PSA: The 'dark sky' park in Flagstaff had a streetlight right in the middle of the viewing field

Drove out to the Lowell Observatory area last weekend for some Milky Way shots. Set up my tripod in the designated viewing spot, only to have a bright orange sodium vapor light shining directly into my lens. The park ranger just shrugged and said 'city planning, not my department.' Had to pack up and move a mile down the road to actually get a dark frame. Anyone else run into a 'dark sky' location that wasn't actually dark?

3 comments

3 Comments

mary2393mo ago

Wait, a streetlight? Right in the viewing field? That's honestly the most backwards thing I've heard all week. You'd think they'd at least put a shield on it or something.

paul_webb453mo ago

Didn't they shield it last month?

walker.rowan1mo ago

Oh sure nothing says "let's study the stars" like a giant lamp aimed right at the telescope. @mary239 I'm starting to think the person who installed it moonlights as a suburban lawn ornament enthusiast. Last time I tried to do some casual stargazing from my backyard a motion sensor light turned on every five minutes. I think the universe is just laughing at us at this point.