Maybe - maybe not - it 'is what it is'. I love Cherry Springs and expect to be there often - mainly week-nights, and not weekends. I can even do a 'one-nighter' - it is 2:45 hr very nice drive for me.
Great overview. I'm looking forward to getting back to the park one of these days. I want to stay the whole night on the observation side next time. Almost got my gear all ready. For anyone who hasn't been to this park, soon as the sun goes down the sky is just this massive sea of stars. It's rare to get that kind of view in the East.
Hi, I just found this video looking for any new videos on Cherry Springs since we were there last year. Low and behold at about the 2:55 mark is our orange tent and my two tripods. This was our first time at Cherry Springs and we are currently planning on visiting again this June or September. Great video !!!!! pete
I can tell a huge difference in light pollution from 2014 when I started to visit Cherry Springs. Also, lately there has been a huge crowd of really disrespectful people crossing the road over to the observing field without any equipment, they set up blankets on the grass and are really loud and obnoxious and keep checking their cellphones without any red filters.
That is one of the reasons I tried to mention the public filed a lot. Both of the clear nights that we had when I was there last week we had people come on the field with their headlights on.
Agreed. Last year I as at Cherry Springs on a clear, moonless night and was stunned at the light pollution. The surrounding trees and mountains were easy to pick out from the background of the sky because the sky had a diffuse glow to it. I could even make out the color of the jackets my friends were wearing in total darkness because there was enough ambient light. I had read that Cherry Springs offers Bortle 2 skies, but based on the stars I did and didn't see while there on a clear moonless night, I'd say it was on the boundary between Bortle 4 and 5. Very sad to realize that it's getting brighter there.
@@ln5321 I have to disagree with the bortle scale though. I have visited Chile and the Atacama desert with Bortle 1 and I live under Bortle 5 and I can guarantee you that Cherry Springs’ sky is not Bortle 4 or 5. It used to be Bortle 2 when I visited the first time years ago and now it’s a borderline 2-3.
Can't believe I have never been there, seeing as how our hunting cabin is only 50 minutes away in Cedar Run. I did notice that it is much easier to see the stars out there, even as a kid. Seeing as how it is so far out from any major human settlements. Will have to make the trip sometime.
Sounds like a nice place to visit for astronomy observation. I've never been there, but I have visited the boondocks in Northern New England and found spectacular dark skies over there.
Thank you for this video. It was the best overview so far. It's hard to tell when / if the overnight observing field will have any openings. The reservations site says not until April 2022, but I'm not sure if that actually counts the overnight observation field. It's a 5 hour drive up there, so being turned away would be rough :P.
If there is a star party that is the only time it might be full. There are only two that I know of. Black Forest Star Party and Cherry Springs Star Party. If you are not going those nights there is always an opening.
@@TheNarrowbandChannel Awesome. Thank you. Their site was so confusing because they allow you to "reserve" the astro field, but said it was full through April. I'm excited now :)
I know from the video that you cannot enter or leave the dedicated field in a vehicle between dusk and dawn. The gate is closed. But can you enter or leave on foot? Is there a man-door or other way in/out?
Are you talking about the observation field? There is no online booking required. It's a show up and put money in the donation slot sorta thing. It is covered in the video about half way through.
Emphasize the non-gated field for gazing has a berm separating the parking lot, so the field remains dark. If gates lock, how do you leave in an emergency? How is the locked field better than the others? Verizon's spelt wrong. Otherwise a useful, flawless vid. Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback about Verizon's . I will look for it. Yes I probably will emphasize the non-gated side this year. Leaving in an emergency is possible. Gate can be unlocked from the inside. Never seen anyone with an emergency though.
Thanks James if I remember right. Yes It sure will. I have it at work and am going to solder DC plugs to it so I can directly attach it to my mount. I might even bolt it into the inside of my pier extension so I have one less thing to unpack.
That is my favorite place to want to go. I would love to take my telescope there. People who live near there are very lucky to have such a dark sky. I live to far away to ever go there. ( sigh )
Have you gone recently? Thinking about going this month but wanted an opinion from anyone who has gone recently. All the videos I find are from at least over a year ago, don’t know if it’s still worth the trip
But aren't the 3 fields close to each other and don't they have an equal view of the skies ? I'm not clear on the advantage of one field over the other. I would like to stay there to photograph the Milky Way. Do the bathrooms 🚻 have flush toilets and running water ? Are they open all night ?
