Western Sydeny Metro - Any Even Near Dark ?

[DRCORTEX (Lance)]

Hi People,

I live in Mt Druitt - I guess it dosn't really matter where that is, unless you know the area.

Anyway, took a trip out to Western Sydney Uni campus at Kingswood, just to see what I could see, knowing that it was an open area, and perhaps the viewing would be a little better, and only 15 minutes drive from home. The WSAAS has a good site, but when I'm oncall, I simply can't go that far.


Well, 360 degree views no doubt whatsoever, it would be a pretty damn good spot for astronomy, and actually has an observatory. From this spot you can see in any direction for 10-20 miles, and no treeline.

Unfortunately, come twilight, just as many fluros as anywhere else ( security no doubt ). Pity, it is a "perfect" location, but anything within Sydney metro is hardly perfect I guess.

Is there anyone out there that has done a little viewing in Western Sydney, where it is at least barely acceptable, plus you can get your car close by ( the security guard was quite happy with my looking, just not putting my car on the grass - he was understanding when I said it's a little difficult to lug 30 or so kilos of gear from the carpark ). Send me a private if you have an ok location, I guess that would be bounded by Penrith, Richmond, Warragamba, forget going east, we know what lurks there.

Funny, if you stand on the hill at Kingswood, and look east, the lights from the city centre, look like the first rays of the sun rising - at 9 at night

The guy who invents a "pollution proof" scope is a saint.

ciao

Lance

[mickoking]

G'day lance,

As a young kid I lived in Mt Druitt (Wilmot) and as a teenager in the 80's I lived in Penrith and even then I remember the light pollution. I never saw the milky way from western Sydney and I shudder to think what it's like now? I think unless you can get even a little bit out of the metro area light pollution is going to be a hassle.

[astronut (John)]

Lance, your welcome to come and try our site out at The Oaks. I am a member of the Macarthur Astronomical Society. www.macastro.org.au. Let me know if you would like to come. Cheers, John

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Lance:
Linden observatory is only another half hour or so up the GWH beyond Penrith, and you can not only see the Milky Way and the Clouds, you can also see the Coal Sack naked eye.

Its not super super dark obviously but I have always found it reasonable for a location about an hour away from home. (I live in Winston Hills..it would be even less for you)

Like you I tried Kingswood but gave it up, other than the vista there is nearly as much light pollution as home

just a suggestion.

having said all that if anyone can suggest a safe site closer to Sydney I'd join you in a flash