Bents Basin Campground / Other Sites Nearby

[floyd_2]

Hi guys,
just wondering if anyone has ever been to Bents Basin Campground or surrounds, south of Silverdale in Sydney. I'm wondering if the skies are much darker than the suburbs closer to Sydney. I seem to be fighting more and more light pollution in Cecil Hills NSW and am looking for sites a little further west that might be ok to head over to. Warragamba, Wallacia, Silverdale etc are about a 30 minute drive from Cecil Hills - so fairly close for a night's viewing.

[floyd_2]

For anyone who might have been interested in this thread, I managed to get out towards Warragamba in the evening over the weekend. The skies were darker than Cecil Hills, but not so much so that it would be worth packing up my gear and heading out that way for an evening vs setting up at home.

[Wavytone]

I’ve tried the park at Avon Dam before... not very dark - better to stay on the M5 and get further out say Mt Gibraltar, which doesn’t take long once you are on the M5.

[Wavytone]

I’ve tried the park at Avon Dam before... not far enough to make much of a difference in light pollution - better to stay on the M5 and get further out say Mt Gibraltar, which doesn’t take long once you are on the M5.

The light dome from Sydney is probably visible from Goulburn by now :(

[The Mekon]

30 years ago the light dome of Sydney was visible at 100 nautical miles (182km) as I witnessed when on route from Port Chalmers to Sydney while standing the 4-8 watch.

The Southern Highlands is darker than the Sydney Basin, even my preferred observing site 15km west of Mittagong cops the glow of Sydney - I just do not look low in the NE.

But it is a bit more than 30 minutes drive. I would think that anyone from Sydney would have to drive at least 1 hour for reasonable skies.

[floyd_2]

It makes me wonder how Bowen Mountain is faring currently. I haven't been up there for many years now. Even 10 years ago in Cecil Hills - sort of on the fringe of the urban sprawl - the skies were much darker than they are now, and it continues to worsen :( Has anyone been over to Bowen Mountain of late?

[Kal]

You can use light pollution maps online to get a rough idea. Try this one:

https://www.lightpollutionmap.info

Here is what Bowen Mountain looks like for example:

https://s10.postimg.org/y37wdcrcp/bowen_mountain_light_pollution.png

[floyd_2]

Thanks Andrew - I didn't know about that site. It doesn't paint a pretty picture does it?

[Kal]

No not a pretty picture, and looks like it is only getting worse :(