[Chaos-l] Blue areas of the map...

[Joe Pedit]

Hi Walter,

You have a good memory. I have been imaging from North Bend Park on the 
north shore of Kerr Lake since the late 90s, and have tried numerous 
other locations along the lake as well. The primary issues with 
observing sites along the lake are access, willingness to pay fees, and 
tolerance of an occasional vehicle. Public access along the lake is via 
the various units of North Carolina's Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, 
Virginia's Occoneechee State Park, and the various units administered by 
the Army Corp of Engineers. UNC employees can pay for access to UNC's 
Kerr Lake recreational facility as well, but this is a pricey option for 
only occasional use.

North Bend Park is operated by the Corp. A camping fee is required and 
the fee varies by season. The fee is only $5 from November 1st through 
March 31st. The southern horizon is pretty well polluted by the lights 
of Henderson and Raleigh. Smaller light domes from South Hill, Oxford, 
Clarksville, and Roxboro are visible as well. I think North Bend Park is 
closed this winter for major renovations. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 17th, and 
18th images in the following link were taken at North Bend Park.
http://www.unc.edu/~pedit/astro_2008/
The light pollution in the 17th image is from Clarksville, Virginia.

The far western tip of the lake (i.e., the Grassy Creek area) probably 
offers the best all around skies with respect to darkness. I've been to 
the Curran's farm once and thought that it's skies were every bit as 
good as the locations I've tried along Kerr Lake.

Joe

> I'll remind those following this discussion that our "dark site" at the 
> Curran's farm is actually very near the western end of Kerr Lake, though 
> not actually on the lake (hence arguably fewer bugs).  Joe Pedit who is 
> now just in the Raleigh club but who may still be on our listserve did 
> most of his spectacular astrophotography on the north shore of 
> Kerr Lake, I'm not sure exactly where.  Also, RAC had talked about using 
> a camp (?Boy Scout) in the same area for star parties, I'm not sure what 
> ever became of that.  Jon, I appreciated your plug for the 
> waterfall/rapids at Cedar Falls Park which is just across the road from 
> Carol Woods (actually across the road from East Chapel Hill High 
> School).  I've been to the park a fair amount but have actually never 
> seen that creek in floodstage.  I didn't make it today either but will 
> be ready next time.  Walter