Light Pollution

[Mr. Subatomic]

Hey Guys,

I live in the inner-west of Sydney around the Balmain area, about 10 minutes from the CBD. I was wondering if anyone would know the naked eye magnitude limit for night time stars when the light pollution of this area is taken into account. The reason why I ask this is so that I can set my planetarium software (Stellarium and Cartes du Ciel) to reveal stars and objects up to this limit to make my simulated view of the night sky more realistic. That way I will be able to get a stronger idea of what stars and deep-sky objects will be visible from my location.

Cheers. :)

[LX200]

None at all from memory :lol: (used to live at Gladesville)

It's simple really
Take a visual look at the Southern Cross if visible
and just adjust your star charts to match. :thumbsup:

[noelo]

I can see m42 and Omega Centauri from Balmain through an 8" SCT. I'm sure other DSO are possible but I'm surrounded by trees.
It really makes you appreciate what you can see on a dark site...:eyepop:

[Mr. Subatomic]

Too true, I've got only a segment of the sky that isn't blocked by trees, and the segment that I can see is in the direction of the halo that surrounds the city.

But I'm heading out to see my cousins who live on the South Coast down at Kiama. Although not the darkest skies, the contrast between here and there astounds me every time!