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 Sterling:
35.108201, -80.886462
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.
We enjoy finding new spots for bird watching and we use the eBird website for local sighting reports and to help identify hotspots.
The eBird website is organized on a county-by-county basis. We have selected Mecklenburg County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
We found 41 communities that share the name Sterling.
There is one other community in North Carolina which is also named Sterling.
Beyond North Carolina, we know of another 40 communities that are located throughout in the United States and Canada. Of these 40 communities, 40 are located in the United States and one is in Canada.
Communities Located In North Carolina ...
Robeson County
We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the North Carolina community of Sterling [Robeson County].
Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
Alabama
Cherokee County
This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Alabama community of Sterling [Cherokee County].
Alaska
This Sterling lies 3,472 miles [5,587.6 km]<3> to the northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
Arizona
Yavapai County
This community is historic<2> and although located in Yavapai County, we don't know where within the county.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Yavapai County community of Sterling.
Arkansas
Chicot County
This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Arkansas community of Sterling [Chicot County].
Colorado
Logan County
This Sterling is located in Logan County and lies 1,270 miles [2,043.9 km]<3> to the west northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Logan County community of Sterling.
Connecticut
Windham County
This Sterling is located in Windham County and lies 668 miles [1,075 km]<3> to the northeast of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Windham County community of Sterling.
Florida
Hillsborough County
This Sterling is located in Hillsborough County and lies 504 miles [811.1 km]<3> to the south southwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hillsborough County community of Sterling.
Miami-Dade County
We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Florida community of Sterling [Miami-Dade County].
Georgia
Glynn County
This Sterling is located in Glynn County and lies 267 miles [429.7 km]<3> to the south of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Glynn County community of Sterling.
Idaho
Bingham County
This Sterling is located in Bingham County and lies 1,780 miles [2,864.6 km]<3> to the west northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Bingham County community of Sterling.
Illinois
Whiteside County
This Sterling is located in Whiteside County and lies 662 miles [1,065.4 km]<3> to the northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Whiteside County community of Sterling.
Indiana
Fountain County
We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Indiana community of Sterling [Fountain County].
Iowa
Jackson County
This Sterling is located in Jackson County and lies 697 miles [1,121.7 km]<3> to the northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Jackson County community of Sterling.
Kansas
Logan County
We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Sterling [Logan County].
Rice County
This Sterling is located in Rice County and lies 981 miles [1,578.8 km]<3> to the west northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rice County community of Sterling.
Louisiana
Saint Mary Parish
This Sterling is located in Saint Mary Parish and lies 716 miles [1,152.3 km]<3> to the west southwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Mary Parish community of Sterling.
Massachusetts
Worcester County
This Sterling is located in Worcester County and lies 704 miles [1,133 km]<3> to the northeast of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Worcester County community of Sterling.
Michigan
Arenac County
This Sterling is located in Arenac County and lies 638 miles [1,026.8 km]<3> to the north northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Arenac County community of Sterling.
Macomb County
We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Michigan community of Sterling [Macomb County].
Mississippi
Lauderdale County
This Sterling is located in Lauderdale County and lies 492 miles [791.8 km]<3> to the west southwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lauderdale County community of Sterling.
Missouri
Howell County
This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Missouri community of Sterling [Howell County].
Montana
Madison County
This Sterling is located in Madison County and lies 1,763 miles [2,837.3 km]<3> to the northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Madison County community of Sterling.
Nebraska
Johnson County
This Sterling is located in Johnson County and lies 920 miles [1,480.6 km]<3> to the west northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Johnson County community of Sterling.
New York
Cayuga County
This Sterling is located in Cayuga County and lies 610 miles [981.7 km]<3> to the north northeast of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Cayuga County community of Sterling.
North Dakota
Burleigh County
This Sterling is located in Burleigh County and lies 1,288 miles [2,072.8 km]<3> to the northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Burleigh County community of Sterling.
