Dark sites to go to without being harassed...

I have an irregular and somewhat unpredictable schedule; I find myself out of town frequently on short notice and don't have the ability to "call someone" to ask if I can use 40 square feet of real estate to sit in a chair and do star gazing (usually binos) for an hour or two. I've tried "hiding" on farmer's land, sneaking into parks, and even roadside parking only to spend most of my time fearing I'll be run off or hassled. I found a metro park (closed after 8 PM like most parks: they aren't dark friendly) and was star gazing just outside of the gates, but got run off and issued a citation (Perseid observing). Any thoughts about finding a place to star gaze on the run for an hour or two with a chair and binos without feeling paranoid, guilty of something, or otherwise feeling like a pest??

Thanks.

Marc in Cincinnati

If you have a local astronomy club you may be able to use one of their star party sites. With 10,000 lakes in Minnesota, I've had pretty good luck using public boat launch sites. Another possibility is a wildlife refuge.

Contact land owners in advance for blanket permission, written if need be. Not for time by time permission. But year by year. Like horseback riders do, hunters do and fishermen do. Permission (perhaps written) for you and only you.

Use public hunting land instead of parks. All year, except during (and immediately before and after) fire arm deer season.

If using private land, or road sides, then go later at night.
No, later still.

Bring no caffeine. Just rehydration whatnots. Be unwired, rather than wired when out under the night sky.

I found this link on the Clear Sky Chart page. The Cincinnati club has this near Peebles.

http://www.cinastro.org/dss.htm

Is it available any time?

The OVAS has several dark sky sites listed.

http://www.ovas.org/ click obsersing sites button at top.

The Columbus club has this site.

http://www.the-cas.org/ObsSiteAEP.html

And the Clear Sky Chart page for Ohio may have others as well

http://cleardarksky.com/csk/prov/Ohio_charts.html

Hope this helps

John
CCD-Freak

Find out where and what hours your local state-owned wildlife areas and refuges have. We use them for observing here in Missouri all the time. Might also want to check national wildlife refuges.

K. Michael M.

Marc Whitsett said:

I have an irregular and somewhat unpredictable schedule; I find myself out of town frequently on short notice and don't have the ability to "call someone" to ask if I can use 40 square feet of real estate to sit in a chair and do star gazing (usually binos) for an hour or two. I've tried "hiding" on farmer's land, sneaking into parks, and even roadside parking only to spend most of my time fearing I'll be run off or hassled. I found a metro park (closed after 8 PM like most parks: they aren't dark friendly) and was star gazing just outside of the gates, but got run off and issued a citation (Perseid observing). Any thoughts about finding a place to star gaze on the run for an hour or two with a chair and binos without feeling paranoid, guilty of something, or otherwise feeling like a pest??

Thanks.

Marc in Cincinnati

Our group uses the LBJ National Grasslands operated by the US Forest Service. They may have public land in your area as well.

John
CCD-Freak

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Marc Whitsett said:

I have an irregular and somewhat unpredictable schedule; I find myself out of town frequently on short notice and don't have the ability to "call someone" to ask if I can use 40 square feet of real estate to sit in a chair and do star gazing (usually binos) for an hour or two. I've tried "hiding" on farmer's land, sneaking into parks, and even roadside parking only to spend most of my time fearing I'll be run off or hassled. I found a metro park (closed after 8 PM like most parks: they aren't dark friendly) and was star gazing just outside of the gates, but got run off and issued a citation (Perseid observing). Any thoughts about finding a place to star gaze on the run for an hour or two with a chair and binos without feeling paranoid, guilty of something, or otherwise feeling like a pest??

Thanks.

Marc in Cincinnati

You need to read the fine print. "Some restrictions apply. Void where prohibited." http://www.northernsun.com/n/s/Land%20Of%20The%20Free%20Red%20T-Shirt%20%281905%29.html?id=DLv2rFTq

I have been reading this thread with interest but have nothing to add because I have no experience with being harassed for using public lands for observing. I am wondering if this is because of the wide open spaces the west or just why... Whether it's just a wide spot in the road, an out of the way location in the mountains, or in a city park at night, I have never ever had any problems. The border patrol might stop by or the park rangers but they are just checking.

I am curious any of you have been harassed while observing??? I know Mark has been but anyone else?

One good thing about the Southwest is that there are still some wide open spaces. This is a photo of one "secret spot", it's an hours drive from my house which is about 4 miles from the Ocean in the middle of San Diego.



jon

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A few observing sites located in Ohio are listed at http://www.observingsites.com/ds_oh.htm

Dave Mitsky

Don't sneak on private land, that starts you out on the wrong footing.

Find an area you like and introduce yourself to one or two farmers, bring along a telescope and explain what you want to do -offer to give them a look, or give them a token gift.

If you plan to try a wildlife refuge, check with the local game warden, using at refuge at night could be construed as disturbing wildlife and trespassing(wildlife refuge trespass act).

Using public hunting lands at night is a gamble - unfortunately there are plenty of poachers who shine lights and shoot at reflections