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Virginia Sites:
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Town: Blue Ridge Parkway mile marker 189
Observing site: Groundhog Mountain Park
Address: Mile marker 189 on Blue Ridge Parkway
Contact: n/a
Phone: n/a
URL: http://www.blueridgeparkway.info/groundhog_mountain.htm
Latitude: N36° 38.722′
Longitude: W80° 31.755′
Elevation: 3,035 feet ASL
Directions: Click here to go to Mapquest.com to create a map.
Current weather: 
Restrictions: Must clear use with Parkway officials first
Sky Conditions: Excellent. The closest city is Mount Airy, NC approximately 25 miles to the Southeast. Skies are dark, with the Milky Way very pronounced.
| Typical naked-eye magnitude limit on a clear, moonless night: | |
| At the zenith: | 6 |
| East: | 5 |
| West: | 6 |
| North: | 5 |
| South: | 4 |
Best horizon (direction and approximate altitude cut-off): Northwest, 10 degrees
Worst horizon (direction and approximate altitude cut-off): Southeast, 25 degrees
Comments from contributor: I had the opportunity to visit this site last weekend and was totally blown away by the skies! I normally view to the Southeast of Greensboro in relatively dark skies at Three College Observatory, but the 2.5 hour drive up to Hogback Mtn. was well worth the effort.
Errors in this listing? Click here to submit corrections.
Observing site: Powhatan Wildlife Management Area
Address: Deer Lane
Zip Code: 23139
Contact person: None
Telephone number: N/A
Latitude: N37° 32.655′
Longitude: W78° 00.404′
Restrictions: None – The site is located on public property.
Park rangers are aware the site is used by amateur astronomers.
Directions: The site is about 40 miles southwest of Richmond.
Head West on the Midlothian Turnpike (US 60) and cross the Powhatan County border.
After you cross Route 522, the Midlothian Turnpike will neck down to two
lanes. Continue 5.9 miles to the top of a hill, where you will find a KOA Campground sign on the right
and a large white house on the left. Turn left here onto Ridge Road. After about a couple of miles you will see the sign for the
entrance to the Powhatan Wildlife Management area on Deer Lane (a dirt road).
Travel slowly
on Deer Lane (it is well wash-boarded!) and after about a mile you will
climb a small hill and curve to the right. The observing site is at a turnoff
to the right at the bottom of the hill. If other astronomers are present,
dim lights to parking lights only (dim dash lights so you can still see
where you are going!).
Current weather:
Best horizon
(direction and approximate altitude cut-off): 360
degree clear horizon
Errors
in this listing? Click here
to submit corrections.
Town: Scottsburg Observing site:
Staunton River State Park
Contact person:
Rangers or Staff members
Web sites:
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/sta.shtml Restrictions:
State Park, admission may be required
From the south: Take U.S. 501 north to South
Boston, VA. At intersection of U.S. 501 and U.S. 58, turn right onto U.S. 58
east; go approximately one mile and turn left at stoplight onto U.S. 360; travel
east on U.S. 360 approximately eight miles and turn right onto Route 344; go 10
miles to park entrance. From the west: Take U.S. 58 east to the
intersection of U.S. 58 and U.S. 360; turn left at stoplight onto U.S. 360; go
east approximately eight miles and turn right onto Route 344; travel 10 miles to
park entrance. From the east: Take U.S. 360 west to
Scottsburg, VA; at intersection of U.S. 360 with state Route 360 and Route 344,
turn left at stoplight onto Route 344; travel 10 miles to park entrance. See park
web site for a map and more information.
Current weather:
Sky conditions:
Best horizon
(direction and approximate altitude cut-off): All depends on where you are
on the field. It is a very large, open field. In the center you’ll
have horizons easily down past 10 degrees all the way around.
One item to note is that you may get
occasional car traffic adjacent to the main field resulting in head lights
occasionally illuminating the field. Errors
in this listing? Click here
to submit corrections.
