dark sky locations?

Matty (Matt Fowler) · #1 11-06-2011, 06:58 PM

Hi guys
Am relatively new to astronomy having bought my first scope only a year ago. Progresion was 76mm Newt, 114mm newt and now thanks to an awesome bargain on Ebay and a healthy dose of aperture fever a 14 inch goto Dob from Sky Watcher. Loving the dob but where i live suffers from terrible light pollution. Was wondering if anyone had some suggestions for dark sky locations achievable from Sydney as a day trip? I have tried some of my local parks and even a golf coarse with some pretty good results including eta carina and the somberro. But would like to try for darker skies and see what this scope can really achieve

Matty (Matt Fowler) · #2 11-06-2011, 11:26 PM

Ahh well no advice. Not to worry will persevere with the hobby. If anyone wants to help I will check in in a day or so.

renormalised (Carl) · #3 11-06-2011, 11:31 PM

How far are you prepared to drive??

You could go out around Moss Vale, Kangaroo Valley, Bargo or anywhere in that Sth Highlands region. You'll still get some light pollution (Sydney is a pretty big, bright place), but you'll get out of most of it. Expect a two hour drive or so to get out of the worst of it. You could make a weekend of it and camp out with your gear

It's been awhile since I was down that way (a few years), so hopefully someone from down there will chime in. But any place in that area to the SW of Sydney will be fairly good. Try to stay out of the bigger towns like Bowral and such, although they're a lot better than being closer into town.

Wavytone · #4 11-06-2011, 11:48 PM

I've scoured everything from Wollongong to Newcastle and as far inland as Bathurst. Basically the best sites are the upper blue mountains.

South of Sydney is no good - there are no really good sites; the few I found are prone to fog and light pollution from nearby towns. In case you are tempted, Bald Hill above Stanwell Park (I fly there sometimes) is hopeless at night as the wind off the sea will quickly leave a greasy, sticky, salty and corrosive film on your optics. The only coastal sites I found any good were Saddleback (a big hill southwest of Kiama, great view) and Cambewarra Mountain which is well inland. There are a few sites on the backroads between Bowral and Kiama, especially around Robertson and Jamberoo, but that's a long way for a nights stargazing and the seeing is nothing special.

Southwest (along the M5) takes you to the cloudiest part of Australia (southern highlands)... forget it. There is a dirt airstrip at Bargo which SAS were using, but it is very dusty and everything will come home coated in fine red bulldust.

North... Past Berowra there's only the F3, I have tried observing at a house at Mt White, it was fair. But to get dark skies you'll have to go a lot further and inland away from the built-up areas in the Hunter Valley.

So that leaves west.

1. Kings Tableland (before Wentworth Falls) - turn into Hordern Rd, drive to the western end then left (south) down a dirt road that follows the ridge. A few yards along you'll find a locked gate (horizontal pole thing) and a really nice big slab of sandstone on the ridge, it faces west.

2. Leura oval - it is dark at night (no lights) but the dew is shocking as this is black soil and manicured.

3. by prior arrangement with the manager, the Katoomba Airstrip; you'll find other IIS members going there sometimes. Depending on where you live it may be an easy drive (for me it's 1h 45). If you are early you'll score a spot on a concrete pad

It's fine for casual observing and some beginners starting to take photos but it isn't as dark as the next sites... Good compromise if you're going home about midnight.

Note: Keep an eye in the Star Parties section on IIS for the next time its planned.

4. Hargraves Lookout, at the end of Shipley Plateau Rd, via Blackheath. Very dark and turns on great seeing as the airflow is coming across a huge valley and you're up high, so if its fairly quiet the air will be laminar, ie VERY good seeing. Very low horizons E/W and south, but also very exposed (and cold) if it is windy. You will need to be well dressed for this site.

NOTE: Both Katoomba Airstrip and Hargraves are on pale sandy ground and sandstone so dew is generally not a problem.

It also suits me as I go paragliding by day from Mt Blackheath which is quite close by.

5. carpark at Mt Banks, on Bells Line of Rd, similar to the Katoomba Airstrip.

6. The picnic area and also Cathedral camping ground at Mt Wilson, though both are problematic and not good on your own as there can be big dogs roaming at night and in the dark they are a serious problem. If you're in a group it would be OK.

7. Lithgow Scenic Airways airstrip, lefthand side of Bells Line of Rd before the descent to Lithgow. No problems. Very dark and great seeing.

