Dark Site: Lake Wyangala?

[AdamJL]

Hi all

Curious if anyone has tried the skies near the Lake Wyangala, east of Cowra?

Looks like parts of it are B1 skies. Even if it strays into B2, that's fantastic.
I know there's a campsite on the south banks, but I'd rather not camp there. I prefer to be a bit more isolated, so was looking at trails on the northern side of the lake.

Here's a view from the western side of the lake from Elliot's lookout

https://tinyurl.com/2p99wb92

That could be a great location in an of itself!

[strongmanmike]

Greg Bradley is not that far from there, near Bigga, he has great skies so I am sure that spot would be great too, very picturesque around there too :thumbsup:

Mike

[AdamJL]

Thanks Mike. I'll drop him a PM :)

[AussieSky]

Very dark skies between Trunkey Creek and Tuena on the Bathurst to Goulburn Road. There are some nice campsites next to the Abercrombie River just south of where the bridge crosses the river.

[Saturnine]

Can vouch for that site at The Abercrombie River, about 3 years ago a few fellow club members and I did a trip to there and enjoyed nice dark skies and reasonably open horizons, depending where you set up. Where most people camp is down near the river among the trees but there is some open space near the access road, easily visible on Google Earth images.

[ngcles]

Hi Aussie Sky,

I live about 40 minutes from Wyangala (I'm 26km NW of Cowra near Billimari) and the skies are very, very good. Bortle 2 at worst, sometimes Bortle 1. Wyangla will be for all practical purposes the same.

Best,

L.

[AdamJL]

I took a drive out to the Lake today. Definitely a beautiful spot and skies could be amazing... except it's a fairly popular lake to camp alongside. Lots of people there, and the land either side is steep and you need a good 4WD to get to most of the remote camp sites.
I could just about make it without much gear in my Outlander, but wouldn't try it fully loaded.

Will keep hunting for a good B1 site close to Sydney :)

[AussieSky]

Yes, I do most of my astro at Trunkey Creek, very dark skies. The village has protected street lighting and is in a valley, so almost no light pollution.

[AdamJL]

Hi Greg

Wow, I just had a look. Do you also image at the Grove Creek Observatory? That looks very interesting as well!

[strongmanmike]

Sounds rather heavenly Greg :stargaze: :thumbsup: When you say protected street lighting, do you mean it is ordinance protected through council or just favourable shades have been fitted?

Mike

[AussieSky]

strongmanmike: Ordinance protected through council. There is an ASA Australian Standards Designated Optical Observatory at Trunkey Creek.


AdamJL : Yes, also Radio Astronomy at the same site.

[strongmanmike]

Great stuff! :thumbsup:

Mike
Shame we are all eventually going to be affected by Starlink et al :sadeyes: