Dark skies - how far from Melbourne?

[guggle]

I've just arrived home from four days in Halls Gaps (western Vic for those that don't know). I took my scope on a whim and I'm so glad I did!! I first set it up in the caravan park we were staying at, but there were a few street lights and too many people walking around with torches shining them in my direction. So I packed up and drove about 500 meters down the road to the Lake Bellfield car park and the difference was extra-ordinary!!! It was close to pitch dark - so much so that my children were a little frightened - and the viewing was un-effing-believable!!!

I could have spent hours there, but as I said the kids were scared of the dark and it was getting a tad cold. I've never experienced dark skies like that before and so my question is, how far out of Melbourne do I need to go to get that sort of view again? I live in the south eastern suburbs so my preference is to stay on this side...

Suggestions please....

Cheers, Michael.

[rmcconachy]

G'day Michael. This web page <http://www.astronomyforum.net/astronomy-locations/australia/> will give you a rough idea. In short you will probably be driving for a couple of hours if you want a really dark sky site but most of the improvement will happen in the distance you cover in the first hour or so.

[erick]

My rule of thumb is about 100km from the outskirts if you want all the skies dark (and obviously not close to a regional centre of population).

But if you can live with glow on one side of the sky, you can get closer. Eg. if you go as far as Gembrook from SE Melbourne, you'll find all but the western sky is usable - try Gembrook Sports Ground. I found that to be reasonable some years ago - not sure about now.

[OneOfOne]

Although it isn't nearly as dark, the Briars in Mornington is the location of the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society's dark site. We have public viewings on the first Friday of each month, so you may want to pop down some time for a look, it is on your side of town, about 45 minutes will get you there easy. I will be giving a talk from 8pm, regardless of weather, but if the skies are clear, the viewing sometimes goes on until the wee hours. You won't have to leave civilisation either, we have glow in the dark thingies for the kids, cordial and coffee. Just check out their website for details www.mpas.asn.au (http://www.mpas.asn.au)

If you do go, come and introduce yourself, be glad to meet you. this coming Friday of course is VASTROC, I'll be there Saturday talking about astronomical models, just before lunch I think.

[dannat]

The forests around wood end hanging rock are fairly dk if u live on the W or N side of melb, labertouche is nice & dark if you live on E side, as is leongatha etc