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Official Club Observing Sites
The nature of the agreements do not allow us to disclose the exact location of all the Novac observing sites to the public. They are located in Loudoun, Fauquier and Fairfax counties. C.M.Crockett Park
in Fauquier County, Virginia is used for public viewing events. NOVAC
members can access a complete listing of the official observing sites in
the
members section. In addition to the official observing sites, there are several other places near Washington DC where NOVAC members observe. Occasionally, members participate in the Smithsonian Institution's Sky Watching program at Sky Meadows State Park near Paris, Virginia. Others enjoy the dark skies at Big Meadows in the Shenandoah National Park. Some members make use of Little Bennett Regional Park and Tuckahoe State Park in Maryland. Watch the web page, e-mail list, or Newsletter for announcements about events at these sites. For NOVAC members in southern Maryland, Aquasco Farm is part of the Patuxent River Park system in southern Prince Georges County and can be accessed by NOVAC members on specific dates. The NOVAC "Southern Maryland Fringers" maintain information about observing from southern Maryland.
From April to October, many avid observers like to take weekend trips to Spruce Knob mountain in West Virginia, which is the darkest site on the east coast. The limiting magnitude at spruce is 6.7! Novac has reserved the entire campground for astronomical use only. Visit the Spruce Knob section for more information. NOVAC also maintains a relationship with The Mountain Institute at Spruce Knob. The Mountain Institute provides an outstanding observing location as well as civilized amenities like hot showers, meal service, and Internet access.Because we use these sites with the permission of the landowner or the state/county authorities, there are some rules and restrictions governing their use. Please read through and understand the rules before visiting any of the sites. Refer to the official membership guide in the members section for further details. |
© NOVAC
NOVAC maintains formal agreements which grant the club
access to seven observing sites in Northern Virginia. Members can
use these sites (for astronomical purposes) with the full cooperation of
the landowners and authorities. 