Would there be a place for me to park my Hyundai Santa Fe that has A-tent that attaches to the back of it? I preferably like to stay in the main observatory with all the hardcore star watchers. What month is best? I git to many questions...
Good video. I grew up here and have only been up there once for a night sky photography class. I usually look at the milky way from my hot tub. I’m glad so many ppl enjoy that place up there. I don’t think many ppl like myself know the rules or understand how lights effects your eyes Anyway. Cool vid and I learned a lot. Thanks!
Very nice, man! I'm super bummed that all three days I had planned to go up were clouded out, so I stayed home. For your light pollution bit.... Pennsylvania residents: IDA Pennsylvania became a legal non-profit (in the eyes of the state) last year. We are working on getting things together like a website and outreach programs. On the state level I want to promote protection of Cherry Springs as the Eastern US's premiere astro tourism spot. I'm hoping by the end of the summer we have more things ready to roll, keep an eye out!
I want to go and see the stars and everything but I don’t own a telescope will that affect the way I see them? Is there something I can use on the gated side that anyone can use?
Binoculars are all you need up there. With those you can see over a 100 deep sky objects. Especially this time of year. You naked eyes will get to see the Milkey way like you have probably never seen it before. If you go when there is a new moon there will be other observers there and I am sure they will let you look through their telescope.
The Narrowband Channel awesome thank you I wanna take my girlfriend to see a star in the Big Dipper. We can’t see many stars where we live and I was wondering if you could see a mag 12 star with binoculars
As a newbie, would Cherry Springs be worth an overnight visit during a full moon? Would really love to experience the milky way viewing but like I said, I'm a newbie. Thanks!
I love camping there but i do mot think a full moon is worth it. If the moon is up all night. If it were down for at least 2hrs of the night then i think it is worth it.
Exactly the video I've been looking for. Their website is not very easy to understand. I just learned about and missed the star party last year and now just learned and missed the other star party last weekend. So I was cranky. ;) I didn't know that I could go anytime. Now I'm excited that I understand the place and that I can go when I want. I have a small Williams Optics on a VX mount with an ASI Air. So I can go anytime and set that up in the public area? Thanks for the video!
I know you can on the public camp ground. Some of the camping spots there are 10 ft from the public field. So it would not be difficult to have your scope set up close by. All that separates the public camp ground and the public camp site is a small hedge of bushes.
Thanks. We plan to come up for a night later this week but the campground is full. Someone told us they put a small tent on the field but I have read online that is not allowed.
@@michelezook2448 Then I would def not camp on the public field. Try the dedicated field The rules are only that you cannot come and go after dark. There are bathrooms there. Plus your camping dues go to a good cause.
Hello, I was planning on going this summer with friends. I’m currently 17 but I don’t have anyone I can go with that’s over 18. Will I get turned away from my campsite if I can’t show an id? It’s a 4 hour drive so that would suck
You can use gear on the public field. They now have a few concrete pads there too for telescopes to be mounted on. Cannot remember though if there is electric.
Hello i am planning on going this weekend, can i place my tent on the overnight observatory, do i have to make reservations? I keep getting different answers. I think you have the answer for me. Please thanks!! Great and Informative Video!
Well I Was Just Asked If I Wanted To Go To Erie,or Here,Were 3 Hours Away,So You Can Have A Tent Or Camper On The Dark Sky Site,Sweet.Because Even Tho Im In A Bortle 4 Sky,Its Been Junk For Over A Year,Sweet..Gotta Make Plans For This
Great video! One thing I noticed that was left out is the fee for the overnight field, which is $15 per night. This fee is required and different from the Dark Sky Fund donations.
@@jamescahill2643 where are they? I have never heard this mentioned before. I was just talking to our president two weeks ago and he said there was only one fee.
@@jamescahill2643 Just received confirmation. There is only one donation of 15$ per night. If someone put up a second one it is some sort of fraud or scam. Thank you for the FYI..
They are talking about star parties. And even if there is a star party going on you can still visit on the public side of the road. Star parties are limited to the gates side.
