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6" f/8 Criterion EQ | 76mm f/16 Refractor | 8" f/6 Dobsonian |
Astrophotos | Observing | Resources & Links |
My main observing location is my backyard in Howell, New Jersey (circled
in black). Other observing sites, and hence the darkest areas in the state, that are used by clubs in the area are circled in red. As you can see, we have quite
a selection of places to head to if the night is clear. Furthermore, there is a state park near every one of those observing areas so driving home late at night
doesn't have to be a problem.
However, some of the best observing is not in New Jersey, but rather, as some say, ANYWHERE but New Jersey. In a sense that is true since the observing spot of the Astronomical Society of New Haven (Connecticut) is a notch darker than any site in New Jersey. That is the same thing for sites in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York state and Maryland. But who constantly wants to travel in order to observe? One's home might be their only spot and while I travel quite a bit during the Spring, Summer and Fall months to observe, my backyard still sees the most use. With the limiting-magnitude at 5, it is still quite useful for deep-sky since I have no direct street lights interfering with my observing. Below, you will find descriptions of my observing sessions at home and abroad and my proposed observatory.
Jersey StarQuest - June '97, Branchville, New Jersey
Delmarva StarGaze - April '99, Queen Anne, Maryland
Jersey StarQuest - June '99, Hope, New Jersey
Connecticut Starparty - September '99, Colebrook, Connecticut
Stella-Della Valley - October '99, Ottsville, Pennsylvania
A Night of Galaxies - April '99, Howell, New Jersey (home)
A Shrine to the Stars - June '99, Hope, New Jersey (UACNJ Observatories)
The North East Astronomy Forum '99 - Suffern, NY
The Wild Duck Observatory, Howell, New Jersey (proposed)
