ICEINSPACE
Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Gibbous 92.1%
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10-01-2016, 04:06 PM
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Member > 10year club
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Central Coast NSW
Posts: 3,336
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NSW informal Astro Camping Trips
The idea of this thread is to provide a link to information for those around the Central Coast (and Sydney-Newcastle etc.) of any proposed informal Astro camping trips.
{edit: - and Dunk in Brisbane - you crazy travelling thing}
If you subscribe to this thread (under thread tools) you can receive an email notification when a new post is entered.
Trips are around New Moon (often pre to allow early start).
* Bretti just 3 hours north of Sydney is a regular destination, with free camping, dark skies, plenty of space, and pleasant environment, river swimming.
other further afield
* Caffey Dam (south of Tamworth, $5 per night, better facilities, hot showers)
* Gel Riddle Reserve (north of Tamworth, good skies, better weather - usually very DRY, free camping, basic facilities, little water, but close to Barraba town)
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15-01-2016, 09:10 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,054
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Geoff it is very close to my place, and I have been by there many times on 4wd trips in the Watagans. While the whole area is heavily forested the Basin is partially open. I have not stayed at the Basin, only drove by, but i know you cannot drive in and vehicle camp, it is protected by bollards/fencing and you have to walk in and pitch a tent but can park a vehicle nearby. As it sits on top the Watagans it will be subject to the coastal cloud that builds up against them. On the right night, it could be a good temporary spot like the Pony Club if you don't mind leaving your vehicle at the fence, but dodging the trees surrounding the area, the scope useful horizon would be fairly high due to the trees as you can see by the attached photos I grabbed from the Net.
http://images.everytrail.com/pics/fu...n_campsite.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...123_071506.JPG
Last edited by glend; 15-01-2016 at 09:53 AM.
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15-01-2016, 02:49 PM
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bewise betold neverbecold
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Terrigal NSW
Posts: 3,801
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oh well!
that's that then
geoff
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21-01-2016, 02:02 PM
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bewise betold neverbecold
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Terrigal NSW
Posts: 3,801
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almost ready
I get my van back from the panel beaters today
just a little electrical work to do and i will be operational again
the urge is upon me!
just saying!
geoff
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21-01-2016, 02:32 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,054
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Geoff the next New Moon is the 9th of February.
The seeing conditions are pretty bad now due to the daytime heat build up, which is taking most of the night to improve. Hopefully things cool off soon.
Last edited by glend; 21-01-2016 at 04:34 PM.
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21-01-2016, 04:39 PM
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bewise betold neverbecold
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Terrigal NSW
Posts: 3,801
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not particular about seeing conditions Glen
just a trip away would satisfy
(not the weekend of the 13/14th Feb though)
geoff
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21-01-2016, 05:01 PM
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Drifting from the pole
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 5,429
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I think I'm stuck up here next new Moon but after that who knows
Had a good couple of nights of seeing here recently (look out for my planetary exploits later!), despite the Moon phase, although it's only been 32 daytime and "cooling" off to around 25. Sounds like a picnic compared to what you guys down south have been having!
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21-01-2016, 05:12 PM
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John
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Central Coast
Posts: 112
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Hi Dunk, yes I reckon we are being punished here for having too many scopes ⛈. Looks like the next few days are a write off too.
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21-01-2016, 05:16 PM
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Member > 10year club
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Central Coast NSW
Posts: 3,336
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl
not particular about seeing conditions Glen
just a trip away would satisfy
(not the weekend of the 13/14th Feb though)
geoff
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I am keen to accommodate those specifications.
I am thinking somewhere around the first week in February.
Maybe early second week of February, or combination of the two depending on weather expectations (I don't like it Too Hot!)
I expect we are talking about a relatively close to home location like Bretti.
So to confirm, the intent is there, lets just watch the weather and 7timer.
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21-01-2016, 10:29 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 331
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I might be able to organised a day or two on either side of the new moon weekend. Have been trying to learn how to find things by star hopping and could use some practical advice.
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22-01-2016, 12:56 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Port Macquarie NSW Australia
Posts: 587
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I'm keen too.
From the 4th to ? would be good.
New moon 9th.
Any takers?
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23-01-2016, 11:00 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,054
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I opened the door on the camper for the first time in five months and was delighted that there were no cobwebs or mold anywhere. Checking the electrics I found the reason for the reversing camera not working (earth corrosion underneath) and a bad connection. I need about a week to prep it and reinstall the batteries, clean the tank, toilet, etc.
So Jakob I am hopeful.
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23-01-2016, 11:49 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Killara, Sydney
Posts: 4,147
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If you're prepared to go past Tamworth there are a few spots near Ebor that look OK, off the highway.
And if you're going as far as Barraba you may as well go all the way to Mt Kaputar NP and camp at Dawsons spring (on the top). There is an excellent observing area for scopes BTW as well as power and hot showers if you wish.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl
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Yes, took my scope and tried the watagans many years ago at a time when I frequently visited the hunter power stations. Didn't strike me as great. I found a fair hilltop just out of Dungog was a lot better.
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23-01-2016, 11:15 PM
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bewise betold neverbecold
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Terrigal NSW
Posts: 3,801
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I have a leave pass for anything before the 9th
geoff
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25-01-2016, 10:13 PM
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bewise betold neverbecold
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Terrigal NSW
Posts: 3,801
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only a week to get ready folks
i will have to get my finger out
geoff
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28-01-2016, 01:20 AM
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bewise betold neverbecold
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Terrigal NSW
Posts: 3,801
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there is no need for me to mention the forecast for next week - is there
geoff
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28-01-2016, 09:19 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,054
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Geoff maybe look at the week after, from Monday the 8th, the new moon is in that week (9th). Plenty of darkness that week. Maybe the rain will have moved on by then.
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28-01-2016, 11:44 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 331
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Damn this tropical pattern! My boat is getting more attention than the telescopes...
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28-01-2016, 12:17 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,054
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptrack2
Damn this tropical pattern! My boat is getting more attention than the telescopes...
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Don't mention boats, I have built seven of the buggers, and they all cost me more time and money than astronomy!
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