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Dark sky viewing spots
Jul 31, 2020 12:58:18 #
I am looking for a good place near Tampa FL to view night sky events. I am in Clearwater and sometimes the beach is ok but not great.
Jul 31, 2020 13:12:24 #
This is one of the sites I use:
https://www.darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#4/39.00/-98.00
If you can get there the Everglades area is pretty dark.
Good luck, most of Florida is pretty bright.
https://www.darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#4/39.00/-98.00
If you can get there the Everglades area is pretty dark.
Good luck, most of Florida is pretty bright.
Jul 31, 2020 15:25:50 #
Hi,
I live in Sarasota and as BassmanBruce says, most of Florida is darn bright. I do go out to the beach, which is pretty dark to the west, southwest and depending on where you are, to the south. I've gone to the fishing piers off the Skyway bridge, best to the northwest, west and southwest and not nearly as sandy as the beach, especially for the equipments sake. If you go here, park in one of the parking areas before you get to the admissions shack. Duette Preserve (about 30 mi east of I75 near Myakka City in far east Manatee County) is also pretty good for views to the northeast, east and southeast. Some of the darkest skies in Florida are about 2.75 hours north of you in Cedar Key with dark skies in every direction. There's also Kissimmee Prairie State Park about 3.5 hours to the southeast of you that have excellent dark skies. Again as BassmanBruce says, Rt 41 crossing the state from Naples heading east at Big Cypress National Preserve is good as well and best for views to the north, north east and south. That about does it for me. Hope this is helpful.
Jay
I live in Sarasota and as BassmanBruce says, most of Florida is darn bright. I do go out to the beach, which is pretty dark to the west, southwest and depending on where you are, to the south. I've gone to the fishing piers off the Skyway bridge, best to the northwest, west and southwest and not nearly as sandy as the beach, especially for the equipments sake. If you go here, park in one of the parking areas before you get to the admissions shack. Duette Preserve (about 30 mi east of I75 near Myakka City in far east Manatee County) is also pretty good for views to the northeast, east and southeast. Some of the darkest skies in Florida are about 2.75 hours north of you in Cedar Key with dark skies in every direction. There's also Kissimmee Prairie State Park about 3.5 hours to the southeast of you that have excellent dark skies. Again as BassmanBruce says, Rt 41 crossing the state from Naples heading east at Big Cypress National Preserve is good as well and best for views to the north, north east and south. That about does it for me. Hope this is helpful.
Jay
Jul 31, 2020 16:14:57 #
Thanks for all of the insite. The most frustrating thing to me is to pack up and travel a couple of hours only to have cloud cover. I know patience is the key, but if I lived in Wyoming...
Jul 31, 2020 16:32:35 #
I hear ya. I was all set up to do some imaging last night because 3 of 4 forecasts were good. Guess the 4th one was right and the others wrong. I'd pick somewhere a bit warmer than Wyoming, maybe Arizona or New Mexico. I did see the 2017 Eclipse in Glendo, WY pop 250 that grew to 250,000 the day of the eclipse. If you happen to know of other local spots, please share!
Jul 31, 2020 21:39:29 #
[quote=Factotum I know patience is the key, but if I lived in Wyoming...[/quote]
Another thought, go to the “lonely speck” web site and ck out their light pollution filters. I canp’t vouch for their quality as I haven’t tried one but I did see some positive reviews. Maybe good, maybe not.
And yeah, out west is Golden for clear dark skies.
Here in Michigan the UP and northern lower have some excellent choices so I have cool places to go.
Another thought, go to the “lonely speck” web site and ck out their light pollution filters. I canp’t vouch for their quality as I haven’t tried one but I did see some positive reviews. Maybe good, maybe not.
And yeah, out west is Golden for clear dark skies.
Here in Michigan the UP and northern lower have some excellent choices so I have cool places to go.
Aug 1, 2020 08:47:50 #
BassmanBruce wrote:
This is one of the sites I use:
https://www.darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#4/39.00/-98.00
If you can get there the Everglades area is pretty dark.
Good luck, most of Florida is pretty bright.
https://www.darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#4/39.00/-98.00
If you can get there the Everglades area is pretty dark.
Good luck, most of Florida is pretty bright.
Do I have this right? You want to send people to where the gators are at night?
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Aug 1, 2020 10:36:47 #
edwdickinson wrote:
Do I have this right? You want to send people to where the gators are at night?
😆👍
Aug 1, 2020 12:13:10 #
Oh they're around during the day as well.
This little 7 footer took up residence in the pond across the street.
This little 7 footer took up residence in the pond across the street.
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