8. Hassan's Walls, out of Lithgow is a superb site on a calm night, but dew can be heavy. 2.5 hour drive.

9. If you want a place for a weekend with the family AND some observing I can recommend the Woolshed cabins or The Potters Cottage, both in Centennial Glen.

10. For the budget conscious (and brave) there is a little secret place for camping too - Blackheath has a camping ground in quite a nice setting.

11. Places to eat - the Ivanhoe in Blackheath does great counter meals (and quick too), for the price of a pizza (the Olive Tree at Wentworth Falls is OK).

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #5 12-06-2011, 01:04 AM

Hi Matt

your more than welcome to come visit us at the pony club, mangrove mountain, here on the central coast

look in the star parties thread for our meeting nites

geoff

Allan_L (Allan) · #6 12-06-2011, 06:47 AM

Hi Matt,

I agree with Geoff.
Mangrove Mountain (Pony Club).
Its not that far from you, just over 50k I reckom up the F3.

Check the location thread at the top of the Star Parties Forum.

Skies are as good as it gets within 100k.
there are facilities.
There are a great group of guys (occasional gals) that will help you enjoy your hobby.
And it free!
And you won't get arrested for setting up a rocket launcher in a public place.

Of course, if you want even darker skies, you could try Wiruna (near Mudgee). Site owned by Astro Socity NSW. (Fees apply)

Or better still, Bretti (free csmping reserve) 32k north of Gloucester. There is a group of us going up there end of July for four days near new moon. (See star parties thread)

Hope to see you soon, I'd be keen to have a look through your new DOB.

Barrykgerdes · #7 12-06-2011, 07:01 AM

The Asnsw site at Crago (Bowen Mountain) is pretty good and an easy drive from Western Sydney. See the ASNSW web site for opening times.

Barry

multiweb (Marc) · #8 12-06-2011, 10:13 AM

I'm in Western Sydney too right at the back of the M7/M5. I occasionaly drive to Crago. Approx 40KM one way. It's nice and dark NW/W and up ahead but you get Sydney skyglow anything S/SE. Having said that it'sa real good spot to image from. There's no power so it's batteries and DIY for the night.

Matty (Matt Fowler) · #9 12-06-2011, 12:12 PM

Oh wow thank you Carl, Geoff, Allan, Barry & Marc I will definately check out some of these spots.

Again Thank you Geoff And Allen for the invite. will shoot over to star parties thread and check out the dates Mangrove Mountain should be very acheivable for me.

astronut (John) · #10 12-06-2011, 02:24 PM

Hi Matt,
I'm a member of The Macarthur Astronomical Society, located in Campbelltown.
We have two observing fields, one at The Oaks (west of Camden) and the other just south of Berrima.
These are for members only....but you may attend as my guest.
Please let me know if you would like to attend, in the meantime go to our website, for more information...www.macastro.org.au

Cheers, John.

Wavytone · #11 13-06-2011, 10:27 AM

Perhaps someone should compile a list of the usual sites - complete with GPS coords and a small google map, together with the relevant society, URL and contact info, plus a checklist indicating whether there are facilities such as onsite power, water toilets, shower, accommodation, whether camping is permitted, and the nearest recommended places for food.

About time, I suggest.

renormalised (Carl) · #12 13-06-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wavytone

Perhaps someone should compile a list of the usual sites - complete with GPS coords and a small google map, together with the relevant society, URL and contact info, plus a checklist indicating whether there are facilities such as onsite power, water toilets, shower, accommodation, whether camping is permitted, and the nearest recommended places for food.

About time, I suggest.

Great idea!!!

Robh (Rob) · #13 13-06-2011, 02:32 PM

Hi Matt,

If you are near Penrith, join us at WSAAG ...
http://wsaag.org

We have access to the Linden Observatory site, which is fairly dark but with some skyglow to the east towards Penrith. It's about half an hour from Penrith.

Regards, Rob

Barrykgerdes · #14 13-06-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wavytone

Perhaps someone should compile a list of the usual sites - complete with GPS coords and a small google map, together with the relevant society, URL and contact info, plus a checklist indicating whether there are facilities such as onsite power, water toilets, shower, accommodation, whether camping is permitted, and the nearest recommended places for food.

About time, I suggest.

I elect you

someone second that?

Barry

solissydney (Ken) · #15 13-06-2011, 04:26 PM

Hi Matt..

