Where to go? Arkaroola?

erick (Eric) · #1 12-11-2010, 04:31 PM

Unexpectedly I have the Christmas/New Year period free - and can probably take a couple of extra days to get closer to the new Moon on 4th Jan.

And my wife is away visiting relatives. And nobody wants or needs me! So I can either do work around the house, clean and tidy up my filing system or go away star-gazing. Let me think about it for 1 second.......! Done!

So what are the options? I'd like a nice little comfy cabin, with working toilet and hot shower, under really dark skies, with absolutely no incidental lighting nearby, with my scope set up on a slab a few steps from my bed and my coffee. And I can get there in a day's drive from Melbourne. I don't ask for much!

I've been reading the website and the threads on Arkaroola. That's a long drive (one night stop-over needed) and I'm not convinced that, at the end, I will be able to avoid localised light pollution, regardless of what they say. Looks like I would need a cabin in the Caravan Park Section and I suspect that I cannot place the scope nearby and that the local light spill would be considerable? Those of you who have visited Arkaroola, can you give me any advice please?

What about somewhere up on the Murray? Or up near Broken Hill?

Or do I just stay local - use the Snake Valley club site and come home to Bacchus Marsh to sleep/wash/eat each day?

Suggestions gratefully considered.

pmrid (Peter) · #2 12-11-2010, 04:56 PM

Arkaroola has always been on my must-do lists but when I last looked quite a few moons ago, they were closed down (despite ads appearing in AS&T) for maintenance or some such. It might pay to send them an email if you were to decide to head that far.
Peter

erick (Eric) · #3 12-11-2010, 05:15 PM

yes, their site claims a 2011 star party will be back, but nothing more and it must be close since they have done January parties in the past. I doubt there will be one, but anyway, I'm not interested in a star party. In fact I'd like to get there when almost no-one else is around!

Kevnool (Kev) · #4 12-11-2010, 06:32 PM

If you come up here Eric you would be welcome
Cheers Kev.

Paddy (Patrick) · #5 12-11-2010, 08:52 PM

Little Desert lodge where they have the VicSouth might not be a bad option.

Another thought, we stayed at a really nice B&B between Nhill and Bordertown on our way to Adelaide last year. Nice people and dark skies. If you like I can try and track down the name.

Mind you, it would be a bit hard to go past Arkaroola (except it would b a long way to go past Arkaroola) I got the impression that Mark "Astrospotter" had a good observing time there.

Paddy (Patrick) · #6 12-11-2010, 08:56 PM

Another thought is the lodge at Mungo National Park. Only problem is the slightest bit of rain and the road is impassable. You might get stuck there. With a telescope. For days. Or weeks. Hmmm...

erick (Eric) · #7 14-11-2010, 09:12 AM

Broken Hill..........Hmmmm. Sounds promising Kev. I'd love to do the Mildura to Broken Hill drive.

And I could pass by Swan Hill on my birthday (hint hint!)

Kevnool (Kev) · #8 14-11-2010, 01:29 PM

Hi Eric there is the Mundi Mundi lookout at silverton where we do a lot of observing and the only lights out there is the Zodiacal light which is annoying when looking west but there is no accom near by so we stay there most of the night.

Fowlers Gap research station is another very good spot, Very dark there and there is accomodation there but you may have to get hold of Monash University to find out the charge.

It dont matter where you pick if you come out this way. If i,m free i,ll tag along and mention it to Trevor that you,ll be here.

Even show you place on the 9 mile that we also observe from when we dont want to go far from home.

Cheers Kev.

ChrisM · #9 14-11-2010, 09:50 PM

Hi Eric,

We visited Arkaroola in April 2007 and found the night skies very dark, although there was a bit of local lighting in the campground where we were camped. I didn't have a telescope then but I took my chair over to the furthest corner of the campground (about a 100 m walk) and sat back with binos to study the sky. The facilities there were adequate. I'm not sure that I'd like to be there in the heat of summer, though.

Chris

erick (Eric) · #10 14-11-2010, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevnool

...the only lights out there is the Zodiacal light which is annoying when looking west ......

I wouldn't mind being annoyed by Zodiacal light - for the first time in my life!!

dannat (Daniel) · #11 14-11-2010, 10:16 PM

i was out at heathcote ASV site the other night & zodiacal light was brightening the sky - philH & i spoke how good the conditions were-the sky wasn't ink black -the zodiac light was a clear orangish band running from low in the west to up near jupiter

i agree it could be real hot up at arakoola, what about grampians?NE victoria mountain areas - i would be finding somewhere where i can get some respite from the heat during the day. i stayed near mt beauty last new year on edge of mt bogong 0 it was signif cooler than the flat areas

erick (Eric) · #12 15-11-2010, 08:45 AM

I've had some good PM'd reports on Arkaroola.

I'm thinking up near Broken Hill. I have a lead on a site where the accom is air-conditioned and there is a pool

Kevnool (Kev) · #13 15-11-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

I've had some good PM'd reports on Arkaroola.

I'm thinking up near Broken Hill. I have a lead on a site where the accom is air-conditioned and there is a pool

So your looking for a pool party instead of a star party...

Cheers Kev.