Whittier, NC
Conleys Creek
35.41° N | -83.36° W | 2118 ft
5/17/2008 - 3:40:33 PM EDT
70.8° F | .0
Wind: SE 0.0 mph (6.0 gust)
Humidity: 30%
Dewpoint: 37.9° F
Pressure: 29.80in. 
Visibility: 0.06 miles
Weather Data: wunderground/yahoo! composite
sun data
5/17/2008 - 3:40:33 PM EDT
A Twilight: 4:45:38 AM EDT
N Twilight: 5:23:10 AM EDT
C Twilight: 5:57:57 AM EDT
Sunrise: 6:26:23 AM EDT
Transit: 1:29:52 PM EDT
Sunset: 8:33:20 PM EDT
C Twilight: 9:01:46 PM EDT
N Twilight: 9:36:34 PM EDT
A Twilight: 10:14:06 PM EDT
Sun Data:
soho/d web designs composite
moon data
5/17/2008 - 3:40:33 PM EDT
Phase: Waxing Gibbous (Vir)
Age: 12.57 days old
Illumination: 85.12% illuminated
App. Disc: 29.54' X 25.15'
251199.6 mi | 404266.5 km away
Moon Data:
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location
coordinates
latitude/longitude
Latitude: 35.4252° | Longitude: -83.3329° | Altitude: 2000'
LVM and horizon
According to Dark Sky Finder Version 3 distributed by the IDA the site offers a limiting visual magnitude of approximately 6.6 - 6.8 using the Albers/Schaaf Model. According to notes from previous observations, a limiting visual magnitude of 6.0 - 6.5+ is common on good nights and 5.0+ is common on hazy/foggy nights.
The horizon at this location will vary based on where telescopes are positioned. From the NE field, less than 20 degrees will be lost to the NW with a 5 - 10 degree loss in all other directions. From the NW field, 15 - 25 degrees NNW may be lost due to the top of the hill, which is around 85 feet higher than the field, though this field offers a spectacular horizon of 5 - 10 degrees to the East and South. The two southern fields have losses of about 20 degrees to the North with about 10 degree losses in all other directions.
On hazy/foggy nights a dim light dome can be seen to the NNE extending about 20 degrees above the horizon. All other areas of the sky remain dark down to the mountain ridges.
Northeast Field Panorama (click for full-size image):
Northwest Field Panorama (click for full-size image):
downloads
Google Earth KMZ: Download (673 Bytes)
site layout
Print friendly version (Click to view. Right click to download): View / Download (34.70 Kb)
Click to view full size:
light pollution
The area which has been chosen for SMSG was chosen because of it's dark location. With clear, cool mountain weather, the higher elevation, and lack of nearby light sources or cities, this location offers optimal viewing in the mid-atlantic. Our nearest towns all have a population of less than 6,000 spread out over large distances, reducing glowing horizons and light pollution.
Area Light Pollution (200 miles - DMSP) | Click to view full size:
Area Light Pollution (200 miles - RAS) | Click to view full size:
Area Light Pollution (60 miles - RAS) | Click to view full size:
