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  #1  
Old 21-06-2017, 11:14 PM
karena (Karena)
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Hello. Im Karena. Im traveling to Sydney for the first time this weekend and will be free both Monday and Tuesday evenings to try to find someone or a group to take milky way photos with. Ive never been there and dont know where to go there. It will be my first opportunity to take the photos and have rented the appropriate equipment.
Is there anyone who has suggestions or is interested in showing me the basics? I can take a cab or possibly rent a car on Monday or Tuesday (June 26 and 27th). The 26th looks clear on the forecast at the moment.

Anyone interested or have suggestions? I can also take public transportation to meet up if thats an option. Ha Ha. Im not familiar with driving on the left side of the road.
Karena
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Old 22-06-2017, 08:29 AM
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iborg (Philip)
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Hi Karena

I'm nowhere near Sydney, but, I thought I would let you know that driving on the 'wrong' side is not hard at all. Just think, look twice, then go.

Mind you, my better half in the passenger seat was even more nervous than usual!

Philip
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Old 22-06-2017, 03:06 PM
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sil (Steve)
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Karena, be prepared for a ton of light pollution in Sydney, Also be aware photography on beaches can cause concern with locals and police, even at night just because nobody thinks.

You might be able to find a local park oval easy enough (there are tons around, not always with hideous night lights. Rude parkers are also frowned upon, so if you pull up in s car park and set up gear in the space next to you don't be surprised if a local coming home from work just drives into your gear. Sydney residential areas often have insufficient parking for those who live there and little to no public parking available. And little to no patience for people not respecting the parking. On the north side around Manly say, is heaps of parkland and little lighting so it may just be a case of go and look for a dark spot if you are unable to hook up with anyone. You'd have to go a few hours west to get to more rural regions, there are trains but I don't know if they could get you out past Penrith and back again in the one night. Lithgow and blue mountains will give you high locations and little light pollution but you may have limited sky views due to local trees. Also brass monkey cold at the moment too, but I think worth the side trip especially if you can hook up with locals out that way. Likewise Bathurst, if its along your itenary. I can't really think of anywhere suitable in Sydney, live there most of my life but wasnt really into astronomy at the time sorry. Thinking back it was always busy and well lit, anywhere I went at any time of night. Its hard to avoid people and built up areas. Not sure if Hyde Park in the CBD would be good or not, tons of trees. There will be tons of good views around the harbour so expect having boats etc in foreground shots rather than clear to horizon. Also travel light and discrete, expect harassment from locals, security guards and police, and while none of them know the laws just be polite, dont argue and move on. Sorry if it sounds scary but it could be depending where you are. I wouldn't recommend tackling public transport with a ton of tripods and gear bags either, travel is slow so you still get packed buses and trains of frazzled 9-5ers trying to get home at 8pm. Also there's no reason not to pop into a local police station and just ask them if they can recommend a good safe local location that shouldn't be a problem. Just be sensible and polite, don't go onto say a school oval with a bunch of camera gear, sends the wrong message to onlookers, nor stick to the shadows trying to hide from view etc. Try not to go out on your own if possible. I really hope you get a hookup for an outting or two, its not a bad place but for a first visit you just never know and hopefully get yourself some great shots and good memories to take home.

Of course there is also the Sydney Observatory in the heart of Sydney. Tons of light pollution (unavoidable like any other major city) but contact them about taking photos there, maybe groups to hook up with and locations in your area they might be able to recommend.
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Old 22-06-2017, 04:25 PM
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Hi Karena,
Welcome to IceInSpace
and welcome to Sydney, Australia.

where will you be staying in Sydney?

As you suggest, we have some great views of the Southern Skies and in particular the Milky Way.
But as others have said, not necessarily from Sydney.

If you want to travel just under 100k north of Sydney I can take you to our dark sky site at Mangrove Mountain. This would involve about one and a half hours drive for you (each way).
Would you be interested in staying local overnight?

There may be some other observing sites around Sydney that may better suit if someone cares to escort you, but I don't know them.
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Old 22-06-2017, 05:50 PM
cadman342001 (Andy)
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Karena !

I'm from Northern Tropical Queensland so I don't know anywhere in Sydney area. Like others have said, you're gonna have hire a car to travel some to get away from the LP of the city.

Andy
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Old 22-06-2017, 08:26 PM
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Hi Kareena... welcome to Sydney - and I am a local.

