Observing out of brisbane, but not "too out"

hulloleeds · #1 04-08-2009, 11:16 PM

Hello folks,

I was wondering if anybody could help suggest a good place to get out of brisbane and give darker skies a go. Since I would (hopefully) dragging several fellow telescope newbies, who also have never seen anything other than light polluted skies, my guess is that my practical limits are approximate 0-1.5 hours out. Really, I'm basically asking for insider knowledge of "a field" in "a place". In an ideal world, we would not be bothering anybody, infact, best case scenario, there is nobody close to bother. Since we know nothing and will likely arrive hideously unprepared, it is questionable that we should go out so far, having no real clue on how to locate anything. I'm a pro at the moon, though. It only takes about 4 hours to locate it in my finderscope

*

I am aware that the astrocamp is soon to be occurring but I venture that the itch must be scratched this weekend, atleast, somewhat. Basically, I guess I'd go anywhere, but strangely, I'm not terribly keen on coming across drunk idiots, brimming with charisma - so I'm lax to do the old spin the globe and point routine.

I know SAS go to pimpama to meet, but do the skies out there do that small journey justice? At this stage of the game, I would be captivated by seeing one galaxy. (In my finderscope, of course, I've not even taken the lens cap off the main ota*)

*some creative exaggeration has occurred during this sentence

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #2 04-08-2009, 11:39 PM

What part of Brisbane are you from?
Northside or South?

hulloleeds · #3 04-08-2009, 11:46 PM

I'm South, but close to city.

Rod66 (Rod) · #4 05-08-2009, 05:36 AM

Hello Hullo,

I and another gentleman from these forums visit a place near stayplton on the south side. We have a fantastic 360 degree view of the sky in a reasonably dark sky, certainly enough to see a few galaxies. Its only about 30 minutes south of where I live at Mt Gravatt.
I've recently tried Lake Moogerah and the dark sky was absolutely incredible. Thoroughly recommended!!!

But back top Stayplton, you can drive around the sugar can fields for a while until you find a spot to setup - no one bothers you out there.

hope this helps

cheers

Rod

matt · #5 05-08-2009, 09:11 AM

I'm on Brisbane's south side too...and would welcome an opportunity to gather with others at a nearby site.

Jeeps (Sam) · #6 05-08-2009, 01:13 PM

I live near Boonah (1.5+ hrs from the brisbane cbd) and it's very dark out here.

cheers

firstlight (Tony) · #7 05-08-2009, 01:34 PM

A dark site is not really neccessary as it is full Moon this weekend

. Might be a bit hard to find any galaxies with that much glare from the skies.

astro_south (Andrew) · #8 05-08-2009, 04:36 PM

If I want really dark I will head out to Leyburn with other SAS members (exactly 2 hours from my place), but you can get between 80 and 90% of the dark skies for some much shorter trips. I have a contact in the Lockyer Valley that I trip out to and is only 3/4 of an hour from my place at Parkinson. This is perfect around last quarter moon as I can go out there and observe and when the moon rises have a quick peak at it, packup, and then be back home at around 1am.

I would be interested in finding any other sites close to home and gathering with others too. I need to get out under some stars soon (its been a while) and would welcome the option for a quick (but dark) session that is less likely to interrupt family / work commitments.

The SAS hold their meetings at the Pimpima school, but don't usually do any serious observing from there. If you attend the meeting there and the sky is clear you can usually view through the society's hire scopes which are setup outside.

hulloleeds · #9 05-08-2009, 11:21 PM

Ahh, thanks for the point, firstlight, I was about to ask that.

Might have to cool the heels for another week.

Rod, I do believe you present an enticing suggestion, thankyou for that.

To those of you suggesting a gathering, in this particular instance, it is desirable for me to just go out with the friends but I would venture that there does seem to be at least a little interest in meeting at a not too far away site from brisbane.

mch62 (Mark) · #10 06-08-2009, 06:49 AM

Andrew where would you be talking about??

I finally have the Astrograph up and running and a new job so won't fall asleep any more

Mark

astro_south (Andrew) · #11 06-08-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mch62

Andrew where would you be talking about??

