Good suburbia locations in Sydney

[freespace]

G'day,

Hiya fellas. A friend and I are enthuastic beginners with a humble 102mm refractor and a car. We both live in the suburbs of Sydney (Concord West and Chatswood), and would love to know where other Sydney siders go to do observations, thats no more than about 45 minutes from either of our locations.

We can't really afford to go too far out. We tried Meadowbank park, and while it offers an excellent view of the horizon all around, its pretty bright and such.

Any suggestions are welcome, and we would be happy to meet up too, should you suggest a spot near you!

Cheers,
Steve

[astronut (John)]

Hi Steve,
We at The Macarthur Astronomical Society, located in Campbelltown are always happy to help.
We observe out at The Oaks (west of Camden) from your location it would be approx 1hr 15min trip. I know this above your time, but we have have very dark skies.
Contact me if you're interested.
Cheers, John.

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Steve,

Battling light pollution is the bane of all urban atronomers but big improvements can be made.

A few simple tricks to try at Meadowbank Park:

• Fit a dew/light shield on the front of your scope to keep the off axis light off your objective lense. This can be simply made out of an old manilla folder to start with and need only be about 100-150mm long.
• Wear an eyepatch over your observing eye to preserve dark adaption. This is the main problem with light pollution, your eyes never gain that dark adaption needed to see really faint objects.
• Make a viewing hood that goes over your head and eyepiece when you are actually viewing. Get under this then take off your eyepatch, observe then put your eyepatch on before coming out again.

Then comes the other plug for an astro society WSAAG. Linden should be close to your chosen limits for an observing trip. I can make it from Woodford to Pymble in about an hour with the motorways now.

Cheers

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Steve,

Battling light pollution is the bane of all urban atronomers but big improvements can be made.

A few simple tricks to try at Meadowbank Park:

• Fit a dew/light shield on the front of your scope to keep the off axis light off your objective lense. This can be simply made out of an old manilla folder to start with and need only be about 100-150mm long.
• Wear an eyepatch over your observing eye to preserve dark adaption. This is the main problem with light pollution, your eyes never gain that dark adaption needed to see really faint objects.
• Make a viewing hood that goes over your head and eyepiece when you are actually viewing. Get under this then take off your eyepatch, observe then put your eyepatch on before coming out again.

Then comes the other plug for an astro society WSAAG. Linden should be close to your chosen limits for an observing trip. I can make it from Woodford to Pymble in about an hour with the motorways now.

Cheers

Great advice Rob.

Steve take a run up to Mount White (I lived on the river just down from there) during the day and check out the areas a little to the West.
Its close time wise for the both of you and I recall it was reasonable where I was one the river but up on the hills should be great.

OR come up home for a weekend its only 750 klms and its real dark, 200 acres, no neighbours, can not see any lights anywhere or even detect a glow from the nearest big town 70 klms to the South after the forest and rural land, no street lights (hardly a street really, and I am in the State Forrest,

I get maybe 100 seconds exposure in Sydney if real lucky but thats an exception....but up there managed 45 minutes on a wide field which still could have run longer,, you can see the clouds in the Milky Way ... the bright stars are the only annoying "lights".
In fact if anyone wants a spot to camp you would be most welcome..


alex

[Kal (Andrew)]

The darkest Sydney skies I have seen have been out at the ASNSW 'local observatory' (also known as Crago observatory) at Bowen Mountain, just NW of Richmond. While you won't be able to use the clubs observatory (you need to be a member and do an accreditation programme) I'm sure that you would be more than welcome to share the dark skies. There is a link on the ASNSW web page including a map if you are interested: http://www.asnsw.com/

[freespace]

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Steve,

Battling light pollution is the bane of all urban atronomers but big improvements can be made.

A few simple tricks to try at Meadowbank Park:

• Fit a dew/light shield on the front of your scope to keep the off axis light off your objective lense. This can be simply made out of an old manilla folder to start with and need only be about 100-150mm long.
• Wear an eyepatch over your observing eye to preserve dark adaption. This is the main problem with light pollution, your eyes never gain that dark adaption needed to see really faint objects.
• Make a viewing hood that goes over your head and eyepiece when you are actually viewing. Get under this then take off your eyepatch, observe then put your eyepatch on before coming out again.

