Observing Information for Astronomers in The Villages
Astronomy in The Villages can be challenging. Our members often ask about places to observe, nearby dark sites, and ways to deal with the problems specific to observing in The Villages.
The following provides some information to assist our observers, in addition to what can be gained by attending our meetings and talking to our active observers. In that vein, I recommend that observers come to our Telescope Workshop meeting. There, you can talk to other observers in The Villages and get more personal recommendations for observation as well as information about tools and techniques that can help you.
Observing from Home
The most common observing site used by our members is their own homesite. Whether the back yard, a side yard, or the driveway, they find a place where they can safely set up their equipment to observe the sky. Usually, there are limitations. The large number of streetlights, house lights, and porch lights can cause problems that exclude areas of the sky from being observed.
Observers should learn how to turn off their own house lamp (it's a breaker on the electrical panel, but electricians or installers from house sign companies can install a switch to allow it to be turned off at the lamppost.) They should also discuss lighting with their neighbors. However, in many cases the lights just have to be lived with when observing from home.
In cases where they prevent observation, sites away from home become desirable.
Recreation Centers
Recreation center outdoor areas are available for observation, particularly around the picnic pavilion. Be safe when setting up, do not set up in walkways or driveways even after hours. Be mindful of other users of the rec center, even if you don't see any when you're usually observing. For example, don't set up where you would interfere with the use of outdoor exercise equipment. Picnic pavilions do not require a reservation after dusk, and there is usually a clear grassy area nearby.
Many recreation centers have a nice area to set up to view at least part of the sky. Most have areas where there is a lot of light, however, and most have lots of trees that also block views of the sky. Some have spots where the features of the rec center create a dark area shielded from nearby lights, with a view of a large area of sky. An example of this is the SeaBreeze Rec Center, which has a dark area behind its tennis courts along the walking path. That area has a good view to the south and west, with the parking lot lights blocked by the tennis court fences.
Truman Rec Center
Truman Recreation Center is the site currently used for our Telescope Workshops, as well as some of our Starry Starry Night programs. The grassy area near the picnic pavilion is away from the worst of the local lights, and gives good views to the north, east, and south. Views to the west have a high horizon caused by the local buildings and plantings, as well as the lights of the rec center and its pool.
Homestead Rec Center
The Homestead Astronomy Park is a unique facility within The Villages. Using it presents some challenges, and the club is working with Recreation to address those so that we can make the best use of the Astronomy Park.
Normally, the gate to the Astronomy Park area will be locked at around dusk. You can request to have it kept open until 10pm, however. Submit your request to the front desk of the rec center. They also have a small telescope available for loan to those who don't have their own preferred instrument. Normally, keeping the site open requires that Recreation staff be on site, so it can't be kept open after 10pm without a special request submitted to Recreation at least a week ahead of your planned date (similar to requesting the site for an event.) However, the club is able to check out the key to the park to keep it open for later events now, and we are using the park for late night observation events for our observers. We hope to establish monthly events at the Astronomy Park for our astrophotographers to take advantage of the dark site.
The site itself has several concrete pads with power provided. Unfortunately, these abut on the preserve land that surrounds the park, and the tall trees there. These pads each have a limited view of the sky. Only one will allow for visual alignment of the telescope's mount with the north pole. The club recommends that members use EAA devices that will allow for polar alignment without direct visual sighting of Polaris to obtain polar alignment, or plate-solving technology on alt-az instruments.
The preserve land also brings with it lots of mosquitos. Wear long pants and long sleeves and use mosquito repellant. At some times of year the mosquitos can be particularly intense, and spraying is limited by the nearby preserve land.
Remain on pavement at all times to avoid fire ants, which are rife at the site. This will also keep you from tripping over corn hole toss targets and fire pits in the dark. Follow the paved walkways when entering and leaving the park for your safety.
While the site presents many challenges, the club is able to use the site in a limited fashion for astrophotography and serious observers. The high horizon lines caused by the tall trees mean that many far northern and southern objects cannot be observed from the park. Your observation plans should seek objects that are at least 25 degrees above the horizon, then plan to set up in the part of the park that will give you the best view in the direction in which your subject lies. For example, for objects in the south, you would set up on the north side of the park, and be aware of when that object will be visible in the "notches" between the southern trees.
Contact our President or Secretary to be added to the observers' email list to be notified of when the park will be opened. We have had several successful events there, and we are hoping to be able to make ever greater use of the park with time.
Everglades Recreation Center
The basketball court and multi-use soccer field on the north end of the Everglades Recreation Center complex provide moderately dark skies for those who want a place to observe south of Highway 44 when the Astronomy Park isn't open. Users should avoid any conflicts with existing activities in that location, and as always be considerate in their use of the site.
Outside The Villages
Fruitland Park
We join the Fruitland Park Astronomy Group for their monthly meetings at Cales Memorial Field in Fruitland Park. These are scheduled events, during which the City of Fruitland Park opens the gate to the soccer fields and their parking. Otherwise, the park area is either inaccessible or in use for another purpose. See our calendar for dates for observing at Fruitland Park's Cales Field.
The Gardenia Park Recreation Complex remains open at night. However, it is unlikely to be a better place for observation than a decent rec center in The Villages.
Chiefland Astronomy Village
Chiefland Astronomy Village is a dark-sky development that is approximately 90 minutes drive from The Villages. They have an observing field area where they hold a dark sky observing event on the New Moon weekends of each month. Several of our members attend these events to enjoy some of the darkest skies in Florida.
For more information, see: https://chieflandastro.com/