Astronomy Observing

2022 VIIRS Light Pollution - Legend: Dark                                  Bright

• My Backyard:

  VIIRS Light Pollution: 4.40
  Travel Time: none
  
  Advantages: No travel time.
  Access to red-lit workshop to grab scopes and check sky maps.
  Decent north and east horizons.
  Disadvantages: Nearby baseball park occasionally has bright lights, mostly in the summer months.
  Lights from neighbors.
  Sky glow from Pensacola and Pace to the south and southeast.
  Trees to the west and south horizons.

• Santa Rosa Sports Plex:

  VIIRS Light Pollution: 5.70
  Travel Time: 5 minutes
  
  Contacted the parks department, and although they technically close at 10PM, they said they do not care if I set up my telescope there after dark.
  Advantages: Minimal travel time.
  Excellent horizons in pretty much all directions. It is 74 acres of baseball and softball fields.
  Park bathrooms.
  Disadvantages: Officially closes at 10PM.
  Park may be in use until it closes.
  Frequently leave lights on at night, plaguing observing at my home and all over the area.

• Santa Rosa Soccer and Horse Complex:

  VIIRS Light Pollution: 3.50
  Travel Time: 8 minutes
  
  Contacted the parks department, and although they technically close at 10PM, they said they do not care if I set up my telescope there after dark.
  Advantages: Minimal travel time.
  Excellent horizons in pretty much all directions. It is 58 acres of soccer fields next to a large heliport and open farms.
  No nearby lights, so long as the field lights are off. Better light pollution index than my back yard.
  Park bathrooms.
  Disadvantages: Officially closes at 10PM.
  Park may be in use until it closes.
  A new private school is nearby. I do not know if they leave lights on.

• Fidelis Community Center and Park:

  VIIRS Light Pollution: 1.30
  Travel Time: 37 minutes
  
  Contacted the parks department, and although they technically close at 10PM, they said they do not care if I set up my telescope there after dark.
  Advantages: Low light pollution index.
  It is 8.5 acres.
  Park bathrooms.
  Disadvantages: Officially closes at 10PM.
  Park may be in use until it closes.
  Distant.