You could start off visiting Sydney Northwest Astro Group (SNAG)
We meet Friday nights at Kenthurst. We also have a dark sky site at Maroota.
Ken

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #16 13-06-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wavytone

Perhaps someone should compile a list of the usual sites - complete with GPS coords and a small google map, together with the relevant society, URL and contact info, plus a checklist indicating whether there are facilities such as onsite power, water toilets, shower, accommodation, whether camping is permitted, and the nearest recommended places for food.

About time, I suggest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

I elect you

someone second that?

Barry

I'll second that

koputai (Jason) · #17 13-06-2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wavytone

Perhaps someone should compile a list of the usual sites - complete with GPS coords and a small google map, together with the relevant society, URL and contact info, plus a checklist indicating whether there are facilities such as onsite power, water toilets, shower, accommodation, whether camping is permitted, and the nearest recommended places for food.

What a great idea.

A .kmz or .kml file with all the sites on it would be fantastic, and would load up in Google Earth so you could see what is around.

I just tried to attach an example I did for the Pony Club, but IIS doesn't currently allow .kmz or .kml files as attachments. Here it is as text if you want to save it to a text editor and rename as .kml

Cheers,
Jason.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:gx="http://www.google.com/kml/ext/2.2" xmlns:kml="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<Document>
<name>Mangrove Mountain Pony Club.kml</name>
<Style id="sn_ylw-pushpin">
<IconStyle>
<scale>1.1</scale>
<Icon>
<href>http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/pushpin/ylw-pushpin.png</href>
</Icon>
<hotSpot x="20" y="2" xunits="pixels" yunits="pixels"/>
</IconStyle>
</Style>
<Style id="sh_ylw-pushpin">
<IconStyle>
<scale>1.3</scale>
<Icon>
<href>http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/pushpin/ylw-pushpin.png</href>
</Icon>
<hotSpot x="20" y="2" xunits="pixels" yunits="pixels"/>
</IconStyle>
</Style>
<StyleMap id="msn_ylw-pushpin">
<Pair>
<key>normal</key>
<styleUrl>#sn_ylw-pushpin</styleUrl>
</Pair>
<Pair>
<key>highlight</key>
<styleUrl>#sh_ylw-pushpin</styleUrl>
</Pair>
</StyleMap>
<Placemark>
<name>Mangrove Mountain Pony Club</name>
<description>Elevation: 258m
Sky darkness:
Local light polution:
Observing area:
Flat mowed grass area with space for >100 telescopes
Road directions:
Ammenities:
Toilet
Kitchen with urn
Power available:
240v in club house
</description>
<LookAt>
<longitude>151.1567576125777</longitude>
<latitude>-33.33825295401345</latitude>
<altitude>0</altitude>
<heading>-2.008666386708765</heading>
<tilt>0</tilt>
<range>535.7756250742866</range>
<altitudeMode>relativeToGround</altitudeMode>
<gx:altitudeMode>relativeToSeaFloor </gx:altitudeMode>
</LookAt>
<styleUrl>#msn_ylw-pushpin</styleUrl>
<Point>
<coordinates>151.157106255923,-33.33824708822929,0</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
</Document>
</kml>

Wavytone · #18 14-06-2011, 12:22 AM

http://web.me.com/wx88/Observing_Sites/Home.html
http://web.me.com/wx88/NSW/NSW.html
http://web.me.com/wx88/NSW/Katoomba_Airfield.html

LOL talk about doing it the hard way... knocked up a quick hack in iWeb in 30 minutes...

I only built an index page for NSW, and one page for the Katoomba Airfield as a demo... yes the links work and the Google map widget works too...

Matty (Matt Fowler) · #19 14-06-2011, 01:49 AM

Very nice idea guys. I was trying to track down a few of that extensive list wavytones sent and was not doing too well. Love the list though. Much kudos mate and thanks so much. That verry off the track location with the sandstone slab, however did you discover that one? Quite often this is a solo thing for me so I think I'll avoid the site with the big dogs thanks for the warning. Must say I'm a little overwhelmed with the number of responses. Thank you all for being so welcoming.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #20 14-06-2011, 02:28 AM

Antipodean Observing sites?

I was unaware that us Amateur Astronomers were were a group of Australian modern artists who asserted the importance of figurative art, and protested against abstract expressionism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipodeans

But yep, great idea for a site about observing locations