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Post by paulevans on Oct 5, 2004 7:27:12 GMT
Hi all,
So where are the favourite dark spots for observing in Northern Ireland? My back garden has the attraction of convenience but really it suffers quite bad light pollution from Bangor to the north and east. The view to the south isn't so bad although my neighbours to the back must be the cleanest people on earth as their bathroom light is almost always on!
I've found a couple of spots down the Ards Peninsula and of course Big Collin wasn't bad apart from the cars, but where else do people here recommend?
Paul.
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Post by johnmc9929 on Oct 5, 2004 11:39:38 GMT
Paul, Slieve Croob is a very good spot, the wind can be a bit of a problem though. It was from there that Mark did his Messier Marathon, the sky is beautiful with very little pollution, can be very foggy at times though. Johnmc
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Post by markdj on Oct 5, 2004 11:41:54 GMT
I think I see what you're getting at. While there is a section of Northern Ireland that has a better view of the sky due to the lack of houses and towns, there are quite few observing locations where one can go to a carpark or other and setup for the evening. I drove around one night looking for a nearby verge or somewhere of the main flow of traffic where observing could be carried out. The extensive farming and use of every piece of land is the reason for the lack of locations coupled with the high hedges.
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Post by Aaron on Oct 5, 2004 12:52:01 GMT
There are some good spots down around strangford/ardglass area, but again its finding a spot away from roads etc. Between downpatrick and ardglass there are some fantastic skies to be seen, although its a bit of a distance for some folk.
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Post by markdj on Oct 5, 2004 12:59:18 GMT
Anywhere in the green, blue or black are the best areas. But the problem is finding a clear area where you can setup without nuisance and passing cars.
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Post by paulevans on Oct 7, 2004 11:39:46 GMT
It's remarkable just how little of Northern Ireland is green, blue or black! I've always thought it was superb here but then until last year I lived in Wimbledon where the sky is orange and only stars of the first and sometimes second magnitudes are visible!
P.
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