Lake Mountain

Eggmoon (Geoff) · #1 09-11-2012, 10:56 AM

Hi all,

Well, here it is, my first post here in IceInSpace. Had my nice new Meade Lx90 8" ACF for about a month now... Am loving it. Big step up from the old 5" Newtonian I cut my teeth on.

I am I the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and have been loving the views of the heavens.... But, time to escape the light pollution.

Was thinking of heading up to the car park at the Lake Mountain ski resort on Saturday night... It is an hour and a half or so from my place... And was just wondering if anyone had been there to observe, or in the ski season and had any tips at all about the location. It is some 1400m in altitude... So there is that advantage as well as being away from the city lights.

So... Any info anyone may have... Would love to hear it.

Regards,
Geoff.

Rob_K · #2 09-11-2012, 12:45 PM

Hi Geoff, this might help:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...8&postcount=16

Cheers -

Eggmoon (Geoff) · #3 09-11-2012, 01:47 PM

Cheers mate....

Thanks for pointing that out for me. Sounds just like what I am after.... I did see the other car park on the google maps... Was wondering which would be best. Will check them both out tomorrow night.

Geoff.

ourkind (Carlos) · #4 09-11-2012, 01:53 PM

Welcome to IIS Geoff! See you around!!

Eggmoon (Geoff) · #5 11-11-2012, 04:11 PM

Hi....

Just thought I's let you all know that yes indeed, Lake Mountain is a sensational place to go and view the stars!

Dark... quiet... good all round view, and not hard to reach from Melbourne.

The only worry, minor as it was, was the amount of wildlife as I drove back down. A lot of wallabies and even a huge big deer... all right by the side of the road... at 2am... glad I didnt hit any or have to take evasive action.

But the observing itself.... wonderful.

Geoff.

pgc hunter · #6 11-11-2012, 06:41 PM

I've been on the prowl for dark sky sites aswell and I never thought of trying Lake Mountain. Looks like a good bet for the warmer months with those big carparks and it's fairly out of the way so no idiots to worry about.

I'll be trying it.

Eggmoon (Geoff) · #7 10-12-2012, 09:23 AM

Thats it... first decent viewing night in ages... I am off up to the car park at Lake Mountain for a few hours this evening.

Jupiter a week past maximum... no moon up till 3:30am, should be lovely!!! Even if I will be very tired at work tomorrow, it will be worth it.

MattT · #8 11-12-2012, 07:12 AM

What was it like Geoff? Not good in Melbourne 10/11 December, not good at all.
Matt

Eggmoon (Geoff) · #9 11-12-2012, 10:01 AM

I seriously love the viewing up there.... quiet, dark... but quite cold! Took my first attempts at nebula photography last night...

Highly recommend the site to anyone in Melbourne who wants to escape light pollution.

alistairsam · #10 11-12-2012, 03:54 PM

Hi,

Sounds good. Is there an obvious advantage with viewing at higher altitudes than sea level? I presume less turbulence?

Back Yard Boy (Kevin) · #11 11-12-2012, 04:16 PM

I think viewing at a higher altitude - provided it is a clear not so windy night - should be demonstrably better than viewing close to sea level. I wish I could get my scope to a higher altitude easily - but unfortunately it borders on being a bit too cumbersome to move about.

I live within less than 5oo m of the ocean and a surf beach, and even on calm 'clear' nights I can tell that the image through my scope is being distorted by the air above the ocean - particularly when there is a bit of a surf breaking and the air has a bit of salt spray in it.

Eggmoon (Geoff) · #12 11-12-2012, 09:39 PM

Altitude.... helps in a few ways. Less atmosphere to look through. I believe that at 1500m (Lake Mountain is 1400m....ish) you are above 15% of the atmosphere.... and 50% of the water vapour in the atmosphere. Both help a lot.

Also... it was bloody cold up the mountain last night.... and cold air is always a lot less turbulent than hot air.

The only bad point is that the wind can pick up... got a bit breezy just about 11pm last night... reduced the quality of the Great Red Spot images I was trying to take... still got some, but they could have been better if the scope wasnt being buffeted. Not always breezy though... last time I was there it was quite still.

As for moving scopes... that is the main reason I went for an 8" scope... so I could move it with a lot more ease. Much easier to pack that up... can set up in the back yard... up the mountain... take it on holidays...

But.... the BEST bit of Lake Mountain.... is the absence of that horrid glow of light pollution from the city... nice DARK skies...