2025 Sky Survey Near New Carlisle

Chuck Bueter
Jul 29
2 min read

Updated: Oct 27

A sky survey above freshly developed areas near New Carlisle, IN, had higher brightness values in 2025 than was recorded during previous surveys in 2018.

Solar grazing segues into star gazing when the sun sets over the Honeysuckle Solar Project.

On July 23, 2025, I and Debra DuRall measured an average magnitude of 19.81 magnitudes per square arcsecond from six sites around the Indiana Enterprise Center (IEC). Previous surveys from 2018 indicated 20.22 and 20.46 magnitudes per square arcsecond. We did not measure with the Dark Sky Meter (DSM) app, as had been done in 2018. We observed the limiting visual magnitude from two sites with averted vision to be magnitude=4.6 and magnitude=4.8.

We started the 2025 survey using Sky Quality Meters after astronomical twilight (11:15 PM) and concluded at 1:30 AM before the moon rose. The sky was clear. The six sites were near but not necessarily identical to the original five sites from 2018, as several roads were closed for construction. Original data are in images 2900.jpeg and 2901.jpeg.

Results from sky survey 2025 July 23 suggest a magnitude above New Carlisle, IN, of 19.81 magnitudes per square arcsecond.

The results are included in Night Along the Solar Fence Line, (July 30 PDF) which documents nighttime observations of the region as large scale solar energy systems (LS-SES) are being challenged by St. Joseph County (IN) Council and Ordinance 47-25.

While driving the country roads DuRall and I stopped to record a 10-second exposure with an iPhone camera that featured irrigation equipment in the foreground and a starfield in the background. DuRall held a SQM in each hand. For orientation I added lines denoting the Little Dipper and Big Dipper. That image appears on the front of this document.

Also of interest that night over St. Joseph County, left out the handle of the Big Dipper, is the U-shaped group of stars forming the constellation Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. While the camera picks up the defining seven stars of the crown, we recorded picking up six of the seven stars of CrB from site X. Later, at site Y, I discerned the seventh star of CrB, which is magnitude=4.95, with averted vision. However, with my zeal for the upcoming nova in Corona Borealis, I was particularly attuned and knew where to look.

Some astronomers anticipate the nova reaching second magnitude. That's about as bright as as Alphecca, or Gemma, the bright, central gem star of the crown. Suddenly there will be a new point of light--a nova--visible in the celestial vault. Not spectacular, about as bright as Polaris, the north star. And predicted.