As pointed out above Sydney is a big city and the light pollution is bad. Depending on location you won't see more than mag 2 stars in the city centre and mag 3 stars in the suburbs. Mag 4 possibly on the fringe.

Most of us travel to dark sites on one or Saturday nights each month, typically 2 hours drive from the city - this coming Saturday is 24th - so unfortunately you will miss the chance to try photos. The reason being that a drive this long is not possible on weeknights for those with day jobs.

Best I can suggest is prepare to spend two days travelling by train to the blue mountains - say Katoomba or Leura - and book a night in a hotel there. At 1000m it is cold - it will drop to zero at night. By day explore Leura which is a nice mountain town with gardens and cliff top walks.

Leura oval is not lit at night and should be dark enough for some photos.

Katoomba is a tourist town - full of lights and lit up like a Christmas tree at night.

Last edited by Wavytone; 22-06-2017 at 08:38 PM.
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Old 22-06-2017, 09:46 PM
karena (Karena)
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Thank you for all of your responses. Just to verify character and safety, does anyone know Alen,L? Id love to have the opportunity to meet up and take photos and it would be nice to have verification from someone who knows him.
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Old 23-06-2017, 06:26 AM
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Methinks you worry too much. A kind, and do note a public offer, has been made from a known and respected member of this community. Go to Mangrove Mountain, it's a beautiful spot, and don't forget to share your experience with us. :-)
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Old 23-06-2017, 08:28 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by karena View Post
Thank you for all of your responses. Just to verify character and safety, does anyone know Alen,L? Id love to have the opportunity to meet up and take photos and it would be nice to have verification from someone who knows him.
We're all a pretty friendly and safe bunch here, undesirable types dont hang around here and arent tolerated. Besides astronomy attracts the more patient types not heroin junkies. I should have clarified my post which may have sounded bleak. Sydney just like all major cities has a population in the millions and on the whole are a trustworthy friendly lot of people. It only takes one bad apple, one drunken lout to mess up your experience, so just exercise common sense. Expect a few drunk encounters late on a friday/saturday night like anywhere else. Expect crowds and parking to be difficult and hence locals to be a bit rushed and stressed on the public transport. So don't barge your way through carrying tons of gear expecting lots of smiles. But unlike America you're not likely to get shot behaving that way. If you're in town during a major event like mardi gras expect massively more crowds etc. I don't know Allan L personally but he's a long standing and active member on the forum and his invite is very reasonable, travel in sydney is slow no matter what you use and you do have to get a fair way out to get away from light pollution. The north of sydney is more national park and less built up so you get better sky views, you just need a good vantage point to get views down to the horizon. I would advise against just heading north on your own to NOT meet up with someone and expecting to find a road shoulder to pull over and set up, thats just asking for trouble with transport trucks whizzing past heading to brisbane etc. We do have tough gun laws here so dont expect a national park with lurking survivalist types carrying AK74s, just doesnt happen in Australia. My guess is the worse you can expect is running out of sauce for a bbq sausage with Allan Try contacting Allan or anyone else that offers and maybe see if you can hook up on skype to get awkward hellos out of the way and he's probably just as nervous of you too. Australia is a huge country and often you'll find folks here travelling and looking to meet up, I know its scary meeting strangers but there's no expectations like a date and it would be a shame to miss out on a great experience after coming all this way. Offer of a bed for the night is not out of place here either. Drink driving is a big no-no here and most people have a spare room and comfy sofa bed for visitors who drink a bit much and shouldn't be driving. Maybe its a cultural thing for aussies to be so trusting like this? For me its a normal thing.
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Old 23-06-2017, 09:39 AM
karena (Karena)
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I'm planning to go and can hopefully set up details with Allan before I leave home tomorrow. Thank you all for your support and infortmation.
I'm really excited and will absolutely share my experience with you. I rented a car to make things easier.
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  #11  
Old 23-06-2017, 03:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by karena View Post
Thank you for all of your responses. Just to verify character and safety, does anyone know Alen,L? Id love to have the opportunity to meet up and take photos and it would be nice to have verification from someone who knows him.
It’s perfectly reasonable to wonder about the bona fides of anybody who indulges in a hobby that involves sitting in the cold and dark for extended periods, staring at groups of white dots through expensive tubes… It may even be a classifiable derangement. But we’re all like that here, so we’re pretty much bound to stick together and support a fellow sufferer…

And you apparently have the same affliction and, furthermore, are prepared to travel extensively in pursuit of it. So maybe we should ask if Allan will be safe with you?

