Question for Folks Near The Top of the Mountain

[campbell]

Does any one know what that structure with tons and tons of lights is that sits on top of the far away mountain ridge? I believe it's the ridge referred to as the Ridge and Valley Appalachians. At night it looks like a huge structure floating in the sky since you can't see the ridge very well. In day light it appears to be a huge white structure. I think it's in the direction of Hagerstown but of course much further since it's on the mountain.

[Tony]

Can you get a picture and a compass heading? Our mountain - The Blue Ridge - faces northwest towards Martinsburg and Inwood, but I imagine from some places you could look due north towards Hagerstown.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=map+25...sqi=2&t=h&z=10

[trollibear]

Are you sure it's on top of the mountain in Berkeley county?
From where you are, and that awesome view you have, I'm wondering if you're seeing Essroc!?!

It's like one huge city. It looks awesome at night. And by looking at Google map, you're kind of in a straight shot to it.

[kemeigen]

I know exactly what you're talking about campbell. We can see it too and always wonder what it is

[antzgal]

If it is the one that can be seen as you turn onto Chestnut Hill from Rt 9 Virginia, I was told that it is one of the ski slopes. Not sure, just passing on what I was told.

[LFE]

I gotta start partying with you all...

[Chutney Daftcraft]

Can you get a picture and a compass heading? Our mountain - The Blue Ridge - faces northwest towards Martinsburg and Inwood, but I imagine from some places you could look due north towards Hagerstown.

That's not entirely true. I'm up at the top of Gate 1, and where I live, the mountain faces Winchester. The front of my home is in line with the street and the ridge itself, meaning my house is not at a funky angle to see this. I have to look kinda to the right to see Martinsburg/Hagerstown. I may be at an interesting part of the mountain, it seems to jut out where I'm at. I can see from Front Royal to way past Hagerstown. I can also look to the right and see Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown, etc. I can easily see the bridge from Shepherdstown to Sharpsburg.

I can see ESSROC as well, but that's in front of and slightly to the left of what she's talking about. I have no idea what it is. I think what she's talking about may be in Maryland or Pennsylvania, actually.

[lar]

Antzgirl, I heard it was Whitetail Ski Resort if we are talking about the same thing as they are. I found it kind of hard to believe you could see that from here, but whatever.

[LFE]

You can see, on a clear day... a very long way away from the top of this hill.
BTW, from the top of the mountian here, we look strait across to the Rippon/VA line.
From the top of the first ridge (Mission) in our neighborhood we see the Rt 7 bridge over the river (just East of Berryville).
- It twist, turns and has many facets (the mountain should be thought of as a gem after all).

[trollibear]

I can see ESSROC as well, but that's in front of and slightly to the left of what she's talking about. I have no idea what it is. I think what she's talking about may be in Maryland or Pennsylvania, actually.

Ok, so now I am very curious. I'm dragging my big ass telescope up there so we can zero in on this thing.

[campbell]

Unfortunately I don't have a good enough camera to take a picture that far away. I don't think it's a ski resort and although it sounds like it could be essroc with all the lights it doesn't sound like the right location. I agree, I think this might be in MD or PA.

[campbell]

Another piece of information... these lights are all white, like the race track lights. Alot of the lights in the valley are red and yellow. Chutney are the Essroc lights the large formation that are red and yellow? That appears to be in the location you're talking about. Am I getting obsessed with this much???

[Willis]

Am I getting obsessed with this much???

Hmmmmm? YEP

[trollibear]

Antzgirl, I heard it was Whitetail Ski Resort if we are talking about the same thing as they are. I found it kind of hard to believe you could see that from here, but whatever.

I can't imagine being able to see Whitetail. Never been there but looking at Google Earth the slopes on the backside of the mountain away from us.

Camille, I don't think Essroc has red flashing lights. It might on the bigger towers though.

There's also a Potomac Airway on top of the mountain and another huge Sand quarry on that mountain between Berkeley Srpings and Maryland. Wondering if they have bright lights.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

Yes, Essroc looks like a large megalithic building with randomly located whitish/yellow lights with I want to say 4 red lights that may or may not flash. The thing you see that looks closer to the ground right by it - with the 5 bright lights in sequence - is the Airport south of Martinsburg off Route 11. I'm not sure if that's what you're talking about or not.

By the way, I so envy your view. It's high enough to see everything, but also low enough to gain better detail from the better angle. My husband and I have determined time and time again that if we could have any house on the mountain, we'd want yours.

[campbell]

I can't imagine it's white tail either. On a really clear day I think I can see a structure where "it" is so that wouldn't be a ski resort.
Thanks Chutney!! I'm calling Trolli when its clear and this thing is really visible and she and Leo are coming equipped with their telescope so come on down and help us try to identify "it."

[Tony]

Really, more useful than a telescope would be a GPS reading the point of origin (any smartphone can do that) and a compass heading. Of course, if their telescope has a camera attachment that would be nice too!

[LFE]

Flight charts (if you know how to read them), should show structures required to have red lights if you ask me.
Might be helpful...
http://skyvector.com/

[trollibear]

We went by Essroc last night. Yes, halfway up the towers is nothing but red lights. So if it were Essroc that you're seeing, you'd be seeing lots of red. Couldn't see anything else around there.

But I did notice one thing. The road signs that are lit up create a creepy glow on the clouds above them. Now, I'm wondering if you might be seeing a lighted road sign on I81.

Can't wait to get up there with the telescope. But it has to be clear and we still might not be able to see it.

We have a $700 Deep Space Scope. We can see the mountains on the Moon. And we must use a Moon filter because it's so powerful. Looking at the Moon without it is like looking at the sun. Which I want a Sun filter (if someone could give $200 for one)

There might be too much light pollution for our scope. But we'll see. Bummer that this weekend is cloudy and crappy.

Oh, and we can't take pictures. That's about another $300 set up for this scope.

[campbell]

Finally, a clear day! And what we are seeing is definitely ski slopes. About 8-10 of them. So it's definitely a ski resort that's got a ton of lights. Don't know for sure what ski resort it is though.