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Joining the Ottawa RASC to gain access to their observatory locating
in Bennies corners is a good choice. Members only unless there is a
public star party one (which there isnt because of covid.) Weather
forecast for it is <>. Try
the "road map" link on that page.

That's because there are no public observing locations anywhere in
Ottawa. By Ottawa bylaw, parks close at 11pm. Anyone staying there
afterwards is officially tresspassing. You may have heard of publc
star parties held in the parking lot fo the Carp LIbrary/Diefenbunker.
But were allowed to go there only on nights arranged between the city
of Ottawa and the Ottawa RASC. And they have to arrange the dates a
whole year in advance. There hasn't been a star party there since 2019
because of covid.

In practice, you can setup on any sidewalk as long as you do not
obstruct pedestrian traffic. Before Covid, we did that often in front
of chapter's bookstores to show the pubic the moon and planets. But
that's not appropriate for astrophotography or any kind of astronomy
where you're not activly inviting the public to look through your
scope.

There are only 4 kinds of places to observe in in ontario (I know of
none of these within a half hour of ottawa).

1. Private land, where you have permission of the land owner. There is
a group in Ottawa which has gotten permission from a farm owner.
Perpaps Pierre M. will invite you to it.

2. Crown land. no permission needed. But good luck finding a spot
where the sky isnt totally covered with trees.

The only spot I know of is Irvine Lake airstrip off of hightway 41.
Two hours away. It's an abandoned airstrip, so good horizons. Scary
dirt road. No cell coverage, electricity or washrooms. Watch out for
bears. Don't go there alone. Unless you bring a lawn mower the grass
will be several feet tall. Years ago we got official permission, from
NMR, to observe there because it's crown land. But they warned us not
to setup on the airstrip proper because it may still be used for
emergency landings. We're allowed to camp there for up to 30 days.
Weather forecast for Irvine Lake Airstrip (which we have nicknamed
"Nirvana") is <>.
See the "road map" link.

3. The "Lennox and Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area". No permission
needed 24/7 access. Quite dark. But 2.5 hours from ottawa. The weather
forecast page for it is
<>. Try the "road map"
link on that page. The layout makes it carring one's gear from the
parking spaces to the observing pad a longish haul.

4. North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve, Darker than Lennox and Addington
and about 1.5 hours from Ottawa. Specifically built for astronomers
and open 24/7. No permission needed, though they do ask you to sign a
guest book. It has a good paved road to flat parking lot. There a
concrete pad for telescopes with 110V ac power for telescopes. There
are nice outhouses. The parking lot is large and flat gravel. We can
back-up our cars quite close to the observing pad for
loading/unloading. The only restriction is no tent camping. The
weather forecast page, with map is
>

We still have to follow covid rules for all of the above.


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