Town: Whitetop Observing site:
Whitetop Mountain
Zip Code: 24292
Web sites:
http://www.rlrouse.com/whitetop-mountain.html
http://www.radford.edu/~fldsch/RUFieldschool/fieldtrips/MountRogers/Stop5page/MtRogersStop5-AQuestions.html Latitude:
N36° 38.319′ Longitude:
W81° 36.326′ Restrictions:
No restrictions and as far as the contributor knows. Camping is permitted
with no charge. Very rough conditions and no facilities. Vehicles are not
permitted off the designated roads.
Current weather:
Sky conditions: Generally you’re above most of the moisture and
with clear skies you’ll be pleased for sure. The altitude at 5,500 feet is the
attraction.
Best horizon
(direction and approximate altitude cut-off):
Southeast and south. Maybe a 5 degree rise from the horizontal.
Google ‘Whitetop
Mountain, VA‘ and you’ll find plenty of web sites and info. Not difficult to
get to, but a very winding road and loaded with deer–be careful–as Grayson
Highland State Park is next door. Grayson Highlands has Mt Rogers, which is the
highest peak in Virginia but the view from the peak is blocked by trees unless
you want to look straight up. All in all a worthwhile trip with clear
skies.
I’ve given up on forecasts as they never seem to
turn out as predicted although the Grayson Highlands Clear Sky Clock above can give you
some indications.
Errors
in this listing? Click here
to submit corrections.
Sky conditions:
Typical
naked-eye magnitude limit on a clear, moonless night:
At the
zenith:
6
East:
5.5
West:
4
North:
6
South:
6
Worst horizon (direction and approximate altitude cut-off):
East because of the lights of Richmond. About 20 degrees is lost to significant sky glow.
Comments from contributor: This site is mentioned
on the Richmond Astronomical Society
web site. It is located in Powhatan County, Virginia.
Address: 1170 Staunton Trail, Scottsburg, VA 24589-9636
Telephone number: (434) 572-4623
Directions: From the north: Take
U.S. 501 south to Halifax, VA. At intersection of U.S. 501 and state Route 360,
turn left; go about eight miles. At intersection of state Route 360 and U.S.
360, go straight through the stoplight to Route 344. Travel 10 miles to the park
entrance, which is southeast of Scottsburg, VA.
Typical
naked-eye magnitude limit on a clear, moonless night:
At the
zenith:
6.5
East:
5.5
West:
5.5
North:
5.5
South:
5.5
Worst horizon (direction and approximate altitude cut-off):
none.
Comments from contributor: Staunton River State Park
is the location of the Staunton
River Star Party, held once in the spring and once in the fall. The park,
rangers and staff are very accommodating. If you are there to observing outside
of the star party dates, contact the park staff and rangers for approval before
setting up anything on the main field.
Address: VA Route 600
Contact person: None
Telephone number: N/A
Directions: The town of Whitetop lies about a mile south of VA
State Highway 58–one very winding road indeed–, but Whitetop Mountain lies to
the north. From VA 58, take VA State Highway 600 north about 1.7 miles
until the Whitetop Mtn sign and cutoff (on the left). It’s a dirt road graveled
and in good condition for about 5 miles. Bear left at the fork and you’ll arrive
at the parking area, elevation 5,520 feet. You can go higher to 5,700 feet
at the weather station but trees block the view.
Typical
naked-eye magnitude limit on a clear, moonless night:
At the
zenith:
7
East:
6.5
West:
6
North:
6.5
South:
6.5
Worst horizon (direction and approximate altitude cut-off):
North has a 20 degree cutoff with a slope and trees but very dark sky.
Comments from contributor: Whitetop is about an hour drive
from Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC. At 5,500 feet it is
considerably higher than Doughton which is at 3,300 feet and the seeing on clear
nights is spectacular. The south and south east horizons are particularly dark.
Omega Centauri is just visible naked eye and is totally overwhelming in my
Takahashi Mewlon 250 or just about any ‘scope for that matter: talk about stars
and stars and more stars. Great location for astrophotography. Very cold in
winter with any wind. Dress very warmly.