Is there a location near Sydney which offers decent prospects to view aurora

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Looks fairly likely that we are going to be getting some activity tonight, and it seems it was picked up as far north as Lostok..see Irish astronomers Milky Way thread yesterday

Is there a site near Sydney where one could try to observe aurora even if it is a pale shadow of what it it may be further south?

My usual dark site has too much sky glow from Penrith as well as trees to make it not very suitable

[killswitch (Edison)]

Didnt see anything by eye yesterday at Katoomba, but i did notice an annoying green tinge on my images

[Octane (Humayun)]

Narayan,

That's not aurora in his image, it's airglow.

I also don't think there's going to be any activity tonight.

H

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Well looks like notwithstanding the messages 3D sun is sending me, the chances tonight are actually poor at middle latitudes

I believe that people have seen aurora in the past from Sydney..wonder from where?

The green, according to the comments on the thread started by Paul Haese, is not aurora but air glow

[killswitch (Edison)]

Originally Posted by Octane

Narayan,

That's not aurora in his image, it's airglow.

I also don't think there's going to be any activity tonight.

H

Hmm have a look at this image i took last night..

The increased the saturation a bit to exaggerate the colours

[Octane (Humayun)]

Airglow and light pollution, Ed. There was no activity last night.

Greg Gibbs will confirm for you.

Just got an alert that activity has reached level 8 in the southern hemisphere. Hope yet?

H

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by killswitch

Hmm have a look at this image i took last night..

The increased the saturation a bit to exaggerate the colours

That doesnt look like aurora ............... looks like a Mooney M20 with a tarp over it ..... I do like your photo though

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Kunama

That doesnt look like aurora ............... looks like a Mooney M20 with a tarp over it ..... I do like your photo though

Goose

It was overall a good night there

Cheers

[Paul Haese]

You might see aurora past Woollongong but it has to be around KP6 I think.

[killswitch (Edison)]

Originally Posted by Octane

Airglow and light pollution, Ed. There was no activity last night.

Greg Gibbs will confirm for you.

Just got an alert that activity has reached level 8 in the southern hemisphere. Hope yet?

H

Okay thanks for confirming. Never seen green air glow on my images before, let alone an aurora.

[Brettstar6754]

Is there a site near Sydney where one could try to observe aurora even if it is a pale shadow of what it it may be further south?

Flat Rock, Kings tableland, has a great south and west aspect. Drive up to Wentworth falls and turn left on Kings table land rd. Turn right towards the signposted observatory and left at the end just past observatory. Its spectacular at anytime/ another one better for south east is from Kings table land road turn left down queen elizabeth rd, turns into dirt, follow for a few ks and a nice roadside lookout is on the left side.Plenty of room right at your car door....

Feel like more exploring? keep following QED for about half an hour on dirt and find Ingar Rock picnic area.

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Thanks Brett

Next time there is an alert I might check these out

Another site someone tossed around is Hargraves lookout

How does that compare?

[Brettstar6754]

Originally Posted by seeker372011

Thanks Brett

Next time there is an alert I might check these out

Another site someone tossed around is Hargraves lookout

How does that compare?

Hi Narayan,
Hargraves is pretty good. I have observed from there in the early days with my 16 inch dob. Great SW , SE aspect!
Hargraves is a lot further tho, slightly darker too I would think.

Plenty of info on Flatrock and Ingar @NPWS. Have a look.
Grab a pizza from Renes, Katoomba on your way home.

BTW, I saw a RED aurora from Lapstone NSW. about 1990???? I was quite alerted to it and riding my mountain bike around town I asked the fire brigade and anyone who was out about the ominous red glow. Nobody knew anything or had even noticed. I can tell you the glow was in the early evening and was a ruby red curtain rising about 20 - 30 degrees in the South. You would see it anywhere almost!
Later I learned it was an aurora via media.


Someone may correct the year please as this event must be well documented..

[Wavytone]

I photographed an aurora in late October 1989 from the car park at Mt Banks, it was quite bright enough to drown out the Milky Way and naked eye stars at mag 5-6. I had been prepared for some astrophotography, but in the end we just sat and watched the show as the aurora came over in waves from the south about 20 minutes apart.

Probably the same night !

You can see one of the pics at http://www.southastrodel.com/PageAurora001.htm

[Brettstar6754]

Originally Posted by Wavytone

I photographed an aurora in late October 1989 from the car park at Mt Banks, it was quite bright enough to drown out the Milky Way and naked eye stars at mag 5-6. I had been prepared for some astrophotography, but in the end we just sat and watched the show as the aurora came over in waves from the south about 20 minutes apart.

Probably the same night !

You can see one of the pics at http://www.southastrodel.com/PageAurora001.htm

Thankyou Wavytone,
That really takes me back!!
What I saw is very well represented by your image.
Thanks again!