Telescope Reviews: Re: Astro/campground sites report

I live in Crozet VA near the South end of Shenandoah Natl park but also at the North end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. For non-overnight camping spots that are great for observing, one will find many choices in the several of the overlooks on the South Section of the SNP but also even more on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which generally stays very quiet at night. A favorite for several of us here is the last parking area headed south just before you hit route 56 crossing the parkway. It is near several campgrounds also, so it is reachable within an hour depending on which one a person is at. This parking area is on the West side of the parkway and sports a meadow on top of a hill that is less than 40 years from the parking area. It is virtually 360 view that is pretty dark. A group of observers could actually park together if there are no more than 5-6 cars. Great spot. And, its less than 30 minutes from the well-known Crabtree Falls trail that is on the east side on route 56.

Several other overlooks are good as long as you can be satisfied with 180 degree views or so. 360 views are rare.

Out of state and by far the best campground we have ever observed at, but it is a long way north: Ocean Wood campground on the Schoodic Peninsula, Maine. It will flat out blow your socks off. The evening breeze is generally not stiff; owner does not allow decorative lights on campsites; the place is 50 yards from honest-to-goodness ocean (not a bay). Closest light pollution is Bar Harbor (across the bay) but its contribution to LP is low. The moist air (amazingly) does not seem to affect things; rather, it stabilizes the air. Be prepared for mosquitoes if the temps are above 55 deg F. If we have a week to spend somewhere and can stand the couple days travel to get there, this is where we go. If we cannot, we head to the Virginia/West Virginia border on Route 250 that is west of Monterrey (teeny town). It is a mapped "black" area. Campgrounds are around but I have not tried but one or two. Great area and very quiet.

Several other places are good in Western parts of Virginia if one stays far enough from the Interstate 81 corridor. If you go to the clear sky homepage, you will notice that Virginia has a boatload of sites listed. That is because of the number of avid observers in the state and they list some of those sites in the Virginia section. It will give slome hints about where is good if you look at them as a listing together so you can see where the blue strips appear the most.

Clear skies.

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Roland
Sketches in members galleries: rolandlinda3
Inspirational stories/sketches at:
www.christworksministries.org

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