Hi all,
Just a quick intro, father and 11yo daughter just starting out from the central coast.
Just got our daughter a Celestron cosmos 90gt wifi ( I know it’s not the best or newest model but, got on sale from Australian geographic for $220) so as a first scope I think it was a bargain. We have had it out a few times when weather has been clear enough over the last couple of weeks, first night I tried to align about 9pm and HD trouble as I had too many stars to pick from I think. We spotted Saturn on that first night while trying to align and my daughters reaction was priceless.
The next time we went and aligned it just as it was getting dark, had no trouble as we could only spot bright stars. Having it track Saturn was awesome, I think she just looked at it for half an hour.
Looking forward to getting out and seeing more whenever we can.
Already have read a lot of tips on here, so thank you all and look forward to one day understanding all the wealth on info on here.
Hi Mark and Taylah
Welcome to IceInSpace
As Glen said, there are a few of us here on the Central Coast.
(Avoca, Terrigal, Wyoming, Wyong, Norah Head, just to mention a few).
And we love helping newcomers. And sharing night skies.
Any questions, ask away.
Want to visit our local dark sky site (Mangrove Mountain) just let us know.
Want to come for a few days away at a (Free) dark site camp, we'll be happy to include you.
Want to see what bigger scopes and premium eyepieces do, happy to share.
But mostly, keep the enthusiasm, and keep looking up.
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone,
Would definitely be interested in a night at mangrove mountain.
I am hoping to be able to get away early/mid next year for a few days, I was looking at Warrumbungle online, what’s it actually like out there? Will be a family camping trip so need a few amenities to keep the boss happy haha
If thinking of the Warrumbungles, if you have the time there's a better trip:
1. Parks, for the radio telescope;
2. Visit the AAO at Siding Spring, stay overnight there and fit in some stargazing with the locals.
3. Then on to the Australia Telescope near Narrabri and then up to the campsite at Dawsons Spring on top of Mt Kaputar. Great campsite at 1400+ metres with permanent water, power, hot showers and campsites set in a forest of tall trees, great for stargazing and in summer its a very pleasant temperature. Lots of walks and things to do. Native animals visit the campsite which will amuse kids.
Warrumbungle national park
Yeah, good amenities, nice nature walks, but I didn't find it too good for observing - lights etc.. But others seem to like it.
Maybe you might also consider Chaffey Dam.
Its closer. (Travel time 4:15 vs 5:45)
Good dark skies.
$5 per car per night last time I went.
$1 hot showers.
Flushing toilets.
Boating fishing swimming in the dam.
Short distance to a nice little town (Nundle)
Bit further to Tamworth.
It can get hot in Summer.
Take heavy duty tent pegs.
Mt Kaputar, narrow dirt road, not suitable for caravans (or trailers I suspect).
And to be honest, I couldn't see the sky for the trees.
Maybe I was at the wrong camp site.
Ah, Allan, evidently you don’t know the place to observe ... there is an area of frozen lava the size of a football field and so flat a concrete leveller couldn’t do better. It’s perhaps a hundred meters along the Barabba fire trail, left hand side. 10 minute walk from the camping area. Also used as a helicopter landing pad. The trick is, it is screened from the trail - unless you know it’s there you won’t see it.
Ah, Allan, evidently you don’t know the place to observe ... there is an area of frozen lava the size of a football field and so flat a concrete leveller couldn’t do better. It’s perhaps a hundred meters along the Barabba fire trail, left hand side. 10 minute walk from the camping area. Also used as a helicopter landing pad. The trick is, it is screened from the trail - unless you know it’s there you won’t see it.
It’s visible on Google BTW.
Superb spot.
Ahh! Thanks Nick.
I knew there had to be more to it.
That is the trouble in going to these places alone.
Cheers
Welcome Daughters are precious and reactions are priceless. 90mm is plenty to start with , while I am not a huge fan of Aus Geo as pricing is usually astronomical (no pun) sometimes you can get good deals. and for non astronomy they have lots if nice learning kits for kids. ABC shops had some but they are gone now.
Hi Mark
Welcome to the world of Astronomy.
Had a very satisfying few days observing at the Warrumbungles a few years back.
Camped at the Wambelong campsite. Impossibly dark with decent views of the night sky. https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au...camp-wambelong
Good amenities not for away at the main camping area. Bush walks, great views and plenty of wildlife. Great family get away!
Hey guys, when you go camping out in the middle of nowhere like you're suggesting, - don't you get all sorts of unwelcome creepy crawlies visiting during the night?
I get just how wimpy that sounds but these things scare the pants off me (not a pretty sight, lol)
I am hoping to be able to get away early/mid next year for a few days, I was looking at Warrumbungle online, what’s it actually like out there? Will be a family camping trip so need a few amenities to keep the boss happy haha
Welcome Mark,
It's only 29km from the Warraumbungles National Park to Coonabarabran,
where there are cappuccinos (Feather's Cafe in Cassilis St is where
locals and astronomers like to go these days for lunch), a bakery, a modern
Woolworths supermarket, a Subway sandwich joint, pub dinners,
a nice Chinese restaurant, a bowling club and other mod cons.
Even the newly opened, architecturally impressive visitors center within the national park has cold drinks and ice creams.
This is the astronomical capital of Australia.
You might like to spend an evening at the Milroy Observatory on the 40 inch. http://www.milroyobservatory.com.au/
Donna Burton is an astronomer there whose enthusiasm is inspirational.