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Whittier, NC

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observing notes

We have received alot of emails expressing some concern on the observing location based on it's proximity to Cherokee, NC. We have built this page for that reason.

Though the edge of the town of Cherokee is about 4 miles away, the main areas for light pollution, Harrah's Casino and the center of town, are approximately 5 miles and 6 miles away, respectively. Fortunately, Cherokee is a small town and light pollution impact at this distance is minimal though it becomes more obvious if you drive 2 - 3 miles toward the town. On poor nights (usually warm, humid summer nights), a faint light dome from Cherokee extends about 20 degrees above the horizon to the NNE. All other areas of the sky are very dark.

Hopefully, the following notes will give you a good idea of the darkness of the site. Please keep in mind that these notes are from someone in their mid to late-20s with 20/10 vision. You should adjust for that to get an idea of what you think you can see.

4/10/07

According to notes from 4/10/07, Lambda UMi (Mag. 6.38) was observed naked eye from the observation field. Lambda Umi was in the direction of Cherokee (NNE) at the time, so limiting visual magnitude at Zenith was probably closer to 6.5. Notes indicate that the weather was clear and with about 50% humidity, temperatures in the 20s and a light haze.

misc. observations from site (naked eye)

I don't have the dates or limiting visual magnitudes for these items, but I did have some notes on these from the observation field:

- M24 - appears as dim haze without averted vision.

- M31 - easily seen naked eye at low altitude, without averted vision, and without dark adaptation.

- M33 - seen with averted vision at low altitude.

- Other objects like the Great Rift, North American Nebula, the Double Cluster, and several other Messier Objects to the South are easily seen naked eye.

misc. observations from site (telescope)

All were made with 16" f/4.5 reflector unless otherwise noted. LVM [Conditions] / Eyepiece as noted:

- M4 - Some stars distinguishable, but core is fuzzy with two brighter concentrations of stars (LVM ?,Eyepiece ?)

- M20 - Dust lanes clearly distinguishable with O-III. (LVM ~6.0, 19mm TV Panoptic)

- M31 - NGC147/185 fairly easily seen 15 degrees NW. Multiple H-Beta regions visible and distinguishable within M31 at higher magnifications. (LVM ~6.0, 27mm TV Panoptic)

- M51 - Spiral structure visible with mottling around disc.

- M97 - Bright with two "eyes" visible with averted vision. O-III really brings out the "eyes" and internal mottled appearance (LVM ~5.5 [fog], 19mm TV Panoptic).

- M97 - Object appears as a dim haze, but the "eye" to the NW is distinguishable with O-III and averted vision (8-inch EQ Newtonian, LVM 6.0+, Eyepiece?)

- M108 - Four distinguishable nebulosities visible within galaxy in addition to bright, elongate area on NE corner. (LVM ~5.5 [fog], 13mm TV Panoptic)

- M108 - Appears as an elongate and mottled dim nebulous area with 8-inch EQ Newtonian (LVM ~6.0, Eyepiece ?)

- Centaurus A - Fairly bright galaxy. Dust lane easy to distinguish. Observed at ~8 degrees above southern mountain ridge. (LVM 6.0+,Eyepiece ?)

- Omega Centauri - Seen naked eye, but stars resolved to the core through telescope. Observed at ~1 degrees above southern mountain ridge. (LVM 6.0+, Eyepiece ?)

- Veil Nebula in Cygnus is massive with extensions and eddies and easily seen with O-III. (LVM ~6.5 at Zenith,32mm TV Panoptic)

- Horsehead Nebula easily seen with H-Beta filter and averted vision. (LVM ?, Eyepiece ?)

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