Provided that you avoid nights with a full moon, you should both be reasonably safe. I don't think Allan is unusually prone to howling at the moon (no more than the rest of us anyway...) but of course we can't be sure about you, so best to be cautious ...

And if you want to see some really dark skies, head west out of Sydney until you get to the ocean. The Indian Ocean that is. We have some great dark sites over here in West Australia.

Enjoy your visit.

Cheers,

Chris
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Old 23-06-2017, 03:39 PM
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So maybe we should ask if Allan will be safe with you?
I did wonder that same thing myself
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Old 23-06-2017, 07:59 PM
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astropolak (Joe)
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Nice little chat you guys are having here..., Alan I've always considered you safe to be with...., some may disagree...


Anyway..., Karena.

I am considering visiting Pony Club Monday, if you have no means of getting there I can take you there from Hornsby...., that is if you trust me. I need some vetting from the fellow PC goers here...

Anyway Alan, Saturday, Sunday, Monday ..... all good for me.

RGDS Joe
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Old 23-06-2017, 09:04 PM
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Hi Karena.

Allan and Joe are both long - standing members on this site, and are great sources of conversation.

You will have no problem with either of them.

I do recommend that you bring warm clothes. Although the mountain is not high, it does get close to freezing temperatures on these evenings.

Which camera do you have? Do you have a spare camera battery? The cold weather does affect the battery life on cool nights.

Best of luck. We expect to see some wonderful pictures!
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Old 23-06-2017, 10:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astropolak View Post
Nice little chat you guys are having here..., Alan I've always considered you safe to be with...., some may disagree...


Anyway..., Karena.

I am considering visiting Pony Club Monday, if you have no means of getting there I can take you there from Hornsby...., that is if you trust me. I need some vetting from the fellow PC goers here...

Anyway Alan, Saturday, Sunday, Monday ..... all good for me.

RGDS Joe
Great Joe,
that would be fantastic.
We are meeting at the Mangrove mountain general store about 4:30.
Then up to the PC shortly after.
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Old 23-06-2017, 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Shano592 View Post
Hi Karena.

Allan and Joe are both long - standing members on this site, and are great sources of conversation.

You will have no problem with either of them.

I do recommend that you bring warm clothes. Although the mountain is not high, it does get close to freezing temperatures on these evenings.

Which camera do you have? Do you have a spare camera battery? The cold weather does affect the battery life on cool nights.

Best of luck. We expect to see some wonderful pictures!
Thanks Shane,
I have passed on your tips.
Karena already has a remote release trigger packed for the journey.
Shame you can't make it Monday!
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Old 23-06-2017, 11:11 PM
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[quote]This is the lens the camera store suggested that I rent
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  #18  
Old 23-06-2017, 11:26 PM
karena (Karena)
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The more the merrier. I rented a car and am going to meet up with Allan close to sunset Monday and then follow him to the dark sky area.
I'm a rookie at this milky way photography, but I'm goingbto give it my best shot.
K
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Old 23-06-2017, 11:27 PM
karena (Karena)
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I h gave a cannon 6D and already packed my ski clothes. Thank you for the information.
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  #20  
Old 27-06-2017, 08:26 AM
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Status Report

Despite the difficulties of having to drive on the "wrong" side of the road (as in not the "right" side), with an unfamiliar car and GPS, Karena made it to Mangrove Mountain right on time.

Sunset was nice as we drove to the observing field.
In the East, the Belt of Venus was particularly beautiful alongside the shadow of the Earth.
In the West, the young crescent moon smiling.

We stayed for a few hours. There was a bit of a light dome from Sydney (or Gosford) in the south, that seemed to be brighter than normal.
But eventually the Milky Way stood out, pretty much from horizon to horizon.

There were a few hiccups and learning curve with the equipment, but it was a first time effort and a learning experience.

We also saw Jupiter and Saturn, through my 12 inch Dobsonian. They were crisp and steady and produced the expected WOW factor.

Karena has shared a couple of shots from the evening, and allowed me to upload them for her, as she is using a phone for internet and relying on wifi hot spots for connection.
The Saturn shot was with a hand held camera to the eyepiece of my scope, difficult to achieve is an understatement, but you get the idea.

Sorry no one else could make it.

Nice to meet you Karena, hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.
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