Dark-sky travel, light-pollution measurement and the certified places worth driving to. Covers what a Bortle class actually looks like at the eyepiece and how to plan a trip around the moon. [REPLACE: name the author and any IDA or club affiliation before launch.]
One phone screen at full brightness undoes twenty minutes of dark adaptation for everyone facing it. Most newcomer mistakes at a dark site are this one, and they are easy to avoid.
Dark Sky Travel · SmartScope Dark Sky Desk · 3 min read
The drive is worth it perhaps six nights a month. Picking which six, and what to do when you get there, is the difference between a memorable night and an expensive one.
Dark Sky Travel · SmartScope Dark Sky Desk · 3 min read
The scale runs 1 to 9 and most published descriptions are written for visual observers. Here is what each class means when you are imaging, which is a different question.
Dark Sky Travel · SmartScope Dark Sky Desk · 3 min read
A certified park is not simply a dark one. Certification measures lighting policy and commitment, which is why some certified places are darker than others, and why it still matters.
Dark Sky Travel · SmartScope Dark Sky Desk · 3 min read
