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Robert Cook
super member
Reged: 07/23/09
Posts: 101
Loc: San Diego County, California
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Having lived under Class 9 skies for most of my life, I'm grateful for the Class 5 sky I have now. It's nice to see whole constellations and some structure in the Milky Way, even if I'm constantly aware of the degrading effects of light pollution. Sometimes on exceptionally clear nights I'll just lean back and take in the view without visual aids, sad at how much better it could/should be and at how many people cannot see the Milky Way at all (and probably never will), but still thankful that I don't need to drive to another state to behold the wonders of outer space with my own eyes.
So is the orange zone OK? Well, it sure isn't rural Nebraska, where I spent a short but happy period of my childhood gazing at nebulae that I need at least a binocular to view now, but it's better than what most people have, which is OK in my estimation. 
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Kyle T
member
Reged: 10/08/08
Posts: 20
Loc: New England
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The way I look at it, if you live in an orange zone like I do, it is not bad because you are used to it. If you live in a black or grey zone and you move into a orange zone, I would say that it is very bad indeed. I can see a lot of stars in my orange zone on a clear night. I can see so much that I almost don't agree with the orange designation that I have been given.
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102mm Orion Maksutov-Cassegrain.
Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dobsonian w/Intelliscope
www.lightbucketastro.bravehost.com
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st3ve
member
Reged: 08/15/08
Posts: 85
Loc: san jose, california
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I live in a white zone. I observe from it all the time; it just adds to the challenge. If I waited until I could get away to better skies, I'd never observe anything. I observe more by observing close to home. The LP pushes me toward the moon and planets.
STEVE
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Call sign:KG6WNH
AAVSO
ALPO
Y-haplogroup: J2
MtDNA haplogroup : K
Stellarvue 80mm f/6 refractor,
University Optics Konig 24mm, Abbe 4mm
Faworski Orthoscopic: 16.8mm, 10.5mm, 7mm
Faworski 2.5X barlow
--Preserve your right to arm bears!--
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o1d_dude
o1der than dirt
Reged: 10/03/07
Posts: 2131
Loc: The TV/SV Wolfpack
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I live in a red zone on the border to a white zone. That's the bad news.
The good news is that facing away from the white zone, I've got a pretty good view of the SE skies. That's where the moon and planets traverse for me. My house and several trees block the skyglow from the white zone to the NW.
I tend to be a lunar/planetary/globular/double star observer.
The best news of all is that extremely dark skies are only 90 minutes away via the freeway.
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Kit
'Don’t worry about what telescope you own, or its quality. Just get out under the night sky, and enjoy God’s wondrous universe.' - Thomas M Back
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Hrundi
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/06/08
Posts: 1244
Loc: Estonia
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No zone is bad if you're resolved never to wander to darker skies.
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mypontiac
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/06/07
Posts: 1080
Loc: Austin, Tx.
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Well,
I used the SQM-L last night around 4:00 am, but the skies were mostly overcast.
I got readings from 19.64 to almost 20.00.
I will take another reading on a crisp clear night as I would expect to get better readings.
This still puts me in the Orange designation that the Sky Map shows me to be in.
Sean
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mistyridge
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/28/05
Posts: 2376
Loc: Loomis, CA ,14mi from SV headq...
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I live on the edge of a orange zone where I do all my observing. It is a semi rural area with the burbs creeping in, but no streetlights. I get a SQM reading of 19.6 to 19.8 at zenith on a average night and 20+ to the northeast and east which is the direction of the Sierra Nevada Mts where there ae no urban lights. My south and west are just skyglow but good for lunar and planetary work. I could drive 45min up the hill for better skies, but packing up all my gear just take away all my enthusiasim.
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Mike F
Misty Ridge Observatory
Stellarvue SV115T
Stellarvue SV70ED
Stellarvue Nighthawk
SV F50
18" f/4.5 Teeter's, Swayze mirror
12.5" f/5 Astrosky, OWL mirror
SV 15X70 Binos
Mounts: DM-6,M-1,CG-5(ASGT)
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mypontiac
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/06/07
Posts: 1080
Loc: Austin, Tx.
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Hi Mike,
Sounds like my situation.
I can get to a dark site about 1.5 hrs drive, but I like being at home.
My skies seem to be much darker in the cooler months.
Sean
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TimD
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/16/05
Posts: 907
Loc: CA USA
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I live smack in the middle of a white zone. 
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Takahashi TSC 225
WO Megrez 102
Meade ETX 90, ETX 125
Meade LX90
Classic Orange tube C14, C90, C5+
Etc,Etc,Etc!!
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nobody special
sage
Reged: 12/30/08
Posts: 405
Loc: Connecticut
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After viewing for eight months in a Red Zone and finally making to an Orange Zone I can tell you that I only wished I lived in an Orange Zone.
Its all relative.
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Tom
Orion XT8 Classic
Hyperion 13mm (With 28mm Tuning Ring)
Orion Sirius 25mm
Meade Series 4000 Plossls 32mm 6.4mm
Orion Shorty Plus 2x Barlow
Telrad
OPT OIII Filter
ND Moon Filter
80a Blue Filter
Smart Seat III
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YankeeJeff
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/11/06
Posts: 537
Loc: Brooklyn, NY
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As I read through this thread, much of what I would have responded to as a defense of light colored zone observing has been already posted by Mike (Sarkikos) - so thanks
In any case, I'm in Brooklyn by the beaches so my white zone is probably better than most white zones - maybe borderline red? I do know I have to have better views than mid-town manhattan or even other areas of Brooklyn with many buildings. Robert Moses State Park is my Orange Zone - about an hour away. Last Friday the SQM hit 18.41 at 2:30am. That night I was able to see M33 and M74 for the first time, among other objects. There is plenty to see from a white zone folks - don't give up.
I remember going on vacation once and the milky way was incredible - the second blackest sky I have ever seen. It was an island off the coast of Puerto Rico - with very few people. What I saw in my 15X70 binoculars was better than what I can see in my 10" from my backyard. That hasn't stopped me from observing however. I'm sure I'll make it to a dark site with my 10" one day but I'm in no hurry. I'm having a great time right now. The way I see it, I have my retirement to look foward to and keep me motivated - my dream is to retire to a black zone. Any dark site trips between now and then is gravy, glimpses of my future, rewards for my dedication in between. Besides, I'm picking up skills along the way.
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Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been
24Pan, 17T4, 13T6, 11T6, 9BTMB, 8TVpl, 7T6, 5T6, 3.5T6, 5/6BTMBs
Z10"Dob, Paracorr, 2xBrlw, Telrad, RACI,°Circles, )Spider
FBF, Brooklyn: 
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JoshTal150
member
Reged: 09/02/09
Posts: 21
Loc: Wolverhampton, England
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From visibility maps in my area I thought I was living in an orange zone but most people who have posted here who live in orange zones seem to be able to see significantly more than I. For example, I have never seen the milky way. Something I'm still striving for - just to set my naked sight upon it.
I have green/blue about 40 miles from me and I'll try to get over there but it's that little bit more difficult when you don't drive. Even if I have to leave my telescope behind...I greatly look forward to the day that I see our galaxy stretch above me.
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