Astro Gated Community - would you?

[glend]

Would you live in a purpose built astronomy gated community if you could?

There are all sort of special interest group communities (mainly in the USA) that provide the facilities that are important to their client goup. For example, the communities that have an airport for aircraft owning clients, or the ones that feature large RV parking and storage, and the ones that are arranged around private golf courses, etc.

An astro gated communitiy would offer:

A dark site, or as near as possible, with covenants to protect the darkness and approved and supported by the local council (ie no light intrusive developments nearby).

No Street lights (maybe low profile red led curb lights which can be turned off.

A gate to prevent non-resident drivebys.

An observatory type building where residents can (if they wish) install their scopes, and have access to AC and 12V DC power and piers, etc.

All blocks limited to single story buildings and to have clear sky views and covenants to protect from planting of large trees.

No yard lighting, or prohibitions on its use after say 9pm.

Piers, pads, or backyard observatories with cable trenches, and appropriate power and cable systems can be purchased with the home.

etc etc

What do you think, are there other features it should have? Would you move there? :question::question: Would you live in a dark site which means longer drives to shops or towns?

Perhaps living in a community of astro nuts might be a trial for some people (including spouses, kids, etc).

[sn1987a]

It'd be cheaper to buy your own bush block wouldn't it?, Plus I wouldn't want to live near any of those refractor or imaging types. :P

[glend]

Ha ha ha, I hear the words "sociopath' ringing in my ears from another famous response recently.

Don't worry you would probably never see the imaging guys as they will be asleep while their systems do the work.

I am sure there are airport community bigots as well, say the Cessna guys that don't talk to the Piper guys, and neither want to live next door to a helicopter guy.

Of course these sort of places already exist, there is at least one in the USA (of course) called the Deerlick Astronomy Village: Story here:

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/stories/astronomy-village-keeps-residents-in-the-dark

[koputai]

Resale value would be a worry, it may take a very long time to find someone interested in buying in after the fact.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Poita]

Hah, I'd just prefer a dark site within driving distance that had good facilities.
The idea of living in gated communities kind of freaks me out.

[blink138]

ha ha if any of the heated "discussions" i have witnessed on iis by people who are 3,500km apart are anything to go by just imagine living nex door to everybody here!.............yes, i can see a "jonestown situation occuring very quickly!!

[FlashDrive]

:rofl: ha ha ...!! My kinda humor .. I like it :rofl:

Flash :D

[RobinClayton]

While I love the idea, I really doubt it could work very well. Everyone has varying degree of infatuation with astronomy. What about partners? I am sure my wife would want to see where she is going at night.

If one existed, I am sure I would love to check it out - imagine a whole suburb without neon adverts all night. Just the idea of a dark back yard sounds great. The resale and continuity would be hard - could only sell to another astronomer.

Think my biggest problem would be the clouds - they would be attracted like nothing else.

The problem of burglary should disappear - once they realise each backyard has someone outside with night adapted vision and camera.

[rally]

So long as the "We Love Fireworks" village isnt in the adjoining subdivision !

I could imagine the problem with rules, Strata title arguments would probably be taken to a whole new level.

[Wavytone]

There is no escape from light pollution unless you can afford to buy a bush block somewhere remote.

If you want to live in a strata where you could have a space suitable for a scope for lunar and planetary observing, yes such places do exist more by accident than design - look for apartment blocks where the roof is divided as private patios as part of the lot of the apartment underneath, usually sold as a penthouse.

There are also rooftop penthouses with huge outdoor patios easily big enough for a scope, I was kicking myself for not buying one when I had the chance a few years ago; the only thing stopping me was wondering WTF do I want with 350 square metres of pale tiled patio and the size of the apartment - bigger than I needed at the time.

I have seen some in Sydney over the years; an older penthouse is cheaper than a house on town plus a bush block IMHO.

The reason I mention this is because the only way you can have an area dark enough for a scope at night is for it to be on a private lot - all the body corporate common areas must be illuminated at night.

Nirvana might be a development in a mountain town that includes an observatory dome and facilities as part of the common property in lieu of tennis courts or pools, but I don't see that being a desirable thing in the eyes of a developer trying to sell the idea ...

[glend]

There are plenty of semi-rural acerage developments where large block are sold off in 3 or so acre chunks. Out past Lithgow there are plenty, also around Gloucester. The hilltop houses between Gloucester and Barrington are ideal for astro retirement. I did not suggest this sort of dvelopment was suitable for Sydney or suburbia, and there is no darkness worth the effort there. This would have to be a rural lifestyle sort of village where you don't have some town council dictating terms. There are plenty of struggling country towns looking for a niche to draw more people. Oberon, Mudgee, dividing range towns on the Golden Highway are all with easy drives to the big city if you crave madness.

[sn1987a]

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-farmlet-nsw-mudgee-7656075


5% spotters fee :P

[Wavytone]

LOL and a divorce ... I know what my wife would say :rofl:

[el_draco]

Soon as you put up a gate, you get twerps that have to climb over it.

Just buy a decent sling shot and put up a sign stating that you have VERY bad eyesight.... :rolleyes:

[hobbit]

Prohibited weapon in the OP's locality

[mithrandir]

It's actually Windeyer, and is about 4 hours drive from northwest Sydney. Think I'd rather the 5 hours drive to the in-laws property at Willow Tree.

[FlashDrive]

:D or you could put up a few ' signs '

[el_draco]

Only if caught.... ever heard of a meteorite....:lol::lol:

[Matt Wastell]

Are the gates to keep others out or to keep them in ;)

[omegacrux]

Ahh neighbors .
Can I borrow your 24in dob
No you still haven't returned the Tak

David

[sn1987a]

Yeah its windy here too at the moment. :D

[N1]

ppfffhahaha :rofl::screwy::rofl:

But in all seriousness. A gated astro community is something none of the "outsiders" will ever take seriously. Bit like a nudist camp. Awareness of the night sky, importance of reducing light pollution etc etc needs to be embedded in the community. The best approach IMHO is that of the late John Dobson. Agents can be astro clubs, outreach workers, cool scientists, you, me, ....:thumbsup:

[Wavytone]

There's a misconception underlying all this is - that you need to OWN the place, and the equipment. Stupidly expensive, IMHO.


It makes a lot more sense to go use someone else's when you want to, even for a modest fee - when there are setups like this available http://www.loweobservatory.com about 4-5 hours from Sydney.

Then live wherever you please 99% of the time.

[Paul Haese]

Already have a property in a community with a dark sky policy. 43 street lights and only 5 work. Very low light pollution and only a few astronomers there. No gates to keep people in or out. 1 hours drive from little old Adelaide. :P Good luck with it guys.

[Eden]

Nevada Test Site or somewhere in North Korea might be able to provide the right setting for this? ;-)

Seriously though, as diehard as I am about astronomy -- the term "gated community" kinda leaves me with visuals of some sort of cult where outsiders are frowned upon, possibly even mobbed or worse!

Remember, it's not the size of the telescope but how many people get to have a look through it that counts :-)