Best Places in Victoria?

nsfx (Sin) · #1 23-11-2010, 02:50 PM

Hello guys, total amateur here looking to take photographs of the milky way. Bringing along a DSLR (5D Mark II + 24-105mm). May i kindly ask where will be the best place to take photos of the milky way in Victoria?

I did some research and found out that places like Heathcote, Snake Valley, Mt Macedon are the most popular in Victoria. Where do you think i should go? I don't mind spending a night or a long drive.

I also found out that there are a couple of groups organizing events on the 27th November 2010. Something special happening in the skies that night? I was also told that moon phases are important and the new moon will be on the 6th December 2010 and that i should avoid nights when the moon is pretty full as it can be bright.

Pardon the English. Not my first language.

Thanks so much.

dannat (Daniel) · #2 23-11-2010, 02:56 PM

Sin the Astro society of VIC is having their annual xmas get together at heathcote on dec 4th - the skies are dark there & can be cloud free when Melb is bad,
snake valley is also good for dark skies..if thinking macedon you need to go behind (nth) in between kyneton & lancefield as the mountain can have bad weather

which side of melb are you -the coast can offer some dark skies, from angelsea around & on the other side wilsons prom nat pk is another reasonable spot

it is almost necessary to avoid moon when doing MW shots, so early Dec is your best chance

GrampianStars (Rob) · #3 23-11-2010, 03:03 PM

Some previous "Best VIC sites" threads here
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ight=melbourne
and here
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=59355

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #4 23-11-2010, 03:13 PM

Best Places in Victoria?

That's an oxymoron isn't it?

leon · #5 23-11-2010, 03:15 PM

Snake Valley mate, it is a s black as ink out there.

Leon

AstralTraveller (David) · #6 23-11-2010, 04:10 PM

I'm no expert but I have seen some good skies in Vic. In astronomy altitude is generally a good thing. I've seen some loverly skies from Mt Buffalo and from near Falls Creek. Too far if you just talking about 1 night but for longer trips it could be just the place.

nsfx (Sin) · #7 23-11-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannat

Sin the Astro society of VIC is having their annual xmas get together at heathcote on dec 4th - the skies are dark there & can be cloud free when Melb is bad,
snake valley is also good for dark skies..if thinking macedon you need to go behind (nth) in between kyneton & lancefield as the mountain can have bad weather

which side of melb are you -the coast can offer some dark skies, from angelsea around & on the other side wilsons prom nat pk is another reasonable spot

it is almost necessary to avoid moon when doing MW shots, so early Dec is your best chance

The Astro society of Victoria's annual xmas get together sounds great! Do i have to be a member to participate? Or can i make a small donation to attend? I am living in Melbourne CBD at the moment. Thanks i heard good things about the Wilsons Prom area as well.

Thank you so much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrampianStars

Some previous "Best VIC sites" threads here
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ight=melbourne
and here
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=59355

Thank you so much. I should've used the search function first. lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

Snake Valley mate, it is a s black as ink out there.

Leon

Thanks Leon, that was what i heard too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

Best Places in Victoria?

That's an oxymoron isn't it?

lol yes i would think so but i'm not giving up.

nsfx (Sin) · #8 23-11-2010, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

I'm no expert but I have seen some good skies in Vic. In astronomy altitude is generally a good thing. I've seen some loverly skies from Mt Buffalo and from near Falls Creek. Too far if you just talking about 1 night but for longer trips it could be just the place.

