Sydney light pollution map

gak · #1 11-11-2006, 12:50 AM

Hi

I'm a long time lurker, low-volume poster.

I'm looking for an observing spot about 1-2 hours away from Sydney. I couldn't really imagine where a good place to go would be so I ended up making this light pollution map:
http://photos.gakman.com/NightSky/sy...geViewsIndex=1

It seems that Putty Road (NNW of Sydney near Parr State Conservation Area, towards Singleton) is the nearest darkest spot within an hour or two.

Does anyone know of any good observing locations on or near Putty Road? Any comments on the map?

Cheers
gak

nightsky · #2 11-11-2006, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gak

Hi

I'm a long time lurker, low-volume poster.

I'm looking for an observing spot about 1-2 hours away from Sydney. I couldn't really imagine where a good place to go would be so I ended up making this light pollution map:
http://photos.gakman.com/NightSky/sy...geViewsIndex=1

It seems that Putty Road (NNW of Sydney near Parr State Conservation Area, towards Singleton) is the nearest darkest spot within an hour or two.

Does anyone know of any good observing locations on or near Putty Road? Any comments on the map?

Cheers
gak

G'Day Gak,
I know that the ASNSW has a observatory at Bowen Mt which I think is near Nth Richmond, if you were to contact them they would know the good dark spots near Sydney here's there web page.
http://www.asnsw.com/info/index.html

nightsky · #3 11-11-2006, 05:27 AM

G'Day,
Forgot to mention, I like the map

very well done

ving (David) · #4 11-11-2006, 08:30 AM

nice map and welcome aboard!

seems theres a really dark spot just south of ulladulla. wonder how accurate that is?

xelasnave · #5 11-11-2006, 09:45 AM

Nice map Gerald thanks for taking the time

.
Light is a problem no doubt but take into account the particle polution when selecting a site. I have viewed in towns when it is very low which minimises the scattering of the light.. An opinion only but its seems to have a bearing on viewing...and if you find a spot please share it here

alex

wavelandscott (Scott) · #6 11-11-2006, 12:38 PM

There are a few folks that go to Kulunura (see the observing threads) on new moon weekends...

It is pretty dark and about an hour from Sydney...what it might lack in "ultra darkness" is usually offset by the company of people in attendance (most of the time and with a few exceptions

)...

Check that section (Observing) and look for the next Kulunura thread...

And if you do find a good spot (an hour from Sydney), I'd be keen to hear about it too!

Oh and nice map!

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #7 11-11-2006, 12:42 PM

well the WSAAG observing site-at Linden Observatory-is not all that bad-it may not be as dark as Kulnura but is alot easier to get to- and is just over an hour for me (I live in Winston Hills)

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #8 11-11-2006, 12:45 PM

PS I am forgetting my manners, welcome to the forum gak and great work on the map

PPS I think Linden probably has a slight edge over Bowen mountain in terms of darkness and has a very well maintained observing area

and I am not selling it just because I am a WSAAG member

I plan to go up tonight if the weather holds, so if you want to try you could pm me or even better just go the WSAAG site for details of how to get there

http://users.tpg.com.au/users/wsaag/

gak · #9 11-11-2006, 12:51 PM

Thanks for the info. I'll be sure to check those places out.

ving, I'm not sure how accurate it is. The web site mentions:
Colours correspond to ratios between the artificial sky brightness and the natural sky brightness of: <0.01 (black), 0.01-0.11 (dark-gray), 0.11-0.33 (blue), 0.33-1 (green), 1-3 (yellow), 3-9 (orange), 9-27 (red), <27 (white). There's lots of info on how they collect the data on the web site but it's too much reading for me

If I find a good close-to-Sydney spot I'll definitely mention it on this board.

ving (David) · #10 11-11-2006, 03:36 PM

well if it is acurate we should all be heading a bit south of ulladula. accordign to the map its pitch black there

anyone cars to check it out?

i am not a WSAAG member and can vouch for linden too. its not as dark as kulnura but its a hell of alot easier to get to!.
failing that MAS (macarthur astro soc.) has a spot near berrima (belangalo) that is just aobut as dark as it gets and another spot at The Oaks near camden which is as good as kulnura.

but i'd be really interested in doing a trip or hearing of someone doing a trip south of ulladula

Lee · #11 11-11-2006, 05:48 PM

Is that Sydney or Hiroshima!

Glad I don't live there, although some parts of Newcastle aren't much better.....

sheeny (Al) · #12 11-11-2006, 06:01 PM

Great map Gerald!

Exzcellent work!

Al.

sejanus (Gavin) · #13 13-11-2006, 01:01 PM

hey gak, did you ever buy a 180sx once? if that doesnt make sense ignore it.

best spot I've found down south is top of macquarie pass. middle of putty rd would be good as well, driven that road many times.

gak · #14 13-11-2006, 01:31 PM

It's a very small world sejanus!

yagon · #15 13-11-2006, 09:36 PM

that spot south of ulladulla is bawley point - i can vouch for the surf, but can't really comment on the vis

the area just south of bawley point is national park, where there would be virtually no local light pollution

better yet, a kilometre or 2 inland from the coast is a mountain range that could get you 500m above sea level

as i said, i've never observed there, but it would be worth checking out

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #16 15-11-2006, 06:30 PM

Hey Gak,

How did you get the transparent Map over top of the light pollution pic. I have tried everything I can think of in PaintShop Pro but have been unable to do it. It would really help in our submission to council about the reduction to Light Pollution

Lee · #17 15-11-2006, 07:14 PM

In photoshop you would just layer the two pics together, then reduce the opacity of the top layer, then move it to align it properly. Not sure about PaintShop Pro though.....

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #18 15-11-2006, 08:25 PM

Thanks Lee, I'll do it in PhotoShop then

gak · #19 16-11-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Hey Gak,

How did you get the transparent Map over top of the light pollution pic. I have tried everything I can think of in PaintShop Pro but have been unable to do it. It would really help in our submission to council about the reduction to Light Pollution

Quote:

In photoshop you would just layer the two pics together, then reduce the opacity of the top layer, then move it to align it properly.

Also, the two images from light pollution map and Google maps took me a while to actually align up correctly. The orientation and scale both are different. Also, the coastlines don't match very well as you can see on near the bottom of the map.

Good luck

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #20 16-11-2006, 06:15 PM

Thanks Gak