Post by bsimon615 on Oct 19, 2022 7:38:36 GMT -6
This map is already on this site somewhere, but as I cannot easily find it, I am posting it again. The coordinates given are for the center of the Arena Field.
Note - on the best of nights, overhead we do have Sky Quality Meter readings that put us into Bortle 3 skies (the lower Bortle numbers indicate darker and less light polluted skies). We are very good Bortle 4 almost Bortle 3 on most good nights. As you look in the direction of Columbia, MS (about 12 miles to the north north east you will notice a light dome. If you look more to the north east the light dome you see is from Hattiesburg, MS which is about 35 miles away. The Hattiesburg light dome is blocked somewhat by the roof of the barn. The sky in those areas in the heart of those light domes are in the mid to low Bortle 4 range.
Seeing those light domes dramatically show how your eyes become dark adapted. If you first come out of the main building and manage to make it to the field without stumbling in the darkness, the sky in most directions will look inky black, even looking in the direction of the light domes. As you get dark adapted your pupils open and the sky looks brighter, even overhead (but you will see more stars). The skies at White Horse are noticeably darker than what we had at the Feliciana Retreat Center which had to contend with the much larger and brighter light dome from Baton Rouge to our southwest.
See the photo. (Click on the image to see it larger.)
Barry
Note - on the best of nights, overhead we do have Sky Quality Meter readings that put us into Bortle 3 skies (the lower Bortle numbers indicate darker and less light polluted skies). We are very good Bortle 4 almost Bortle 3 on most good nights. As you look in the direction of Columbia, MS (about 12 miles to the north north east you will notice a light dome. If you look more to the north east the light dome you see is from Hattiesburg, MS which is about 35 miles away. The Hattiesburg light dome is blocked somewhat by the roof of the barn. The sky in those areas in the heart of those light domes are in the mid to low Bortle 4 range.
Seeing those light domes dramatically show how your eyes become dark adapted. If you first come out of the main building and manage to make it to the field without stumbling in the darkness, the sky in most directions will look inky black, even looking in the direction of the light domes. As you get dark adapted your pupils open and the sky looks brighter, even overhead (but you will see more stars). The skies at White Horse are noticeably darker than what we had at the Feliciana Retreat Center which had to contend with the much larger and brighter light dome from Baton Rouge to our southwest.
See the photo. (Click on the image to see it larger.)
Barry
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