My favorite area for viewing is the South end as the horizen all around is fantastic, no lights normally but it is drive down, or a 5 minute walk. The Mercury lights from the soccor field will oblirerate the South end if on , but I've only seen them on a Thursday night.
Hi Mark,
We use to observe from the sports field down the road there for many years
in the mid to late 90's and there were absolutely no lights then. Then the RFS built
a station next to the field and had a porta flood on which spilled over into the
field and totally ruined it. Later I recollect they put some street lighting in near the
stretch of the road near the sports field, is that correct?
There is a floodlight in the council depot which is never on in the weekend.
I haven't seen the RFS light you mention. It is not visible from the South end if it does shine on the field.
There are a few sodiums down Bloodtree Rd opposite which are fairly heavily obscured by trees at the clubhouse and can be blocked by the hanger in the right place.
The floodlights on the sports field I have not seen in the weekend.
The Southern end has absolutely no lighting visible ( when the sports field lights are off) and has a great horizon and probably 200 X 200 metere usable. There are other light free places around too particularly on the Northen end up Runway 07.
Have attached a Google pic that makes things a little clearer. The small building at the top is the clubhouse and below that the large shed is the hanger. Power could be run from either. You can see the South end is well away from Bloodtree road and protected by trees, and the horizen is very good. The sport field is to the left.
The most critical thing to investigate is when the sports field lights gets used. I have only ever seen it on a Thursday night when they train.
There is a floodlight in the council depot which is never on in the weekend.
I haven't seen the RFS light you mention. It is not visible from the South end if it does shine on the field.
There are a few sodiums down Bloodtree Rd opposite which are fairly heavily obscured by trees at the clubhouse and can be blocked by the hanger in the right place.
The floodlights on the sports field I have not seen in the weekend.
The Southern end has absolutely no lighting visible ( when the sports field lights are off) and has a great horizon and probably 200 X 200 metere usable. There are other light free places around too particularly on the Northen end up Runway 07.
Have attached a Google pic that makes things a little clearer. The small building at the top is the clubhouse and below that the large shed is the hanger. Power could be run from either. You can see the South end is well away from Bloodtree road and protected by trees, and the horizen is very good. The sport field is to the left.
The most critical thing to investigate is when the sports field lights gets used. I have only ever seen it on a Thursday night when they train.
Cheers
Mark
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the description. It's been at least a couple of years since I detoured
off down the road on the way back from Bucketty one night to see what it was
like these days. We did pull into the parking bay there at the airstrip and
as you report, the trees near the clubhouse did a really good job of screening the
streetlights further down the road and it certainly looked like a good spot
to observe from given its proximity to Sydney and the Central Coast.
A funny story was one night in 1996 when we were observing from the sports field
at the end where the sheds and car park are, it was then very dark with absolutely
no artificial lights except for the dim glow of lights inside the houses across the
road. Mai was seated in a fold-up chair taking notes when suddenly she heard
this heavy panting immediately followed by a wet tongue across the face.
Unbeknownst to the both of us, a large black dog had apparently come from one
of the properties across the road and decided to give Mai a welcoming lick.
It was quite startling and I scrambled for the white light to find out what
was going on in the dark. The light revealed the dog happily wagging its
tail with its tongue hanging out obviously delighted to have some human
companionship in what was normally a lonely place.
Hope you are still get some good gliding in and we'll have to go up with you one day!
I got a new scope couple of days ago, and both me and my parents are keen to go to try it under dark skies, so this could be worth it, but I was wondering when will this be happening (what date and time) Thanks a lot
I got a new scope couple of days ago, and both me and my parents are keen to go to try it under dark skies, so this could be worth it, but I was wondering when will this be happening (what date and time) Thanks a lot
Clear Skies,
Sebastien.
Hi Sebastien,
Congratulations on the new scope!
After sunset on the Saturday nights closest to both the Last Quarter Moon
and New Moon periods every month is when people tend to go to the
Pony Club. Watch for announcements in the thread regarding the Pony Club.
The Pony Club regulars are looking at an alternative site in the Central Mangrove
area which is the discussion of this thread.
After sunset on the Saturday nights closest to both the Last Quarter Moon
and New Moon periods every month is when people tend to go to the
Pony Club. Watch for announcements in the thread regarding the Pony Club.
The Pony Club regulars are looking at an alternative site in the Central Mangrove
area which is the discussion of this thread.
