Viewing locations in inner north/west Brisbane

[Searching81]

I was wondering if anyone from Brisbane could suggest some good viewing locations in the inner north/west suburbs? I'm keen to find some close locations for nights I don't feel like straying far from home but at least want a better view than I can get from my backyard (I'm in Ashgrove).

On my list already to check out are:
1. Purtell Park in Bardon, near the northern base of Coot-tha
2. Bowman Park in Bardon
3. Gap Creek Reserve (western base of Coot-tha)

Any feedback on the above locations or any suggestions for other places are warmly welcomed. I realise I'm not going to find a perfect location this close to the city, just looking for something reasonable and close.

I know that the BAS guys use the lookout at Coot-tha, but if I'm understanding correctly, that's more a community outreach thing than a serious viewing location... haven't really seen anyone on Cootha itself with a good enough horizon and low enough light pollution to bother... are I missing somewhere up there?

Also, if anyone in this area is keen to catch up sometime for an outing, let me know.

[RobF]

If you want darker skies you need to get at least 30mins away from the outskirts of town to make much difference reducing sky glow Cameron. You can download light pollution maps for Google earth that are very helpful for judging this. Otherwise you may as well set up in the backyard if that is an option. In the Star Parties section there are often people posting welcomes for relatively local dark sky sites worth checking out.

[Searching81]

Thanks for the suggestion of the Google Earth light pollution maps, I'll check them out. I know I'm not going to get great viewing in the city, just looking for something reasonable... won't be hard to beat my backyard, I live on a main road and there is a fair amount of direct light from the street lights... a couple of hundred metres down the road, in the local park, the sky is much better, the trees limit the horizon a little too much to make it a decent spot though.