Any places on the EAST coast of Aus to see the stars?

[Steveonholinaus]

Hi guys and galls.

I'm on holiday right now in Australia. I'm driving from Port Douglas down to Sydney. I'm currently in Airlie Beach and will be here for 2 more nights after this one then carry on down to Sydney.

Does anyone know any good sites/places to look up with the naked eye?

Thanks, Steve.

[Wavytone]

Suggest you buy a MAP and you know where you're going - that's the EAST coast, actually.

Answer: avoid anywhere near a large town/city, or near the coast.

While the pacific highway along the coast from Brisbane to Sydney is arguably the fastest route, there is an alternative that may interest you if you want some astro-sight-seeing and seriously spectacular skies.

From Brisbane head to:

1. Narrabri, and on an evening free of moonlight and the weather is good AND you have a spare night, book accommodation there and during the day drive up to Mt Kaputar to observe the night sky from the peak which is at 1450m. The seeing there can be truly spectacular if the weather obliges. The road up this mountain is a dangerous narrow road only wide enough for 1 vehicle and for first-timers MUST be done in daylight so that you can see the risks you are dealing with.

7x50 binoculars are a must, if you don't have a small telescope.

2. Drop in at the Culgoora Solar Telescope, worth a visit.

3. Australia Telescope Compact Array, also near Narrabri.

4. Then head south to Coonabarabran and Siding Spring Observatory where there is a good visitors centre for a daytime visit.

Press on south for somewhere to stay overnight possibly around Scone or Muswellbrook before tackling the drive into...

5. Sydney... well... forget dark skies.

The truly committed diehards might deviate further west to take in the Parkes radio telescope dish, it's a big one and has a nice display.

[Steveonholinaus]

I'm blaming that on jet lag. Yeah it's the east side.

Cheers for all that information. I'll look into all that.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Steveonholinaus

Hi guys and galls.

I'm on holiday right now in Australia. I'm driving from Port Douglas down to Sydney. I'm currently in Airlie Beach and will be here for 2 more nights after this one then carry on down to Sydney.

Does anyone know any good sites/places to look up with the naked eye?

Thanks, Steve.

How long do you envisage taking to get to Sydney?
Once you get out of the major towns and cities,most of the Queensland coast is very dark, you don't need to go anywhere special to get a dark sky
As said above a good pair of bino's are the way to go
Send me a PM of your Queensland itinerary and I may just be able to help you out a bit more.
Cheers

[Steveonholinaus]

We'll be arriving in Sydney on the 30th and flying home on the 2nd. So won't be staying too long.

I think we're heading down to about Gold Coast then we can head inland. Rough guess as 26-27th.

[Steveonholinaus]

Oh and no telescope or binoculars. Just have my 20-20 vision to rely on.

Having said that, if I was there and someone else had a telescope, I'd be cheeky enough to ask for a look through.

[astroron (Ron)]

[QUOTE=Steveonholinaus;1281455]Oh and no telescope or binoculars. Just have my 20-20 vision to rely on.

Having said that, if I was there and someone else had a telescope, I'd be cheeky enough to ask for a look through.[/QUOTE

I am on the Sunshine coast which you have to pass through to head for the gold coast.
As I said PM me and I my be able to help you out.
Cheers