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Observing and Imaging Group
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Topic starter
Someone clever has put together a map of the UK that combines 'dark skies' and 'cloud frequency'. The scale is a bit counter-intuitive: the black areas have dark skies but lots of cloud. The areas you want - dark and clear - are on the map as white, which is a bit weird. Interesting and useful, nonetheless.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="596"]
UK - dark and clear skies[/caption]
Posted : 06/11/2015 4:02 pm
Interesting stuff, indeed.
Those who suffered so many cloudy skies on the Great Equatorial Viewing events last season will surely appreciate the increased cloudy skies over SE London and Greenwich!
Romney looks good, as we’d expect, and most of the usual suspects (north Norfolk, north Devon coast), but I’m fascinated to see how good the skies are in most of Dorset. Not that far to travel really… and not an area I’d thought of previously as having excellent skies.
Might be worth a recce!
Posted : 06/11/2015 5:16 pm
But London rates the highest in terms of the most clear nights so we are so damn unlucky with those Great Equatorial evenings!
That map is useful but it would have been better if it was more zoomable so will need to combine with the more detailed light pollution maps.
What is the source site for the map, Andy?
Posted : 06/11/2015 5:29 pm
It looks like there's another "window" on the South Downs... might be the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, where I know that HantsAstro do their observing (at Butser Ancient Farm).
Posted : 06/11/2015 5:48 pm
Topic starter
Wiltshire looks good. In particular Stonehenge. It all makes sense, now. It was built in an area of minimal light pollution.....
Posted : 06/11/2015 6:19 pm
Topic starter
Am trying to find the original source for that map. Meanwhile, try this.....
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="650"]
Calvin and Hobbes[/caption]
Posted : 06/11/2015 6:33 pm
Topic starter
I make no apologies for the schmaltz and I'll even forgive the 'science' (though I am a little concerned about raising expectations with regard to what people can see with a telescope).
It's Christmas (almost). It's the John Lewis ad (now).
I am also a little concerned about the health & safety implications of looking skywards through an ordinary refractor during daylight hours (@ 0m41s).
Posted : 06/11/2015 7:05 pm
It’s the John Lewis ad (now).
Oh, no. Cue lots of kids getting scopes for Christmas and wondering why they can't zoom in on the Moon.
That must be some eyepiece 😉
Posted : 06/11/2015 8:43 pm
Topic starter
It's taken less than 36 hours for this brilliant parody to come out. Tej, you'll love it!
Posted : 07/11/2015 9:25 pm
Ha, that was quick! Funny, albeit cruel parody! But I am still marvelling at the astonishing logic and accuracy of the original ad 🙂
Posted : 07/11/2015 11:06 pm
I really liked the parody but I do not know how I have not put my foot through the T.V. whenever the original ad comes on.
Posted : 08/11/2015 2:22 pm
