The NSW LPI maps say there is a locked gate after crossing the railway line and the disused mine spur line. The maps are several years old and it might not still be there, but there is something showing at about the right place on Google Earth.
The NSW LPI maps say there is a locked gate after crossing the railway line and the disused mine spur line. The maps are several years old and it might not still be there, but there is something showing at about the right place on Google Earth.
Let's hope RFS knocked it down during the bushfires. Does the LPI maps say who owns the land?
Just introducing myself. My name is Jason and I am good friends with the other Jason's cousin. I will be joining you guys on Saturday. Ive just recently bought a telescope, as in last week, after many years of wishing for one. This will be my first ever outing so i am very excited. Have been practising setting up and aligning etc so I can set up as quickly as possible on the night. Looking forward to meeting everyone and hopefully learning a thing or two.
After a bit of driving around, I found what looks like a "Common" or "Reserve" in a very nice spot down the hill in Hartley Vale....... looks like the go......I am going to find out all about it and chase up any permissions etc.......I will get some more Pictures over the weekend, but here it is on Google Earth.
Turns out the site at Hartley vale is the old Shale Oil refinery......
I looks like its accessible, and looks a really good option.....a nice big open space on a road that would not get used much at all at night.....big grass area's that will be road car friendly, so you can work out of your boot.
On street view there isn't a fence........there is now, but the gate is open, and it doesn't look like it ever gets locked........but I will ask if we can get a key just in case it ever does.
I will put a bit more research in this week and get some firm details, but its not far from the coal mine site and I think its way better.....
Just introducing myself. My name is Jason and I am good friends with the other Jason's cousin. I will be joining you guys on Saturday. Ive just recently bought a telescope, as in last week, after many years of wishing for one. This will be my first ever outing so i am very excited. Have been practising setting up and aligning etc so I can set up as quickly as possible on the night. Looking forward to meeting everyone and hopefully learning a thing or two.
Jason
G'day Jason.......will be my first outing with these guys too
I also had a look at that quarry.......the gate has stone walls either side,so its a walk in....up hill and its on a fairly busy road with lots of houses and camping area's up towards the end of it.....the tree's are also big and there is a High tension path going over the top to one side right in the eastern viewing area, so I would rate it as a no go as well......
Andrew. I'm driving up that way for a day out. I think I'll check up on Barden's and Mt Yorks Lookout.
No worries......
If you are driving around, go down to Hartley vale.....you can get there by taking the turnoff on the other side of the road to the mine on the way back to Mt Vic....... or the other way to the right,just past the pizza place and lolly shop on the way to lithgow.....
Have a look and see what you think..........here is a bigger pic to show you where it is in relation to the old pub.
Just be careful about valleys - they are dew traps, and if the surrounding land is pasture or agricultural, even worse. That's why all the places we use and look for is high up on ridges.
OK... here's a list of pretty much all the sites I've tried in the mountains. BTW the primary reason to avoid the valleys is fog at night settles in them, and heavy dark soils (farmland, urban areas) mean dew.
The old coal mine on the Darling Causeway is out of bounds, there's a locked gate and fence at the railway bridge.
Bardens lookout on Mt York Rd - I've been there - only has a low horizon southwest, and lots of trees in other directions.
Via GWH:
1. Kings tableland - too light-polluted these days and have to carry scopes.
2. Katoomba airstrip... 'nuff said.
3. Narrowneck Road, south of Katoomba - too light polluted.
4. Hat Hill Rd, a dirt road running north of Blackheath to Anvil lookout;
5. Mt Blackheath - as some of you know, great horizon west and south but trees block the view to the east.
6. Hargraves Lookout - good but have to carry gear
7. Mt York. Possible for a small group, but too many trees.
Via Bells Line of Rd:
1. Mt Banks - as indicated by Alex, I used to frequent this regularly in the 1980's and 1990's but access to my old haunt is now blocked off and old the top carpark is suitable. It's a small are big enough for maybe 2-3 scopes at best. Despite the light-pollution map on Google showing it in the dark blue, 20 years ago I started to feel the sky was light polluted and if you were after galaxies, not so good.
2. Pierce's Ravine carpark, just past Mt Banks; this will hold a group but there are some small trees around it. Maybe cleared by the bushfire - worth a look.
3. Mt Wilson Cathedral Camping Ground - will hold a very big group but there are danged big trees.
4. Disused airstrip off the south side of Bell's Line of Rd, past ZigZag railway (see screenshot) - excellent site, will hold a large group easily. On Google earth this is a big white scar. The airstrip is coarse white river sand, as big as the main strip at Katoomba, though it now has a few potholes and puddles. Observing there is fine.
5. Hassan's Walls, reached via Lithgow - several good sites for 2-3 scopes but not for big groups.
IMHO the best accessible observing site in the mountains capable of holding a group - bar none - is the disused airstrip. Finding it is tricky because it is not obvious from Bell's Line of Rd as the road is higher and the camber puts the airstrip out of sight of motorists - take a GPS with you and for the first time, slow down and drive onto it in daylight so you can see where you're going. The south end is out of sight of traffic and the only disturbances at night will be possums in the trees.
That air strip is an interesting one. However, its so far away from us we may as well goto the Pony Club. They lack the elevation we enjoy in the mountains. Although I don't think they are open Feb 1.
The open area on Hat Hill Road is an interesting one. North east of Blackheath. Sealed road all the way. It seems close to Blackheath, but Blackheath is like half size of Katoomba so light pollution might be low enough for us. The road its on also goes to no where really. I would be surprised its used at all at night.
