Planning to go to the mountains Saturday night for some casual observing with 4" refractor and 180mm Mak - depending how the weather and social arrangements shape up in the afternoon re dinner. If the weather is perfect we'll probably go for Hargreaves Lookout (see below) otherwise Narrowneck Rd or Sublime Point.
AFAIK Roger North's observatory on Kings Tableland is gone now, but there are some good spots along Tableland Rd - turn right into Hordern Rd, go to the western end, then turn left (south) onto a dirt track and choose a spot at the end of this, it looks over the valley west to Sublime Point.
Usually I go further than Wentworth Falls though - old favorites from the past 25 years:
- Sublime Point lookout or somewhere on the walking track from Gordon falls lookout if its a warm night and I'm sticking to very portable gear in a backpack,
- oval at south Leura (if its a windy westerly, the oval is dark and sheltered),
- Cahill's lookout western side of Katoomba,
- there is a useful spot along the Narrowneck Road off Cliff drive, on the western side of Katoomba.
- Hargreaves Lookout or Mt Blackheath, at the end of Shipley Plateau, out of Blackheath - if the weather is perfect, otherwise Evans Lookout or somewhere on the Hat Hill road north of town past the houses.
- Centennial Glen in the walled valley below Blackheath, heavy dew though and lots of wildlife at night - I have rented a cottage down there several times;
- Mt Wilson, either Cathedral of Ferns or the big picnic area near Yengo.
Of these Hargreaves Lookout, Mt Blackheath or Mt Wilson are the best observing sites in the Blue Mountains; you have to go a long way to do better.
Hargreaves is spectacular but very exposed and high, it has excellent horizons in most directions depending on where you put the scope in respect of a hideous stone shelter plonked there by the BMC. Dew is not a problem as its light sandstone country and very dry locally.
Mt Blackheath is also good - I used the strip where the hang gliders and paragliders takeoff by day.
Leura oval has black soil, dew can be a problem there if its calm.
Cahill's lookout - it's a bit of a walk to carry gear to the lookout proper but can be worth it; or else stay near the carpark if you want power, chances are you'll have it to yourself but expect maybe one or two passing cars in a night.
Cathedral of Ferns at Mt Wilson - good but large dogs can be a serious threat if you are on your own at night.
Lastly there are two other sites worth a mention if you want darker skies to go hunting galaxies visually:
- there is a disused gravel airstrip on the lefthand side off Bells Line of Rd just before it descends into Lithgow. Its easily spotted on Google Earth, bit from the road you have to see this in daylight because at night it is completely invisible from the road and I guarantee in the dark you'll drive straight past it without knowing unless you have an iPhone.
- Hassan's Walls, drive into the old part of Lithgow township, and follow the signposted road up the hill. Two or three excellent sites to choose from, though the local teenagers might be up there too if its a nice night
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