Arizona Sky Village

[glenc (Glen)]

Is anyone interested in living in something like this in Australia?

"The former laboratory technician is among scores of passionate astronomers who have beaten a path to Arizona Sky Village, a purpose-built community for star-gazers in southern Arizona more than two hours drive southeast of Tucson.
Laid out on 450 acres (180 hectares) beside the Chiricahua Mountains, the community has attracted residents from Britain, South Korea and Russia as well as the farthest corners of the US in the past five years...
The US has more than 1 million amateur star-gazers and there are several dedicated villages catering to them, including Deerlick Astronomy Village in Georgia and Chiefland Astronomy Village in neighbouring Florida."
http://www.newscientist.com/article/...my-lovers.html

[koputai (Jason)]

Of course! As long as there's somewhere close by to sail, and ride a bike, then all I need is to be able to work from home (impossible) and convince the missus (not quite so hard), then I'm in!

Cheers,
Jason.

[Ric]

The timeshare bit seems a bit expensive at $40,000 for a month.

You would be cheesed off if you got the cloudy month.

Cheers

[glenc (Glen)]

Does that mean one month per year for as long as you own it?
If you had it for 40 years that would be $1,000 per month.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

There is some very cheap land up at Coonabarabran, and also some inexpensive accomodation, with premium sky conditions.

From time to time I think seriously about buying a cheap block with basic facilities up at Coona (I saw one about a week ago which was going for about $75,000), but then I remembered that if I was to lease one of the many cottages out there for new moon week several months of the year, each year for the next 20 years, it would cost a lot less, and I would not be lumbered with council rates, lawn-mowing/upkeep etc.

If you did a time share arrangement, I imagine there would be great competition for new moon weeks, and little interest at full moon??!!

[glenc (Glen)]

The number of clear nights in Dalby Qld isn't too bad and land is available between Dalby and Toowoomba for about $30k to $40k. It might suit retired people and those that can work from home. The southern capitals have frequent cloud in winter, Qld usually has long clear nights.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averag...w_041522.shtml

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

IMO Southern Queensland is at the ideal latitude if you're into Astronomy. We get the best of both hemispheres.
Wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

[glenc (Glen)]

Imagine a place 1460m above sea level, where the sky is BLACK, the seeing is GOOD, and the transparency is FANTASTIC.
Imagine your 16" performing like a 24" ...
http://www.tomclarkbooks.com/NMAV.html

Land costs $30,000 here
http://goo.gl/maps/clDei

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

I think it would be a good idea, if it existed I would certainly consider it albeit the many other factors one would need to consider.

[glenc (Glen)]

Here are some tools for finding a place to build an astronomy village.

Farm Buy
http://www.farmbuy.com/index.aspx

Solar Exposure last 12 months
http://www.bom.gov.au/web03/ncc/www/...atest.hres.gif

Cloud Cover 3pm and 9am
http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climat...period=an#maps

Light pollution 2010 and 2012
http://www.blue-marble.de/nightlights/2010
http://www.blue-marble.de/nightlights/2012

If you want to see more of the northern sky move north.

Topographic maps of Australia and SE Australia are attached.
Observing at high altitude is generally better.