[AZ-Observing] Re: urban SQLs?
- From: "Keith Schlottman" <keith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 11:53:07 -0700
I'm finding this an interesting discussion because I just acquired a SQM-LE
to monitor light conditions at my observatory.
Last night was the first night I used it. Naturally the bright moon had a
significant effect.
I set up a simple web page to track it, the SQM takes a reading every 10
minutes. I need to make some adjustments to the graph settings but if
you're interested in what the meter can do, see:
http://www.xanaduobservatory.com/monitor.htm
I previously had a handheld unit and found that in my Tucson backyard, the
darkest I could get was about 19.5 mag/arcsec^2.
I'm hoping to obtain data over a long period to watch the trends. There is
quite a bit of construction going on in Tucson on the East side, including
plans for many street lights in the next few years. I could get depressed
but it's still possible to enjoy the night sky, maybe not as much as from a
truly dark site but it's much more convenient in the back yard.
Clear Skies,
Keith Schlottman
-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Stan Gorodenski
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:36 AM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: urban SQLs?
stevecoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>Tom, et al;
>
>The reason I have not purchased one of these devices is that the values
>they provide do not seem to be very useful. If the site at Big Bear is
>within a two or three decimal points of a dark site, then of what use is
>it? If zodiacal light and Milky Way can effect the results then do you
>have to wait for late at night this time of year to get a good reading?
>
>In all the nights I observed in my backyard at 7th Street and Thunderbird,
>I only saw Milky Way one time and it was dim--just a very faint glow in
>Cygnus. I could usually see all the stars in the Little Dipper when the
>skies were clear and it was extending above the Pole.
>
>Are you folks who own one of these devices finding them useful?
>
>
>
I find it useful in comparing my site here in Dewey to my NM lot and
other places. However, the narrow range of the scale, as you mentioned,
has always bothered me. For example, when I first got it I expected to
see a huge difference in a moderately light polluted area compared to
one that is like Dewey or a good dark sky site, but discovered the range
was quite small.
Stan
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