Dark sky location near Perth

[luka]

Hi,

Still being a newbie, I was thinking of taking my ED80 for a viewing/photography session for the 1st time outside my light poluted backyard (close to Fremantle).

Does anyone know any good sites not too far away from Perth (1h drive or so)? I have seen few threads with people suggesting locations but no definite choices for a suitable site. I am planing on going for 1 night or as long as I last through the night :D

Is anyone interested in joining me? I am free on the weekend 21st Feb or possibly any weekends after.

[stevejack]

Hi Luka, I think that one is still up for debate - within an hour you have a lot of darker coastal regions but then... its still on the coast :doh:

Heading East you run into dark skies pretty fast but you're surrounded by high trees most of the time. From freo, somewhere south-east may be a good option but I'm not familiar with what's out that way.

Hopefully a few of us will get together soon and head to a dark site for a night or two and if so we'll let you know - I'm tied up on the weekend you suggested unfortunately.

[rogerg]

Luka,

ASWA (http://www.aswa.info)used to use a site near Serpentine for some viewing. I think there's an oval there. I would think your best chance is to head in that direction, considering where you live. I wouldn't recommend setting up ON the oval this time of year as you may get sprinklers, but there may be somewhere in Serpentine, perhaps even a car park near the oval, that you could use.

To be honest Fremantle is a long way from dark skies, seeing as you're stuck with heading either 1 hour north/north-east to get barely to the north-eastern edge of the city or 1 hour east to again only get barely to the eastern edge of the city. 1 hour south and you're still in coastal development I guess? Hmm.

Edit: Jarrahdale might be another area where there's an oval or clear area somewhere near but not in centre of town, similar distance to Serpentine.

Roger.

[bmitchell82]

hehehe well there are loads of spots. one thing that you should have a look at doing is an overlay of the Light pollution over google earth, in the projects and articles theres a how to.

apart from that get involved with a club, you have Aswa and Agwa, and correct me if im wrong Roger your site is Tammin now? and Agwa's is Golden grove.

Golden grove is a great little spot though light pollution is creeping in around the south.

Tammin is along way out but on the flip side, great skies.!

It depends on what you want to do but like astro photography, dark skies are ADDICTIVE there is no substitute!

[rogerg]

Yeap, that's right :thumbsup: ASWA does nights at Bakers Hill every month too (a bit closer than Tammin but out the same way) as their "closer to town deep sky" nights. I think it's still a decent drive from Freo though! .. maybe 1.25 hrs at a guess? Trips to Tammin are more ADHOC, but the Bakers Hill ones happen every month except March & October when the camps @ Dryandra are on.

Roger.

[luka]

Thanks for all the comments and help guys. As I always say, this forum is the friendliest and most helpful place in the world :thumbsup:.
I will look up the club's webpages and consider joining.

1h drive was just a rough guide and can always be stretched if it is going to get me to a good spot. Or I can drive faster ;)
From Freo to Mundaring I can get in about 45-50min, depending on traffic, thanks to Roe Hwy.


Brandan, thanks for the hint with the light polution map :thumbsup:. I was not aware of it.

Steve, the date I suggested was not fixed. I am busy for the 2 next weekends and the moon is out anyway so the 3rd weekend from now sounded good - or any weekend after that. Please do let me know if you guys go, I am more than keen to join you :D.


So far the "close enough" choices are Serpentine, Jarrahdale and Bakers Hill. I suppose the only problem is coming early and driving around to find a suitable spot before dark.
With Serpentine oval, according to google maps, it is almost surrounded by houses - how would this affect the night vision? I would also expect such oval to be surrounded by street lamps?

Another question is regarding a suitable spot. I assume carparks are ok but cars stopping/driving by will be a problem. Would some secluded dirt-track be a better option?
Fields are probably off limits as I don't want to have some angry farmer on my back. I remember someone suggesting pig hunters in one of the other threads. I am not so keen on seeing bullets instead of stars :P.

Luka

[bmitchell82]

hehehe

well i go to a spot just up in glen forest cars drive past but at the end of the day the loss of night vision vs gain in dark skies ... from that spot i can see the LMC and SMC from my backyard i cannot... ahhh, well it will be good to see you down at chittering one day!

[luka]

Chittering=Golden Grove=AGWA?

AGWA website at BTOW has not been updated for ages. Do the meetings and observing sessions still happen regularly?
The site links to MSN group which is closing down which then links to a new group site which is accessible only by members - no information available there.

Even more confusing is the membership - email membership is free but it does not say what non-email membership includes and how much it is...

[bmitchell82]

hehehe, forget about all the website! :D

Tonight there will be a few of us at btow for just a general chat and look at the moon and a few other bits around the sky. your more than welcome to come along.

membership is 20 dollars for 1 person and 30 for a family and that gives you access to the golden grove site. let me know if you would like more information.

[bobson]

Hi Brendan

I would like more info as well about membership and Golden Grove.
Unfortunatelly I am busy during a week and only have some week ends free.

Is it possible to join the club and pay for membership there on the viewing site?

cheers

bob

[h45e]

Actually a good spot is on the mosman park beach late at night. It is very dark. I havent got a scope yet but when I use to live there it was dark as anything when I went for a late night walks.

[Shano592]

Or head up to Guilderton or Lancelin. Well worth the trip. Think of Mandurah in the '70's, and you'll understand. Very little light pollution.