch light on all night.

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Sun May 24, 2020 12:47 am

JayTee wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 10:30 pm Where I live, I have found that observing after midnight which means after most folks have gone to bed and turned off a significant portion of their house lights, I typically get a half magnitude gain in my NELM.

It doesn't sound like much but it does help.

Cheers,
JT

Now, how will I ever find my way home without your pizza beacon?

This d****** leaves his porch light on all night.

To be clear, not you Jay. I meant the guy two houses down the street.

I am in the suburbs of London UK, Bortle 8 and it sucks. These days I don't do much in the way of observing, naked eye I can only see the most major stars.

I do imaging and find that narrowband works well for the "brighter" targets, so I take myself off to darker skies (Bortle 4) about an hours drive away where I can do so much more, on a regular basis, though with the coronavirus lockdown rules that currently isn't happening.

Carole

carastro wrote: ↑Sun May 24, 2020 5:43 am I am in the suburbs of London UK, Bortle 8 and it sucks. These days I don't do much in the way of observing, naked eye I can only see the most major stars.

I do imaging and find that narrowband works well for the "brighter" targets, so I take myself off to darker skies (Bortle 4) about an hours drive away where I can do so much more, on a regular basis, though with the coronavirus lockdown rules that currently isn't happening.

Carole

Thank you Carole. My older sister is named Carol.

I'm in a Bortle 8. I can see a few brighter galaxies, but most are a no go. Most bright nebulae are ok, but M78 isn't visible even with a filter.

My club has 2 dark sites. One is about 30 miles away but still takes an hour to get to b/c I have to take a lot of surface streets. The other is farther, but takes comparatively less time b/c I can take an Interstate most of the way. There's also a forest preserve about 45 minutes away that my club uses, but you have to call ahead to get permission to be there after dark, you're restricted to parking lots, etc. I haven't gone out there at night yet.

Most of my dark site observing has been at campgrounds or rental cabins in Wisconsin or northern Illlinois.

carastro wrote: ↑Sun May 24, 2020 5:43 am I am in the suburbs of London UK, Bortle 8 and it sucks. These days I don't do much in the way of observing, naked eye I can only see the most major stars.

I do imaging and find that narrowband works well for the "brighter" targets, so I take myself off to darker skies (Bortle 4) about an hours drive away where I can do so much more, on a regular basis, though with the coronavirus lockdown rules that currently isn't happening.

Carole

I feel for you there Carol my Village is bortle 4, but my next door neighbour (and great pal) loves lights all over the place. Not worth loosing a friend over though. I’m lucky as the large Village green is beside my cottage, and if I go out into the middle of it there are few lights or obstructions. About 5 mile drive to something closer to 2/3. Still thinking of an LP filter for my canon, but I’m feeling a bit spoilt.

I guess I am rather fortunate living 1/2 mile from the largest city in Eastern CT under Bortle 5 skies. I do a *lot* of AP from my driveway. Unfortunately, my neighbor's daughter works odd hours in a nursing home - so he installed a 24/7 light. I had convinced him to install a motion sensor - but it failed to find movement on the stairway, so now the light is always on. So when the scope is pointed to south (his house) I pick up more noise, but still I am able to capture decent images. I think it is an LED light so the spectrum it obliterates is very narrow - a vast improvement over his older incandescent light.
I still have the yahoo with 4 150 watt floodlights illuminating a sole car in the parking area down the street. But the scope is fortunately in the shadows so it doesn't seem affected by it. So I live with it, but I find that StarTools does a great job in getting rid of noise.