Which is the Darkest Site within 45 Km of Melbourne CBD?

[David Niven]

I would like my fellow Melbournian to suggest their opinion?
The site must be easily available and no further then 45 Km from Melbourne CBD?
I reckon the De Bortoli vineyard is a splendid place for star gazing.
Please get your suggestion in.

[GrampianStars]

SW: Lara, Avalon, NW: Gisborne, N:Yan Yean, S: Carrum
There's nothing dark east this close to Melbourne
a little further east say 60km There's Yarra Glen, Coldstream, Monbulk

[Varangian]

Kalkallo/Mickleham is surprising dark if you are away from the Hume.

[Jan Masu]

Mount Burnett is my choice.
There is an observatory there up in the Dandenong Ranges and used to be part of Monash Uni but not now.
Now it is refurbished and run privately.
http://mtburnettobservatory.org/

[bojan]

Johns Hill ( Melway 124 K11)

[mymoon]

Any can adviced if Hidden Valley area any good for observing/ astrophotography. Which is the better months.

Cheers

[Moon]

I did a test from my place out towards King Lake a while ago:
http://deepspaceplace.com/lightpollution.php

James

[Chris.B]

Very nice James.
Do you have a comparison to LMDSS?

[Moon]

Chris
To do a proper comparison, it would have to be done on the same night, around the same time. I haven’t managed this yet, but to my way of thinking it will just set the baseline for a zero light pollution site - from a practical point of view, LDSS is as dark as you'll get anywhere. Phil has done a good explanation of this on his site:
http://philhart.com/content/airglow-and-other-thoughts-dark-sky-sites

James

[GrampianStars]

I'm 250K west of Melbourne
"I wear my sunglasses at night" :cool2:

[Chris.B]

yes, the sky is amazing from Stayplton camp ground.

[mymoon]

Using the IceInSpace method I produce this approx 50km light polution map for Melboune.

click here (http://www.pbase.com/aziz/image/146105001)

approx in the Bortle scale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bortle_Dark-Sky_Scale)

Years ago it used to be 4 seasons in a day, the weather in Melbourne.
Now with the changing weather pattern, when would be the best period for astrophotography say in the Wallan/Kilmore area.

Any recommendations.

cheers

[The_bluester]

A bit hard to say, I live near Kilmore but have not had the scope out in months due to cloud pretty much every time I am free to get out late at night.

I am more of a summer observer anyway, have had some great clear nights from about this time of year, and only a little glow in the South from Melbourne. Of course when the Kilmore races are on you can forget anything to the east as they hose a pretty awe inspiring blue glow up inot he sky, the amount of power wasted at the track to produce skyglow is a bit sad actually, you can see it from Kalkallo!

[mymoon]

Thank you Paul. Summer may be too hot and nights too short. Also peak season for travel.

How about autumn , winter. Spring too much pollens in the air. I suffer from hay fever. Don't want to drip all over the camera do we. ;)

Any further inputs from anyone.

Cheers

[dannat]

Best period for photos is spring/autumn, usually it has cleared & you are avoiding the heat of summer.

If you go north of Melb airport / the northern skies can be ok, you have to go further to get good sth skies unless you are at the bottom of he bay, around morning ton or the Geelong side

[mymoon]

Thanks Daniel.

Cheers