East Anglia Where best to see the night sky in Norfolk?

[bass_junkie83]

March next year we are off to Swanton Abbot in Norfolk for a few days in a cottage in the middle of nowhere. Being from the South East, not far outside London this is probably my best opportunity to properly see the night sky, looking at light pollution maps the are looks hopeful, with the even darker north coast being only an hours drive away.

However the one thing I don't want to do is waste the opportunity by doing a half arse job of pointing the lens to the sky and coming away with dull images. So not knowing the area myself I am hoping for some suggestions of locations that might provide interesting landscape of foreground interest for some night sky photos, what have you got?

 

[Scirocco_09]

Tricky, this involves people knowing the night sky in March and the directions of constellations compared to locations. I suggest you have a look at Alyn Wallace's vlogs about planning for astrophotography and otherwise scout your own locations in daylight and use an app to overlay the night sky against them. There's plenty of windpumps in the Broads, a few mills on the North Coast and there's lots of sea defences, but very difficult to be specific about what will work. Getting to know places is always the key I think

 

[zendog]

One thing Norfolk has in abundance is flint churches.
Bound to be several near you.

The villages do not have street lights and most people will be in bed by 9.00pm !
Take a head torch.

 

[benhben]

Ive been reading this site recently. My top aim for summer is to get out more to proper dark skies and learn how to photo the milky way properly.

http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/visiting/outdoor-activities/dark-skies

http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/dark-sky-discovery-sites/map.html

 

[Tringa]

Have a look at Stellarium. It free to downlaod and can show the sky for anywhere, anywhen so you could set it to show you what you'll see when you'll be there.

One place in Norfolk that has stargazing events is Kelling Heath - https://gostargazing.co.uk/events/locations/kelling-heath-holiday-park/

Dave

 

[Rocket]

Kelling Heath near Sheringham, listed on your map, near the Norfolk coast is a place many of the star watchers go.

 

[ABTog]

Take a look at this IG account by Roy Howarth, he's just posted a shot from Happisburgh Lighthouse on the coast, plus a few from the Broads in Thurne with the windmill.
https://www.instagram.com/royhowarthphotography/