Hmm.. up in the mountains. That could be an idea. Just worried about the quiet roads leading up to the mountains during off peak season. lol

dannat (Daniel) · #9 23-11-2010, 04:14 PM

sin -guests are welcome at the ASV - check www.asv.org.au

nsfx (Sin) · #10 23-11-2010, 04:15 PM

So is there any way to find out what day will be best for stargazing? Do i check the weather report and look for clear days and when the moon is at the dimmest? As mentioned to me, early dec will be best i reckon?

nsfx (Sin) · #11 23-11-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannat

sin -guests are welcome at the ASV - check www.asv.org.au

ahh thanks dannat. Fantastic. I might just go for this and make another trip to another location.

dannat (Daniel) · #12 23-11-2010, 04:19 PM

the moon is visible on this site - look left

apart form that check www.skippysky.com.au -for the cloud predictions

nsfx (Sin) · #13 23-11-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannat

the moon is visible on this site - look left

apart form that check www.skippysky.com.au -for the cloud predictions

Thank you very much again. Very useful website.

BTW, does anyone know if i can rent a telescope anywhere?

Paddy (Patrick) · #14 23-11-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

Best Places in Victoria?

That's an oxymoron isn't it?

I grew up in Sydney. Give me Central Victoria any day! Dark skies, good coffee, great people, wonderful woodland.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #15 23-11-2010, 08:57 PM

I know I am expected to say 'Snake Valley' and I could be right!

But, I would really like to observe/image from the Mount Arapiles area. It is supposed to be one of the darkest places in Australia.
They were originally going to build the Australia Telescope there but it was decided that it was too far from Canberra for visiting Dignitaries to get to.

The whole area out there has very non-reflective soils. It does make a difference.

Hagar (Doug) · #16 23-11-2010, 09:19 PM

During the summer months anywhere in the mountains is not the best due to high levels of air turbulance caused by alpine wind and thermals from the mountains. I would be inclined to head towards the plains in central Victoria. Midway between Benalla and Sheparton or up towards the murray River but keep away from them mountains. I live in Mt Beauty and regularly travel the 32Km to Falls Creek and believe me the skies are not the greatest. Winter is a diferent thing.

nsfx (Sin) · #17 24-11-2010, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

I know I am expected to say 'Snake Valley' and I could be right!

But, I would really like to observe/image from the Mount Arapiles area. It is supposed to be one of the darkest places in Australia.
They were originally going to build the Australia Telescope there but it was decided that it was too far from Canberra for visiting Dignitaries to get to.

The whole area out there has very non-reflective soils. It does make a difference.

Thanks ballarat. Are there any particular places i should head to once i get to Snake Valley? Can i head to their SVAA camp site? Googled Mount Arapiles, amazing place. Reminds me of the Grampians.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hagar

During the summer months anywhere in the mountains is not the best due to high levels of air turbulance caused by alpine wind and thermals from the mountains. I would be inclined to head towards the plains in central Victoria. Midway between Benalla and Sheparton or up towards the murray River but keep away from them mountains. I live in Mt Beauty and regularly travel the 32Km to Falls Creek and believe me the skies are not the greatest. Winter is a diferent thing.

Thanks mate. That is extremely useful information as i was thinking of heading up to Mt Buller/Falls Creek too actually. Plains sound better. Cheers

Radiation (Tudor) · #18 24-11-2010, 02:27 AM

Come along to the ASV's star party in december. The dark sky site near Heathecote is great provided that the moon isn't out. (And even so there is still about an hour between moon set and sun rise where it's great.)

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #19 24-11-2010, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsfx

Thanks ballarat. Are there any particular places i should head to once i get to Snake Valley? Can i head to their SVAA camp site? Googled Mount Arapiles, amazing place. Reminds me of the Grampians.

Sin, if you head out here to Snake Valley you can't use the camp. You have to book that place and he has a 'minimum 20 people' policy.

But you are welcome to come along and visit our Club site.
Or alternatively, go to the ASV event coming up in December.

AstralTraveller (David) · #20 24-11-2010, 05:31 PM

Doug,

The good skies I saw at Falls Creek were in January so I must have been lucky. Actually, when I think back, we had a howler of a thunderstorm during the day which cleared to a beautiful night but by 3am we were in fog and the wind was howling. On the other hand we were on Mt Buffalo in February (different year) for about 5 days and the skies were great the whole time.