Other Observation Sites

These are Observation Sites used by other clubs and groups. They are listed here to provide you with some details about other places to setup and enjoy the night sky or near by Star Parties. These are all dark sky sites of other clubs that are in public locations. Any event dates are controlled by other club and not FAS.

Don’t for get to use New feature - Observation Linkup to let other know you are going out to observer and don’t mind others joining you!

To help find dark skies! - Look at this!

• May 14-15, 2010
• Julian Price Park, on the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 297, just outside Blowing Rock, NC
• Google Map.
• Details

• MAY 14 & 15
• Hampton Lodge Camping Resort – Coinjock, NC (252-453-2732)
• Star Party Admittance $15.00 per person
• Pay Kent Blackwell upon arrival, no need to register in advance
• Details:

  Hampton Lodge Camping Resort – Coinjock, NC (252-453-2732)
  Portable restroom conveniently located near observing area
  Showers and store located in the campground
   
  Hampton Lodge Camping Resort – Coinjock, NC (252-453-2732)
  Approximately 45 miles south of Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA area
  Driving north on US 158, take Waterlilly exit before crossing the Joseph
  Palmer Knapp Bridge at Coinjock.  Follow signs
  Driving south on US 158, cross the Joseph Palmer Knapp Bridge at Coinjock.
  Turn left at foot of bridge.  Waterlilly exit Campground is approximately 7
  miles down Waterlilly Road
   
  NOTE: THE SKY IS 6TH- MAGNITUDE BUT CEDAR TREES OBSTRUCT THE HORIZON 20%
  OBSERVING SITE: THE CEDAR TREES AND SURROUNDING AREAS@100' TO THE LEFT
  AFTER CAMPGROUND ENTRANCE GATE
  JUST FOLLOW THE SIGNS
  PLEASE OBEY CAMPGROUND 10 MPH SPEED LIMIT
  Portable restroom conveniently located near observing area
  Showers and campground store on site
  You may camp near your telescope
  No AC is available in the observing field
  If you have an R/V needing A/C hookup additional charges will apply
  
  ITINERARY
  FRIDAY:
  REGISTRATION: BEGINS AT 2:00 PM & CONTINUES ALL DAY
  Coffee & snacks served all night
   
  SATURDAY:
  REGISTRATION: BEGINS AT 10:00AM & CONTINUES ALL DAY 
  OPTIONAL: BRUNCH AT LOCAL RESTAURANT AT 10:00AM
  5:00 PM COOKOUT AT OBSERVING SITE
  KENT WILL SUPPLY HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS, SOFT DRINKS - BRING A DISH IF YOU
  WISH
  6:30 PM DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS
  OBSERVING BEGINS AFTER DOOR PRIZE DRAWING 
  Coffee & snacks served all night
   
   
  DOOR PRIZES (to be announced)
   
  Kent Blackwell, Organizer
  1169 Old Kempsville Road
  Virginia Beach, VA 23464
  757-495-4663 e-mail:   kent@exis.net
  
  

• Oct. 4 - Oct. 12, 2010 - Robbins, NC 27325
• A Private Gathering of Self-governing Amateur Astronomers
• See the website for details! - Many FAS members attend this event.
• Clear Sky
• Map - to
  View Larger Map
• Weather
• Lattitude: 35° 26’ 11”N Longitude: 79° 33’ 01”W

• 7,8,9,10 July 2010
• At the Green Bank NRAO, WV. 24944
• A few FAS club members attend this every year - join the fun this is great outing, you will meet some really great people from all over!!!
• Star Party Link - Get details here!
• Goolge Map Link
• 
• Lat and Long: 38.431004, -79.821553
• Weather
• Heavens-Above - ISS and Iridium Flares
• I’m 100% sure at least a few FAS members will be there come on and join the fun!
• Past and Current Year members reports.

• August 7, 2010
• Star Fest 2010 Link
• Warwick County Park, Near Pottstown, PA
• By: Chesmont Astronomical Society
• 
• Weather - Pottstown, PA
• Lat and Long - 40.16512,-75.722165
• Heavens Above
  • 07 Aug 21:34:41 -5 15° 350° (N ) 16.5 km (E) -6 Iridium 57

• Near Fancy Gap, VA - South on the parkway from the old 52 entry! Directions
• Mile Post 203
• Overlook 360 view!
• 
• Google View
  View Larger Map
• Heavens-Above - ISS and Iridium Flares

• Saturday, August 22, 2009 - Doughton Park Picnic Area star gaze.
• Location : Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Piedmont Amateur Astronomers will meet at the Doughton Park picnic area on June 27 2009 for a stargaze. The public is always welcome at any of our events. Viewing will begin around 7:30 PM. This will be an New Moon event for deep sky objects
• Google Map Link
• View of a over look near the observation site - this is not the setup location! Use the Google Map Link setup is in the picnic area. - Take the park entrance towards the lodge. Take the next right towards the picnic area. Set up in the loop at the far end of the road through the picnic area.
• Lat and long: 36.422380 -81.183040
• 
• Weather Report
• Heavens Above - ISS etc.

• Another Club - STAR CITY ASTRONOMY NETWORK
• SCAN lets the group know of upcoming weekends that can be conducive to darker skies for Deep Sky Observing. SCAN usually observes at the SCAN observing site at Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook. Observing starts jut after sunset on each respective night.
• When (Click here for listing)

  • January 8 and 9, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • January 15 and 16, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • February 5 and 6, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • February 12 and 13, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • March 5 and 6, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • March 12 and 13, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • April 9 and 10, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • April 16 and 17, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • May 7 and 8, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • May 14 and 15, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • June 4 and 5, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • June 11 and 12, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • July 2 and 3, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • July 9 and 10, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • July 30 and 31, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • August 6 and 7, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • September 3 and 4, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • September 10 and 11, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • October 1 and 2, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • October 8 and 9, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • October 29 and 30, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • November 5 and 6, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • December 3 and 4, 2010 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.
  • December 31, 2010 and January 1, 2011 - Milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cahas Mountain Overlook.

• See for more information!
• About 2.2 hour drive
• 
• Goolge Map
• Lat/Long: 37.094571,-80.111902
• Weather Link
• Virtual Blueridge!

• August 14th and 15th - Hanging Rock State Park Star Gaze.
• This event put on by the Piedmont Amateur Astronomers will be held inside Hanging Rick State Park and is for park campers and park staff. Piedmont Amateur Astronomers PAA members will be at Hanging Rock State Park on the 14th, and 15th of August for solar and night viewing.
• Goolge Map Link
• Lat and Long: 36.395102 -80.265212
• Host Information and Contact : Charles Tilley ctvideo@yadtel.net
• Hanging Rock State Park Link
• Near By Weather

• Friday, February 19 2010, 6:30pm
• By: Piedmont Amateur Astronomers
• See written directions here!
• Direction to Dirt Road
• 
• Weather Link

• September 11, 2010
• October 16, 2010 Astronomy Day and Night (Starts 9:00AM)
• More Information - about a 2 hour drive from Winston-Salem.
• Some off us made the trip, it was great if you have the time it sure can be a fun night out!

• Nov 14, 2009 - See Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society (SMAS) for details and other dates!
• Have any FAS club members made this trip?
• Local Information - Cherohala Skyway
• Maps - From Winston Salem to Unicoi Crest
  View Larger Map
• 
• Weather Link
• Note - Unicoi Crest looks like a great place to observe, anyone that has gone to Unicoi Crest please drop an email to fas@fas37.org we are looking for a how is it report before making the long trip from Winston Salem, NC.