I finally have the Astrograph up and running and a new job so won't fall asleep any more

Mark

I think your quite nearby Mark

. It is this lovely little olive grove in YOUR backyard from memory

. Good news about the new job and being awake more.

I am busy on the last quarter moon weekend coming up, and then there is Astrofest (which I doubt I can make it to), but perhaps sometime after Astrofest we could organise a small gathering at "the Grove" as there seems to be some interest in this thread.

mch62 (Mark) · #12 06-08-2009, 06:51 PM

No problemo there Andrew. I will be at Astrofest but a gathering would be

after that in the Lockyer Valley.
Hopefully will have sorted out a few Autoguiding teething problems.

Mark

rider · #13 07-08-2009, 07:57 AM

My experience is that any public space in Qld is filled with either 1/ security lighting, or 2/ car hoons, or 3/ mosquitos, or 4/ all of the above.

I find that the only way to get to a dark site for a small group is to rent a farm cottage. There are plenty around the Lockier Valley and Darling Downs.

Hulloleeds, I am impressed that you have found interested newbies. Ive found that for most people an addiction to "Australia's fattest chef" or "Dancing with an Idol big brother" takes precedent over going outside to experience the universe.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #14 07-08-2009, 08:10 AM

Or you may know of a fellow IIS member who is willing to let you set up in her front paddock.

PM me if you're interested.

hulloleeds · #15 07-08-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rider

Hulloleeds, I am impressed that you have found interested newbies. Ive found that for most people an addiction to "Australia's fattest chef" or "Dancing with an Idol big brother" takes precedent over going outside to experience the universe.

Mostly dumb luck. My brother loves / eats up the astrodocs as quick, if not quicker than I do and strangely (as in, through zero conversation with me and complete coincidence), I discovered my gym partner's girlfriend was plotting and has bought a 10" dob, so they're both in for the ride. I am (assumably) considered a bit of an oddball by the type of people you describe, so it doesn't surprise me that I don't regularly associate with them. To be honest, the ideal scenario, for me, is to in a field, observing on my own. Congregation is good, but so far (and I believe this will always be the case), the truly poignant moments are those that are experience alone, with the appropriate soundtrack in the headphones.

Jeanette, I appreciate your kind suggestion, however, I will not PM you just yet, as I wouldn't want to bring a troupe without meeting you first. I'm sure I will be around here for a while, so that'll likely happen.

Jeeps (Sam) · #16 08-08-2009, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rider

My experience is that any public space in Qld is filled with either 1/ security lighting, or 2/ car hoons, or 3/ mosquitos, or 4/ all of the above.

I find that the only way to get to a dark site for a small group is to rent a farm cottage. There are plenty around the Lockier Valley and Darling Downs.

Hulloleeds, I am impressed that you have found interested newbies. Ive found that for most people an addiction to "Australia's fattest chef" or "Dancing with an Idol big brother" takes precedent over going outside to experience the universe.

There's a pitch black bitumen airstrip down the road from me. It's used during the day occasionally by light aircraft and shuts down at night... so you can just park your car on it

but there are a couple of street lights in the distance

I'm sure if you contacted a club such as a motorcycle, equestrian, mountain bike, etc who have access to private land and let them know that you're looking for a dark sky location for astronomy they might give you their landholders contact details. If you offer a cattle farmer a carton and the opportunity for his family to look through your telescope they'll give you access to their land, maybe even to camp, especially if you're into astrophotography and offer him some nice 'space photos' taken from his property

Also, there's a number of camping & recreational parks around the place. We often go camping and 4wd'ing to such places and i often think that they'd be a good spot to view the stars.

cheers

CoombellKid · #17 08-08-2009, 07:14 AM

Or you coooould! jump over the southern border

where you will find
an abundance of clear dark sky locations.

Cheers,CS

hulloleeds · #18 09-08-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoombellKid

Or you coooould! jump over the southern border

where you will find
an abundance of clear dark sky locations.

Cheers,CS

Could you notify me of the location of this border ramp and if time permits, estimations whether an executive model charade would make the distance.

Thanks

hulloleeds · #19 30-08-2009, 04:45 PM

Just thought I'd point out that having been twice to stapylton, it is indeed quite a decent place to take a look. First time we went there, no moon, last night was no nearly as good, too much moon glare.