Hello from UK astrophotographer... soon to live in Australia

[robgreaves]

A quick hello from me, Rob Greaves, in the UK. I've just joined the forum.

I'm an active astrophotographer in the UK, and have been involved in astronomy for many years, as well as campaigning on TV/radio against light pollution.

I've also held a permanent residency visa for Australia for the last few years, but we are now taking the plunge and upping sticks and moving down under. I'll admit the major motivation behind the move is better skies for astronomy! We bang our heads against brick (or cloud) walls in the UK most of the time, weather-wise when it comes to astronomy. Our house here will be on the market shortly, and we should be in Australia by Oct/Nov this year with a bit of luck. The garage is already filling up with cardboard boxes of personal effects packing!

We hope to relocate to somewhere inland from Sydney, NSW, in the Richmond catchment area, where the skies are reasonably dark. Maybe members from the forum here can advise further? We've been out to Little Hartley past Blackheath, which again, was super-dark, but that's getting maybe a little far from where the paid employment is...

I've done some visual astronomy from Australia in the past, from Ayers Rock/Uluru, where the skies were super dark. Omega Centauri in a C8 was fabulous!

Also, I've already printed out the lists from the forum here of the best NGC objects, bright galaxies etc. and will laminate those. They'll be helpful to get me started.

I maintain a website of my astrophotography at www.astrophotography.co.uk (http://www.astrophotography.co.uk) for those that might care to take a look.

Here's one from the other night, taken with my 10" f/4.8 reflector with STL Paracorr, STL11000M camera with Ha filter, all riding on my Astro Physics AP1200GTO mount:

http://members.aol.com/warboysastro/warboysastro/medianIC1396.jpg

I look forward to becoming acquainted with members on here, and also look forward to arriving in your fabulous country, and perhaps even giving Eddie Trimarchi an astrophotography run for his money ;)

Well that's pretty much my story. Hope I haven't bored you all too much.

Regards,
Rob Greaves.

[Dennis]

Hi Rob

Welcome on board. Good luck with the move and re-location. Beautiful monochrome image of IC1396 – although you'll find that the skies down under are in glorious colour!;)

Cheers

Dennis

[jjjnettie]

Hi Rob, welcome to the forum.
You are a lucky man, to have spent one part of your life under Northern skies and now the move South to see how the other half live.
It's nice to have you on board.

[ving]

hiya :)
welcome aboard...

I am from campbelltown and while my skies arent super dark they are dark enough to make out the helix nebula in my 8" f6 reflector. following the hume highway about 1 hour west and you get some really dark skies around belangalo forrest (milat country) and 1/2 an hour from my place is The Oaks which is pretty dark too but there is a litle sky glow towards sydney. :)

thats sydneys south west tho, not north west where you are talking about.

[robgreaves]

Thanks for the replies.

It's amusing, I was in Bintel in Sydney, speaking to Don, and he said I was so lucky with the Northern Hemisphere and all our galaxies, yet there was me yearning after the incredible Southern nebulae, LMC, SMC, w-Centauri etc. Horses for courses!...

Colour LRGB imaging is very dificult from my location due to light pollution and colour gradients, so I do a lot of Ha work. To do some colour work without light pollution gradients will be great.

Regards,
Rob Greaves.

[Phil]

Great shot there nice to see you coming to Australia. I see you are using the STL-11000M very nice camera i use it myself. Any way can not wait to see some of your photos from down under.
Phil

[Ric]

Hi Rob and welcome to the group, you'l find there are a lot of wonderous views down south as well as a gentler climate.

Cheers

[matt]

G'day Rob.

Being originally from the Old Dart, I well remember the change in the night sky from the Northern to Southern Hemisphere.

Such a change, and such different treasures to savour.

You're really in for a treat.

Enjoy, and welcome:hi:

[Miaplacidus]

Hi Rob, and welcome. Hope it all goes well with the move.

Cheers,

Brian.

[davidpretorius]

welcome rob, come join the convicts!

[Dujon]

Hello, Rob.

Richmond (the N.S.W. one) is not all that far from me. I would be surprised if the sky is all that dark. Sydney is a mere 60-odd Km away to the SE (or SSE, I don't have an accurate map at hand) and, apart from the corridor between Richmond/Windsor and Sydney being a significant growth area - and we all know what that means - has an RAAF base just outside its precinct. Apart from light pollution generated by the base there is always the risk of aircraft lights interfering with carefully planned imaging schedules.

I can't honestly say that I've been there to check out the night skies, but if I were considering a change of domicile to the town I'd most definitely be checking out that aspect of the area. Perhaps we have a member or two who are cognisant of the Richmond conditions?

On the positive side, living in the five towns region gives you immediate access to the Bells Line of Road, which runs across to Lithgow, and beats the heck out of travelling from the more inner suburbs of Sydney.

More negatives: Travelling from the Richmond/Windsor area into the Sydney CBD (by car or by rail) can be a right pain; Should you choose to reside on the western side of the Nepean/Hawkesbury river it is not unusual to be isolated by floods. Mind you, given the current drought, this has not happened for many a year.

Gosh I'm a jolly fellow! :(

[IanL]

Hi Rob, I went through the same thing in October last year. I moved from Glasgow to Brisbane in Oct last year. And loving it.

I like the Brissy climate and outdoor life style. And great dark sky's


Ian Law

AKA Lawman UK asto

[styleman333]

Heya there Rob
Sure i know we got the ashes back and the english cricketers didnt really do too well but its a little extreme to pack up and move to the colony.

You'll love it here Rob , Congrats on a wise move and enjoy our wonderful country

[astroboy]

Hi Rob
When it comes to a compromise between dark skies and some where to earn a crust Sydney is difficult , had you thought of smaller cities like Newcastle , or Canberra , or have you already found work in Sydney?
I live one hour from Canberra or two and a half hours from Sydney the skies are ( for my eyes ) mag 6.9 , there are quite a few towns closer to Canberra with good skies and cuts down on the commuting which when I did it got to be a drag after a couple of years.
I like your website , I have finally updated mine its at :
www.goulburn.net.au/~magellan (http://www.goulburn.net.au/~magellan)
Don't to forget to pack that AP1200:thumbsup:

Zane

[mill]

:welcome: to Australia and many cloudless nights.
If it would only rain during the day it would be perfect :thumbsup:

[iceman]

Hi Rob, welcome to IIS!

You've got a great forum and a great group of people in the UK. Good luck with your hunt to find a place in Australia - you'll love it here. I look forward to meeting up with you at a star party in the near future!