Headed out today to look at some sites I earmarked on Google Earth well before I moved here. Headed north from Renmark up one of the crappiest dirt roads in history. You know, I could forgive the washboard catastrophe, I could forgive all that, if it wasn't for all the damn potholes Drove about 150km of this today lol! Headed right up past the SA/NSW border through Chowilla, but turned around after a few k's as there was too much scrub blocking the horizons. Turned back, turned onto the track heading towards the Dangalli Conservation park, right into the desert as on Google maps there appeard to be a few good clear areas up that way, but turned around after the "road" was becoming too soft and parts of it washed away. Almost got stuck in the sand while doing my 3-pointer...
This site here is 20km straight line distance to town so should be pretty dark!
This site is much further up, right up near the SA/NSW border. 37km straight line distance to Renmark and the nearest light bulb at Murtho is 10km away. Should be good.
Spent some weeks in the past lying on a lounge on the top deck of a houseboat observing the night sky with binos up river near Customs House. Plenty of good dark site spots up that way, even the offical camp sites are great. Great little shop at Customs House, hope it is still there.
Hey PGC,
I understand the desire for dark sky sites but having clear to the horizon seems a bit extreme, Generally speaking you wouldn't be viewing\imaging anywhere near that angle due to refraction and distortion. Are there not closer locations that fulfil the dark site requirement but not the horizon one ?
Hey PGC,
I understand the desire for dark sky sites but having clear to the horizon seems a bit extreme, Generally speaking you wouldn't be viewing\imaging anywhere near that angle due to refraction and distortion. Are there not closer locations that fulfil the dark site requirement but not the horizon one ?
It's handy for observing northern objects which are otherwise hidden by trees and stuff. It isn't too far away, not even half an hour drive. Don't know why it's "extreme" I think it's just natural desire for an observer to have horizons as clear as possible.
How's the phone reception out there? If it's poor and you wish to continue then perhaps consider getting a sat phone or something?
This is becoming more of a concern for me as a retiree, ss my dark site has no reception and I really don't feel comfortable going without others. I had Sat Messenger device but the network provider shut the service down. I need a low cost solution.
Honestly, all I could think of in those images was Wolf Creek.
I'd be carrying a few jerry cans - water and petrol - just in case, regardless of how "close" to town they are - it's the remoteness not the proximity.
Easy enough to buy a small EPIRB. They can even be hired from many outdoor shops.
Actually what you want is a personal locator beacon (PLB). These are like an EPIRB but smaller and not suitable for marine use. They don't float and don't have the same battery life, though I think it is still a couple of days, but they are only the size of a mobile phone and can be carried in a pocket or on a belt-pouch. You should register your PLB with the rescue service (sorry forgotten exact name). Mine lives in the glove box and comes with me on bush walks. I think the cost is ca. $250.
This is becoming more of a concern for me as a retiree, ss my dark site has no reception and I really don't feel comfortable going without others. I had Sat Messenger device but the network provider shut the service down. I need a low cost solution.
As a former SAR professional, common sense dictates that you at least follow the basic rules if you are going out to remote locations by yourself, things like, have a registered PLB, make sure you have notified a responsible person of your approximate time of return, if you are going to a set location, leave the Lat and Long with them, make sure the responsible person will pass along any relevant information to assist any SAR operation, do they know if you are suffering a medical condition???, take some emergency items with ie First Aid Kit, spare water, space blanket, spare food, medication if required etc.
Honestly, all I could think of in those images was Wolf Creek.
I'd be carrying a few jerry cans - water and petrol - just in case, regardless of how "close" to town they are - it's the remoteness not the proximity.
Lol, - that was the first thing that crossed my mind too but I didn't want to seem like a wimp
When Burke and Wills set off in 1860, Burke had refused an offer
to have their 20 tons of gear sent by ship from Melbourne to Adelaide
and then up the Murray and Darling Rivers.
Burke, an ex Irish soldier and police officer, had a stubborn
temperament.
Instead they loaded six wagons, one of which broke down before it
left the Royal Park in Melbourne from whence they started.
By midnight on the first day they had only reached Essendon, a distance
of about 3km.
The equivalent of an EPIRB that they carried were some rockets and
a large Chinese gong.
Daresay in 1860, even Essendon would have been a good dark sky location.
I may get a PLB and a first aid kit just in case and ofcourse take food and drink as I'll need to eat and drink during allnighters. These things are handy to have onboard a houseboat anyway for a variety of reasons.
No need for pertrol cans, the furthest site is 45 minutes drive. Just keep the fuel tank filled.
Something to start a fire.
Easy to overlook if you don't smoke.
Plenty of water.
Never underestimate the possibility of getting stuck out there.
Tell someone where you go and when you will be back.
A sat phone could save your life why not have one.
No need for pertrol cans, the furthest site is 45 minutes drive. Just keep the fuel tank filled.
City Grasshopper much to learn...
Rough road/washboard corrugations = shaking car to poop. EASY possibility of dislodged fuel lines, shaking debris into fuel system etc, not to mention possible punctures of tank and fuel lines by sticks, rocks etc.
45 min each way = 90 min return... in a BIG Falcon, that's enough fuel (BTW, is that a converted hearse?) I drove a similar vintage Falcon across Australia - I carried fuel, 3 spare tyres...(plus a rifle, pistol, flares, knives, air compressor, LOTS of water, oil and fuel).
Don't underestimate the Outback or it will turn around and bite you on the bum!
Absolutely Lewis.
I live in a remote place. Went down to the forest only 20 klms away. Lost the fuel and had a 20 klm walk home. No water and we were drinking out of mud puddles. 20 klms does not sound like much but in rugged terrain and hot sun it seemed like a life and death moment.
And we were lucky because we did not get lost. Others have and been down there for days.
It might be worth making friends with a farmer or two by offering a look through the eyepiece? One problem with operating off the side of roads is you invariably get dust and high beam lights from the odd night traveller.
Probably safer, cleaner and predictable to get an astrobuddy farmer contact perhaps? I get freaked out by noises in the bush even when I know what's nearby, let alone out in the desert
Actually, following on Lewis' Wolf Ck comment, that's actually the only place in outback Aus I've ever wondered if people go missing. When we drove out there in the early 90s it seemed like driving off the edge of the world. Couldn't help wondering as we climbed the crater what would happen if someone tampered with our engine. Then 10 years later someone just HAD to go and make that movie! Aggghhh!!
And the petrol/diesel was over $1 a litre. To think now I thought that was expensive for fuel
Drove about 150km of this today lol! Headed right up past the SA/NSW border through Chowilla, but turned around after a few k's as there was too much scrub blocking the horizons. Turned back, turned onto the track heading towards the Dangalli Conservation park, right into the desert as on Google maps there appeard to be a few good clear areas up that way, but turned around after the "road" was becoming too soft and parts of it washed away. Almost got stuck in the sand while doing my 3-pointer...