Then comes the other plug for an astro society WSAAG. Linden should be close to your chosen limits for an observing trip. I can make it from Woodford to Pymble in about an hour with the motorways now.

Cheers

Hey, cool, we can even pretend to be pirates!

Arrrr! I will see about the observing hood. The scope already has a dew shield of the proper length, so I don't think there is much I can do in that regard.

Originally Posted by astronut

Hi Steve,
We at The Macarthur Astronomical Society, located in Campbelltown are always happy to help.
We observe out at The Oaks (west of Camden) from your location it would be approx 1hr 15min trip. I know this above your time, but we have have very dark skies.
Contact me if you're interested.
Cheers, John.

Ah, maybe we have a friend out that way who might put us up for the night or something... or we can drive really fast, haha.

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Great advice Rob.

Steve take a run up to Mount White (I lived on the river just down from there) during the day and check out the areas a little to the West.
Its close time wise for the both of you and I recall it was reasonable where I was one the river but up on the hills should be great.

OR come up home for a weekend its only 750 klms and its real dark, 200 acres, no neighbours, can not see any lights anywhere or even detect a glow from the nearest big town 70 klms to the South after the forest and rural land, no street lights (hardly a street really, and I am in the State Forrest,

I get maybe 100 seconds exposure in Sydney if real lucky but thats an exception....but up there managed 45 minutes on a wide field which still could have run longer,, you can see the clouds in the Milky Way ... the bright stars are the only annoying "lights".
In fact if anyone wants a spot to camp you would be most welcome..


alex

I will keep it in mind alex, thanks.

Originally Posted by Kal

The darkest Sydney skies I have seen have been out at the ASNSW 'local observatory' (also known as Crago observatory) at Bowen Mountain, just NW of Richmond. While you won't be able to use the clubs observatory (you need to be a member and do an accreditation programme) I'm sure that you would be more than welcome to share the dark skies. There is a link on the ASNSW web page including a map if you are interested: http://www.asnsw.com/

That seems to be a pretty good location, thanks Kal

Much thanks to every one for your advice, you guys are all fantastic!

Cheers,
Steve

[netwolf]

Steve, see this thread, I have been meaning to go out and join this new startup group. But have not had the time.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=18096

Regards.
Fahim

[solissydney (Ken)]

Hi. We are an newly formed group (Sydney Norwest Astro Group) we view on a site in Kenthurst. You will be most welcome to join our group.
Contact Ken p 9634 1736, e solissydney@telstra.com

[shredder]

Hi Steve,

From Concord West you are probably within reach of Sutherland Astronomy Society. They have a permanent observatory near Como, but regularly go to the Royal National Park to observe. Its dark, as dark as you will get anywhere in Sydney, and yet still close to civilisation....

I havent been for a long time now, and am no longer a member, but they certainly were quite a friendly bunch, and I am sure you would be welcome.

[freespace]

Originally Posted by netwolf

Steve, see this thread, I have been meaning to go out and join this new startup group. But have not had the time.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=18096

Regards.
Fahim

Originally Posted by solissydney

Hi. We are an newly formed group (Sydney Norwest Astro Group) we view on a site in Kenthurst. You will be most welcome to join our group.
Contact Ken p 9634 1736, e solissydney@telstra.com

Originally Posted by shredder

Hi Steve,

From Concord West you are probably within reach of Sutherland Astronomy Society. They have a permanent observatory near Como, but regularly go to the Royal National Park to observe. Its dark, as dark as you will get anywhere in Sydney, and yet still close to civilisation....

I havent been for a long time now, and am no longer a member, but they certainly were quite a friendly bunch, and I am sure you would be welcome.

Cheers every one. I will consult with my friend, and see which of the location mentioned here is with our "operational range"

Though end of semester exams are coming up (uni) so we might not get to do much until they are over!

Many thanks,
Steve