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View Full Version here: : dark skys near Ipswich?

Geoff. Lyons
15-12-2008, 10:06 AM
:help:Can anyone suggest somewhere near Ipswich (Qld) with good dark skies. While on the subject anyone considering a trip to N.Z. check out Lake Tekapo, the darkest , clearest sky I've ever seen (and a nearby observatory). I've just come back from a holiday there and it blew my mind, so many stars just finding individual constellations was a challenge.
cheers Geoff.
glenc
16-12-2008, 08:41 AM
Does Leyburn (160 km) count as near? Esk is 65 km.
markus.a.bergh
16-12-2008, 04:59 PM
Not really.
astro_south
20-12-2008, 10:35 AM
Geoff

I have been observing a number of times out at Glenore Grove in the Lockyer Valley which is about 80 - 90% of the way (in terms of darkness) to the dark skies I have experienced at Leyburn, and certainly significantly better than suburban Brisbane. From my locale in the southern suburbs of Brisbane it is about a 3/4 of an hour trip, therefore you can go out, enjoy the skies before the last quarter moon appears and then head home. PM me if you are interested in some more details.