Observing site near Sydney?

[wagen13]

I'm traveling to Sydney and other areas soon from Seattle, bringing a cheap 80 mm ED scope and Canon 50 mm IS binos. The "other areas" will mostly be much darker, but I don't want to squander a clear night if I can help it. Sounds like you have had a lot of moisture lately, so I should take any openings!

Can anyone recommend a decent spot to set up the scope an hour or maybe two drive from Sydney (staying near U. of NSW)? Not concerned with maximum darkness, just a reasonably safe spot without too many glaring lights and a southwestern horizon that isn't actually a large mountain where I can while away the hours before dawn.

GPS coordinates or link to a Google map very much appreciated!

Sorry this is a boring topic, no doubt hashed out many times. :thanx:
Mike

[mental4astro]

Hi Mike,

:welcome: to IIS mate!

Yes, this topic does get brought up a fair bit, but that is actually a good thing. The topic comes and goes, so the threads that list sites here around Sydney and other cities, come and go from sight. It also helps us dark sky hunters update our resources as access to sites change - some become inaccessible, others become available.

As you noted, safety is paramount for all of us, and the following links and sites are noted for being safe. And of course, it is always better to go with a mate to remote places if you are the only mad dogs doing anything astro.

Being based close to UNSW, you are located pretty much smack bang equidistant from dark skies north, south and west - two hours.

There are several astro clubs that welcome casual visitors to their sites. You'll find a list of these here: Club and Society listing (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/clublistings.html)

Informal gatherings are listed in the Star Parties, Club and Community Events (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=16). Regular gatherings close to Sydney are noted here, particularly at 'Mangrove Mountain Pony Club' and 'Katoomba Airfield'.

Here is a link to another 'Where around Sydney is there a dark sky site' (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=97616) thread that notes many sites that you can access. While no co-ordinates are supplied, the individual sites will regularly be found in a search engine .

You can also start a post asking for a viewing mate or for more up-to-date information on any gatherings formal and informal. We are usually a friendly mob here, :D :evil:

Alex.

[mental4astro]

Mike's thread has brought up a thought in me (yeah, yeah, I know, dangerous stuff...). How about a central place here in IIS where such information about dark sky sites around this city or that can be found and changed as access changes. I've started a suggestion thread on this in the Website and FAQ forum:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=129445

I feel it could be a valuable resource for the IIS and wider community, particularly as many visitors look through IIS chasing such information. So rather than individual every-now-and-then threads, one single spot.

Please have a look and make suggestions. Just trying to improve the IIS experience for everyone, :)

Mike, sorry to hijack your thread for a moment. Your question has provoked a chance to improve IIS, and I had to take the chance. Ta mate, :thumbsup:

Alex.

[MrAstro]

Well there is the Bargo site where we observe - it would be a good 2+ hours from the UNSW. Obviously it's one hour to get out of Sydney + an another hour to anywhere even semi dark.

I should add that even our access has been slightly restricted recently so you would probably need to come out with us on one of our normal new moon observing nights. We need to get the key from the owner of the property these days since they installed a gate to restrict illegal dumping by locals.

[killswitch]

Heres my list of sites where meets are usually held. Theres more places down south but ive yet to visit them.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zZ8isnK-Dcjs.kofr29X-Ggi8

[wagen13]

Ha! No worries. My favorite forums are those where the highest proportion of threads go off topic! More fun that way.

Not that your project is really OT. I just hope your idea doesn't get buried here.

Thanks for the list of resources. I'll browse through those ASAP. I'm writing on the plane, so by the time I post this I hope I'll be reunited with my eyepieces, which I put in my checked bag for fear of Qantas being serious about the 7.5 kg carry-on limit. I think I shouldn't have worried about that!

[Wavytone]

Alex, Mike,

I'd like to suggest IIS has a permanent page that shows a clickable map of the eastern states, showing observing spots such that hovering the mouse over one displays a popup with:

A) the organising club/group responsible,
B) a link to their observing page, if they have one, where they can find contact phone number or email and instructions on how to get there
C) the next planned date,
D) a STATUS keyword showing "Unplanned/Planned/Definitely ON/Cancelled/Clouded out/Disused";
E) a nominated IIS member responsible for maintaining the info for a site.

With respect to B, this could be to a society's own page (as with ASNSW or NSAS or SAS) or possibly a page here on IIS.

Lastly, give users the option of plotting a route to get to a selected site using Google Maps, based on their current position (portable devices) or address (desktops).

[mental4astro]

A new sticky thread in the Start Parties, Club and Community Events forum has been started dedicated to detailing dark sky and observing sites around cities across Australia, not just the eastern states.

Dark sky and observing sites around towns and cities across Australia (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=129464)

If you know of public and private sites that cater for our astronomical interests, please note them in this thread. As the thread develops, it may be subdivided into the various states for ease of use.

It will be a resource for the IIS community and the wider community, looking for places that are astro-friendly. Private observatories are encouraged to post their places too as these are an under recognized asset to the astro community, and one that can greatly benefit interstate and international visitors. Formal astronomy clubs too are encouraged to post here their viewing properties for the same reasons.

Again, my apology for this hijacking of the thread. But like I mentioned earlier, it has proven to be a catalyst for a long required addition to the resources on offer by IIS, :thumbsup: