DarkVoid's Dark Sky Finder

Carina Nebula in Infrared (Video)

2012-02-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

Check out this wicked cool video comparing the Carina Nebula in infrared and visible light.

Tiny Stars Hidden Among Giants

2012-02-08T12:40:00.000-08:00

Astronomers have combined hudreds of images of the Carina Nebula and found multiple small stars, some about 10 times less the mass of our own Sun.
(The image on the left is in infrared and the one on the right is visible light)
click image to enlarge

Here is the full story: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/carina-nebula-infrared/#more-95330

Space Gifs

2012-02-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

Here is just a collection of gif images that relate to space and astronomy. Everything from a space walk to comets crashing into jupiter to solar flares and the northern lights. Enjoy them all!
(click to enlarge)

Flagstaff, AZ IDS Community

2012-01-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

Flagstaff, Arizona is the world's first International Dark Sky Community. An International Dark Sky Community is just that, a community, city, town or village that has taken extraordinary steps to reduce light pollution. The award is given out by the International Dark Sky Association to communities that excel in the fight against light pollution. According to a light pollution map overlay the city is an orange zone or class 5 on the Bortle Dark Sky Scale. A short 20 minute drive brings you to the boundary between a yellow and green zone or a class 4 on the Dark Sky Scale. If continuing to driving for another 10 - 15 minutes a person is able to arrive at the border of a blue and grey zone or the darkest skies still possible in the United States. So while most astronomers travel an hour or more to arrive at an orange or yellow zone in Flagstaff all one has to do is step out into their own backyard. What a great place to live if your an amateur astronomer.

I plan to buy a Sky Quality Meter soon and actually drive to all of these places that I write about and do some surveying. Basically I am going the use the meter to gauge the quality of the sky and then look through a telescope at different type of objects in the sky such as globular clusters. Next I am going to view some naked eye objects such as the Andromeda galaxy and the Pleiades and describe how easy it is to see them. Then I am going to see how complex the milky way is, as well if there is a zodiacal light. Lastly I am going to describe the sky as a whole and look out for light domes at the horizon and such.

Now time for some photos! (Click to Enlarge)

Website: Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition

For more information on International Dark Sky Communities please visit the IDA's website

Welcome to Dark Sky Finder!

2012-01-30T08:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome! This blog will be used to list dark sky sites around the US and maybe the rest of the world. This blogs mission will be to aggregate and arrange a list of areas that amateur astronomers can use to view the splendor of the night sky away from light pollution. I currently live in the suburbs of New York City and at most I can only see 20-25 stars a night, when the moon is not up. Ever since venturing into the hobby of amateur astronomy. I have gained an appreciation of the night sky and wish to compile a list of sites around the country were others interested in the hobby will be able to view the night sky and all its splendor.