Thanks a lot Gary, greatly appreciated I will try to be there s=for some of the nights, during my holidays
Gary, your story about observing at the sports field reminds me of the first time that Mike Salway and I went observing together back in about January 2005. We had set up in the middle of the sportsfield at Mangrove Mountain and had observed for about an hour when someone went into the clubhouse and decided to turn ALL of the lights on. He was sorting out the supplies for the following day, I think. We were like startled rats!
After hoping for a short while that he would see us there and put the lights back off, I went over and asked him to get the lights off. He said something along the lines of, "I was wondering what you guys were up to, it all looked a bit suss". I am not sure if he thought we were terrorists with missile launchers, or what, but I thought it was pretty funny.
He said something along the lines of, "I was wondering what you guys were up to, it all looked a bit suss". I am not sure if he thought we were terrorists with missile launchers, or what, but I thought it was pretty funny.
Hi Rod, Hi Mike,
Merry Christmas.
Good story!
If you have ever seen the Stanley Kubrick comedy, Dr. Strangelove, there is
a terrific exchange in there between Peter Sellers, playing the role of Group
Captain Lionel Mandrake and Keenan Wynn, playing Colonel Bat Guano.
Under orders, Guano has just put Mandrake under military arrest and is holding
him at gunpoint and Mandrake says -
"Colonel! Colonel, I must know what you think has been going on here!"
and Guano replies -
"You wanna know what I think? I think you're some kind of deviated prevert.
And I think General Ripper found out about your preversion, and that you were
organizing some kind of mutiny of preverts. Now, move!"
The caretaker can open up on the agreed night , but I'd imagine we won't be giving out security details until its established that the site is going to be useful and worthwhile for the club to reach an arrangement.
I don't recommend having a general open night advertised on IIS until a few people who are central to use of the Pony Club have had a good look at available spots and that arrangements with club house use and lighting are all satisfactory. Representative of visual and photographers would be good to ensure all are catered for. Some things may need to go to a committee meeting in the process of working out an arrangement. I am happy to help co-ordinate the needs of the club and the astronomers. There are no guarantees but it may work out ok.
I wasnt asking for security details, nor was I asking for a general open night to be advertised on IIS.
The matter of a few of us IIS'ers using the airfield has already gone to the Sailplane culbs committee and it has been agreed to allow us to use the site for a first or trial night.
It seems that the interested people are OK with paying a $5.00 fee to use the facilities as this fee was set by the comittee.
I only thought that you may have been able to help with access as I believe that you fly there and may want to attend the first trial night to see what its like and check positions for equipment of visual observers and imagers.
I will contact the committee and get the caretaker to give us access.
Geoff
Quote:
Originally Posted by Satchmo
Geoff
The caretaker can open up on the agreed night , but I'd imagine we won't be giving out security details until its established that the site is going to be useful and worthwhile for the club to reach an arrangement.
I don't recommend having a general open night advertised on IIS until a few people who are central to use of the Pony Club have had a good look at available spots and that arrangements with club house use and lighting are all satisfactory. Representative of visual and photographers would be good to ensure all are catered for. Some things may need to go to a committee meeting in the process of working out an arrangement. I am happy to help co-ordinate the needs of the club and the astronomers. There are no guarantees but it may work out ok.
If you have ever seen the Stanley Kubrick comedy, Dr. Strangelove, there is
a terrific exchange in there between Peter Sellers, playing the role of Group
Captain Lionel Mandrake and Keenan Wynn, playing Colonel Bat Guano.
Under orders, Guano has just put Mandrake under military arrest and is holding
him at gunpoint and Mandrake says -
"Colonel! Colonel, I must know what you think has been going on here!"
and Guano replies -
"You wanna know what I think? I think you're some kind of deviated prevert.
And I think General Ripper found out about your preversion, and that you were
organizing some kind of mutiny of preverts. Now, move!"
Thanks Gary - I have not seen that movie, but it sounds a crack-up! I can just imagine the bloke at Mangrove Mountain oval saying something similar!
I fear his concern was rather indicative of a post 9/11 hysteria which can colour people's perceptions of all manner of things....the "Be alert but no alarmed" campaign has a lot to answer for!
I only thought that you may have been able to help with access as I believe that you fly there and may want to attend the first trial night to see what its like and check positions for equipment of visual observers and imagers.
I will contact the committee and get the caretaker to give us access.
Geoff
Yes , coordinate with me a night and I will show you where I think the best spots are and we'll see how we can sort power etc. If you have been given aproval of a trial `pathfinding' visit then all we need to do is pencil in a few good potential nights moon-wise and we'll meet up there on the first available good weather. I can open up the club-house if Kurt isn't there, but we need to let them know at least on the day if we are meeting.
