RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Maryland >> Howard County >> Brightfield >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).

When in Brightfield, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Brightfield and the surrounding area.

  • Weather ...
  • Astronomy & Satellites ...
    • Whether using binoculars, a small telescope or the naked-eye, the Heavens-Above website can help you to find your way around the night-time sky. In addition to detailed sky charts, their website will help you find planets, asteriods, comets, satellites and their tracks across the sky.
    • To give accurate results, Heavens-Above requires the latitude and longitude of your location. As a starting point, when we link to Heavens-Above, we pass this GPS location for Brightfield:
    • 39.213163, -76.785250
    • Once you're on the Heavens-Above website, you can improve its accuracy by giving a more precise longitude and latitude as your actual position.
    • The Heavens-Above Website, centered on Brightfield
  • Waymarking ...
    • Looking for somewhere out of the ordinary? Find a unique place and want to share it with others? Then it's time to visit Waymarking.com:
    • Waymark.com

Curious and Interesting Names Near Brightfield ...

As we travel, we always see a community with a name that gives pause. While there are names which are interesting or familiar, some catch our attention or strike our fancy. We always wonder about such a name. If time permits and the community is not too far, we'll usually try to make a side-trip.

  • Bonnie Brae
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bonnie Brae have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie Brae
    • Bonnie Brae is located in Howard County
  • Cedars
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedars have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedars
    • Cedars is located in Howard County
  • Dasher Green
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dasher Green have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dasher Green
    • Dasher Green is located in Howard County
  • Elkhorn
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elkhorn have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn
    • Elkhorn is located in Howard County
  • Elkridge
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elkridge have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkridge
    • Elkridge is located in Howard County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elkridge <2>
  • Elkridge Heights
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elkridge Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkridge Heights
    • Elkridge Heights is located in Howard County
  • Frederick Village
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Frederick Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederick Village
    • Frederick Village is located in Baltimore County
  • Gray
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gray have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray
    • Gray is located in Howard County
  • Grays Level
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grays Level have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grays Level
    • Grays Level is located in Baltimore County
  • Hopewell
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hopewell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Hopewell is located in Howard County
  • Jonestown
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jonestown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonestown
    • Jonestown is located in Howard County
  • Lawyers Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers Hill
    • Lawyers Hill is located in Howard County
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Locust Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Locust Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Park
      • Locust Park is located in Howard County
    • Long Reach
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Long Reach have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Reach
      • Long Reach is located in Howard County
    • Marble Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marble Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble Hill
      • Marble Hill is located in Howard County
    • Mission Heights
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mission Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission Heights
      • Mission Heights is located in Howard County
    • Orange Grove ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Orange Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Grove
      • Orange Grove is located in Howard County
    • Phelps Luck
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Phelps Luck have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps Luck
      • Phelps Luck is located in Howard County
    • Pleasant View
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pleasant View have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
      • Pleasant View is located in Howard County
    • Quail Ridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Quail Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Ridge
      • Quail Ridge is located in Howard County
    • Rockburn Commons
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rockburn Commons have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockburn Commons
      • Rockburn Commons is located in Howard County
    • Springwood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Springwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springwood
      • Springwood is located in Anne Arundel County
    • Thistle
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thistle have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thistle
      • Thistle is located in Baltimore County
    • Thunder Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thunder Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thunder Hill
      • Thunder Hill is located in Howard County
    • Timber Run
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Timber Run have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Run
      • Timber Run is located in Howard County
    • Timberview
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Timberview have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberview
      • Timberview is located in Howard County
    • Vantage Point
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vantage Point have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vantage Point
      • Vantage Point is located in Howard County
    • Wheatfield Way
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wheatfield Way have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatfield Way
      • Wheatfield Way is located in Howard County
    • Woodland Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodland Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
      • Woodland Village is located in Howard County

How Far From Brightfield to ...

We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers, Almanacs & Directories that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a community such as Brightfield to various places of note, such as the White House.

With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance<3> beginning in Brightfield and extending to:

  • Ellicott City, which is the Seat of Howard County, lies just to the North.
  • Annapolis, which is the State Capital of Maryland, lies 22 miles [35.4 km]<3> to the southeast (SE). If you could walk a straight line from Brightfield to Annapolis, with an average speed<4> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take just over a day to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take most of a day.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 25 miles [40.2 km] to the south southwest (SSW). The buggy would take most of a day and walking would take just about two full days.
  • The shortest distance<5> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 5,873 miles [9,451.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,579 miles [10,587.9 km] and it lies to the east northeast (ENE).<7>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,456 miles [7,171.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Brightfield) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Brightfield. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.2132, Longitude: -76.7853       In this case, the coordinates for Brightfield have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<4>While we have tried to pick reasonable speeds, the rate of travel is very theoretical - obstacles like fences, hills, lakes, river crossings and rest stops have been ignored. When we say 'Days' of travel, we're assuming 8 hours of travel per day.
<5>The shortest line can be visualized by stretching a string on a Globe from Point A to Point B - this is known as a Great Circle Route. Where you might expect the shortest route from Brightfield to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 307.72 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 303.295 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 304.485 degrees.