|
sounds great Rob, there are few sights that compare to a pitch dark sky.
I had a similar experience on a Houseboat near Renmark. We drove about 50km upstream, so well away from the town. It is pitch black out there, and I do mean pitch black. The ground is a jet black silhouette against the airglow of the night sky, and stars glisten right down to the horizon.
The Magellanic clouds take on a multi-layered, 3D appearance, and it was awe inspiring watching them glow through the trees. They are very bright, and we had visitors from Europe with us, they were stunned. They have no interest nor experience in astronomy, and even they commented how much better the sky is in the southern hemisphere.
I had my 4.5" newt with me, the scope showed me nebulosities I have no hope of seeing from home with a 12". Views of the LMC and SMC were awesome, just nebulosity everywhre. Sweeping the milky way, wow just a carpet of stars, and vivid stars at that, not that washed out deal you get from the suburbs.
|