Good Location For Telescope Trip

[Coach Ramsies]

hey guys

I am planning a camping trip to test out my new (well soon to be mine) telescope. I'm in sydney and I've got probably two locations in mind.

Royal National Park
Yengo National Park


What do you guys think of these places? Keep in mind I dont want to go that far out of sydney but I want the area to be not freezing, dark (minimal light pollution) and secluded.

If anyone has a good area in mind plz let me know.


~Coach

[[1ponders]]

Bit hard to find a really good dark sky around the Sydney area. You would either have to go a fair way south or south-west. And I mean a hundred klicks or more. It's been a while since I lived in Sydney. How far are you able to get your folks to drive you?

South you've got the "Gong" and North you've got Gosphord and Wyong.

Maybe sonewhere about the middle between Helensburg and Bonnie Vale, might be Ok but you really need maybe to head for the sticks around Burragorang. Mind you that's a fair drive from where you are. Got any school holidays coming up :D maybe ask your folks for a weekend away down between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay or even further south. Or maybe go for a holiday drive out towards Orange, but further south..

[Coach Ramsies]

I'm going with a friend who has his P plates, and he hasn't had alot of experience yet so we dont want to go more than 2 hours out of sydney.

[[1ponders]]

Boy it'll take you that long just to get out of the traffic:)

[[1ponders]]

Well the Batemans Bay option mightn't be too bad. Why don't you have a look at this option http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=2378 Or drop ving a PM. He may be able to come up with some smart ideas. ( :hi: ving :) )

[Iddon]

go east ?

[[1ponders]]

:lol: Have a look what will happen if he goes east from the eastern suburbs. Wet feet.

Coach, as I said its been a while since I've been in Sydney (16 years actually) but if you have a look at the map you may get moderately decent darkish sky outside the red line. However the locals may have different ideas.

[acropolite]

Coach Wrote If you can get through the Sydney traffic unscathed the rest is easy..:driving:

[seeker372011]

We-ving, atalas (louie) and I are planning an observing trip to Linden in the Blue Mountains soon...you do find dark skies there