Mullaghanish?

Has anyone been up here?
Looks like there is a road to the top. Not sure.
Should be dark and the altitude would help too.

www.google.ie/maps/place/Mullaghanish,+C...d8f7!5m1!1e4!6m1!1e1

I wasn't exactly at that location.
I was just to the south near Coolea and Gougane Barra area.
I was there about 3 weeks ago for 5 nights.
The sky was non light polluted and very dark.
The transparency was good.
I could see down to at least 6th mag.

Eamonn

Thanks Eamonn,

I discovered there is a gate at the start of the access road anyway. So there is no way to get up there with a car.
www.google.ie/maps/@51.966012,-9.157952,...o36QXbf9g9l782YA!2e0

Pity, I was curious if the altitude would help, even though its only 600m

Derek

Derek,

Their is another mountain called Nowen Hill at a height of 600m (1800 ft) you might be interested in exploring.
This is south of Ballingeary.
You can drive up to a certain height and then you have to walk the rest because the incline was so steep.
I suppose you could drive to the very top if you have the right vehicle.
I was up there many times with other astronomers to do astronomical observations.
It was possible to bring up an 8 inch SCT telescope.
We had tried a 7 mountains in both Counties Cork and Kerry including Mount Gabriel at 1300 ft.
Gabriel has an access road all the way to the top. Although a significant advantage having a road,
the downside: we found more fog and cloud, because it was on the coast (oragraphic uplift of warm air)
However, the best one we found was Nowen Hill.
I used to observe from there during the winter. The transparency of sky was good.
We determined we could see down to 7.2 magnitude with the naked eye. We determined this by selecting known stars at 7th and 8th magnitude.

Eamonn

eansbro wrote: However, the best one we found was Nowen Hill.
I used to observe from there during the winter. The transparency of sky was good.
We determined we could see down to 7.2 magnitude with the naked eye. We determined this by selecting known stars at 7th and 8th magnitude.

That is impressive, and rarely seen from this island. That would enable one to theoretically see Uranus with the naked eye. I would love to see a nightsky down to that magniude from Ireland. The best I have seen that low in magnitude was on the edge of the Sahara.

Seanie.

Wow, thanks for all that info Eamonn!!
I'll go exploring those places thats for sure.

Another place that I've been is the top of Seefin in the ballyhoura mountains.
www.google.ie/maps/place/Unnamed+Rd,+Co....8c30!5m1!1e4!6m1!1e1

It was a long time ago (~15 years) and I remember the sky was very dark. There is a gravel road to the top. Must try here again soon, although nearby towns of Mallow and Charleville have grown in the last 15 years so it may not be as good.

7.2 magnitude is very impressive. As well as a dark sky you need good eyesight too!

Derek