Nova Scotia
This Sterling lies 1,330 miles [2,140.4 km]<3> to the northeast of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
Ohio
Meigs County
This community is historic<2> and although located in Meigs County, we don't know where within the county.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Meigs County community of Sterling.
Wayne County
This Sterling is located in Wayne County and lies 407 miles [655 km]<3> to the north of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wayne County community of Sterling.
Oklahoma
Comanche County
This Sterling is located in Comanche County and lies 977 miles [1,572.3 km]<3> to the west of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Comanche County community of Sterling.
Woods County
We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Oklahoma community of Sterling [Woods County].
Pennsylvania
Clearfield County
This Sterling is located in Clearfield County and lies 418 miles [672.7 km]<3> to the north northeast of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clearfield County community of Sterling.
Wayne County
This Sterling is located in Wayne County and lies 523 miles [841.7 km] to the north northeast of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Wayne County community of Sterling.
Tennessee
Claiborne County
We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Tennessee community of Sterling [Claiborne County].
Texas
Robertson County
This community is historic<2> and although located in Robertson County, we don't know where within the county.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Robertson County community of Sterling.
Utah
Sanpete County
This Sterling is located in Sanpete County and lies 1,710 miles [2,752 km]<3> to the west northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Sanpete County community of Sterling.
Virginia
Loudoun County
This Sterling is located in Loudoun County and lies 329 miles [529.5 km]<3> to the north northeast of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Loudoun County community of Sterling.
Washington
Skagit County
This Sterling is located in Skagit County and lies 2,287 miles [3,680.6 km]<3> to the northwest of the Sterling that is located in Mecklenburg County.
For more information, please visit our profile page for the Skagit County community of Sterling.
West Virginia
Boone County
This community is historic<2> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the West Virginia community of Sterling [Boone County].
Wetzel County
We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the West Virginia community of Sterling [Wetzel County].
Wisconsin
Clark County
We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Wisconsin community of Sterling [Clark County].
Curious and Interesting Names Near Sterling ...
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.
Eden Gardens (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eden Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
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 Sterling to various places of note, such as the White House.
With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Sterling and extending to:
Raleigh, which is the State Capital of North Carolina, lies 134 miles [215.7 km]<3> to the east northeast (ENE). If you could drive a straight line from Sterling to Raleigh, with an average speed<5>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take less than three hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 8 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 6 days.
The White House (Washington, DC) is 336 miles [540.7 km] to the northeast (NE). Driving would take five to six hours, a buggy would take 14 days and walking would take 19 days.
The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,227 miles [10,021.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,926 miles [11,146.3 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,805 miles [7,732.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>
Footnotes ...
<1>
If we encounter the name of what might be a community, our methodology is to add that name to our Gazetteer as a placeholder. As we find more information about that community, it will be added to our Gazetteer.
Just as a reminder: Our definition of a community is rather broad and includes those places (or areas) where several families lived and had a name which identified that place. For example, you might hear somebody say that they are going over to Mile's to see Pete ... Mile's is just a gas station and a couple of homes at the crossroads. While it might not be on the map, everybody in the area knows it by that name.
Places of interest include buildings at a crossroad, several families clustered in a hollow or maybe the location of a way station. It also includes places like mines, lumber camps, ferry crossings, etc. The community might still exist, is now gone or only existed for just a short period of time.
Also keep in mind that Sterling could have been on the original document by mistake, misspelled, the original/alternate name of a community that we've listed elsewhere or was placed in the wrong county. Sometimes a post office or train station would have a different name than the community where it's located, so two names might be referring to the same community - we're working to straighten it all out.
<2>
We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Sterling, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>
Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Sterling) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Sterling. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 35.1082, Longitude: -80.8865 In this case, the coordinates for Sterling have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<4>
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.
<5>
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.
<6>
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 Sterling to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.
<7>
The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.247 degrees.
<8>
The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.564 degrees.
<9>
The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 307.556 degrees.