Map to Mangrove Mountain "Pony Club"

[iceman]

Hi all

Here's a map and a screenshot, let me know if you'd like any more information.

The screenshot shows coming from Gosford, but obviously if you're coming from Sydney or Newcaste you'll already be on the F3 freeway, so just get off at Peats Ridge Rd (between the Ourimbah and Gosford exits).

Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=14121445433848500325,-33.338758,151.158073&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=Gosford,+NSW,+Australia&daddr=-33.308294,151.243629+to:Wisemans+Fe rry+Rd+%40-33.338758,+151.158073&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1&sll=-33.307721,151.237793&sspn=0.031992,0.071325&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.338847,151.230583&spn=0.101822,0.159645&z=13&om=1)

The official name is 'Tom McKenzie Park'

Google Earth shot attached as well.

1. From the turnoff at Somersby (Kariong/Gosford exit off freeway) it is 18k to the crossroads at Central Mangrove
2. Go west along Wisemans Ferry Rd for another 10.3K
3. It is on the right hand side, yoou will notice a well managed hedge on the right not far before it.
4. There is an older type house and another property with a cement wall fence on the left dead opposite the gate - it will have red buckets on the lights :)
5. If you hit a sharp left and fork in the road you have gone a few hundred yards too far

[GTB_an_Owl]

Mike / all

No1 - where it says 18k to the crossroad, only applies if you take Wisemans Ferry Road from Kariong

don't know how far it is to the crossroads if you use Peats Ridge Road off the freeway (but that is the way i go now - Peats Ridge Road via Ourimbah and the freeway)

just to confuse everyone - i turn off Peats Ridge Road and get onto Wisemans Ferry Road to save doing the "V" bit on the map at the end of Peats Ridge Road (George Downs Drive)

geoff

[maksutover]

Hey is anyone carpooling? hehe im pritty obsessive arnt i :P

[erick]

Do I have these coords right?

-33.338147
151.157477

and elevation about 230m?

[koputai]

That's the place Eric. It even looks like Google Earth is showing the new club house.

Cheers,
Jason.

[mithrandir]

GE says the image date is Dec 23 2009

[GTB_an_Owl]

yes Andrew - not the new clubhouse

the height is 237 metres

and google has the entry point as about 33.20.17.50 and 151.09.29.55

can you work it out from that?

geoff

[Allan_L]

Two things:

Instead of looking for the well kept hedge and/or the red buckets (which are sometimes forgotten)...

Look for the yellow warning sign for horse and rider (image below).
As soon as you see this sign (on the left) slow down because the Pony Club is the next driveway on the RIGHT (less than 100 metres).

and

It is no longer necessary to drive around behind the club house, as there is a gate onto the observing field just before the new clubhouse.

[GTB_an_Owl]

here is the 2006 estimation of light pollution on Google Earth for the Pony Club (and katoomba ).

geoff

[GTB_an_Owl]

Wider Sydney Light Pollution using 2006 Light Overlay for Google Earth

geoff

[A1]

Hi all,

Is the Pony Club still in use for astronomy?

If so, is there any timetable of when it is available?

I'm new here and the last post on this topic was about 5 years ago.

Thank you, Jason

[RB]

Hi Jason and welcome to IIS.
The Pony Club is not as regular as it used to be but there will be times again when it will be 'on'.
Keep an eye on this section of the forum for updates.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=16

The latest thread was back in December 2018 so we're due for another get together.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=16

Hope you can join us, we're a friendly group and you will enjoy yourself.

RB

:)

[Shano592]

Jason,

I have just sent you a PM with further info.

Welcome to the site.

Shane

[Morgan]

Hi, I was wondering if you guys still do these meet ups? I've seen previous replies saying to wait for a post but it's been a while since one was posted so I thought I'd ask anyway.
Thanks :)

[Allan_L]

Hi Morgan, Welcome to IceInSpace :welcome:
Good question.
But with Covid, lockdowns, travel restrictions, and not to mention crazy poor weather, there has been an understandable drop off in enthusiasm to set up observing sessions and Astro camps for the last year or so.
It seems fair to assume this has lead to a drop in our regular's wanting to start up again in this climate of uncertainty.
There is also an underlying issue with access to the Pony Club (but that is another topic).
Maybe we should open a new thread on this forum to guage interest for upcoming opportunities proposed.

[Morgan]

Thanks for the response Allan.
The drop in enthusiasm is understandable. Maybe once the case numbers become manageable the enthusiasm will rise again.
An interest thread sounds like a good idea to me.

[varshnei]

Bringing this topic up again

Any activity since down at the Pony club? I'm on the Central Coast so keen to meet up with and shoot with fellow enthusiasts in a dark(ish) location

[Kalev]

How are the sky conditions at Mangrove Mountain or Mt White, say compared to Palm Beach? I think I can find a spot near Mt White that is convenient to set up.