Good observational spots in Melbourne

[DavidU (Dave)]

I went sat night and met Bojan and his lovely wife.I discovered that Bojans daughter was my son's science teacher ! Small world...

[bojan]

It was a pleasant evening :-)

Visibility was quite good, there was a bit of wind earlier in the evening but it stopped around 10PM.

Attached here is the image of Centaurus A, Canon400D +Canon 200mm FD (@F5.6), 8x45sec, ISO1600).

I took couple of wide fields, but they were just tests.. this one is most eye-catching :-)

[alistairsam]

Hi Bojan,

Is there a specific place for viewing in Johns Hill?
can anyone go there for viewing, any restrictions or permissions required?
are there reasonably dark skies there?
turns out its only 35 k from where i live, so sounds ideal.

Originally Posted by bojan

Anybody going to Johns Hill this sat?

[bojan]

It is a public lookout, with car park. And it is open 24/7.
It is way darker than Mt Waverley, where I live.. Magellanic clouds are clearly visible when it is dark (however, Melbourne lights still dominate the western horizon).

To illustrate the difference in LP, attached here are two unprocessed RAW frames, one made from Mt Waverley and another one from John's Hill.
Mt Waverley exposure was 30sec, John's Hill was 45sec, all other conditions were the same.

[alistairsam]

Thanks for that. Thats a remarkable difference.
I might make it to Johns hill next sat.
Am headed camping at the Lerderderg park this weekend, hope I can find some dark skies out there.
Do you have any posts on your equipment and what you use for tracking or guiding your scope?
I just completed a portable fork mount for an 8" reflector from wood and will post it in the equipment threads.

[bojan]

I do, see below (it seems some of older posts disappeared..)
Las Sat I was using just this small mount.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=45079
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=12171

[andrew_d_cool (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by alistairsam

Hi Bojan,

Is there a specific place for viewing in Johns Hill?
can anyone go there for viewing, any restrictions or permissions required?
are there reasonably dark skies there?
turns out its only 35 k from where i live, so sounds ideal.

Hello All,

Those folk interested in how out from a city Light Pollution reaches may be interested in this webpage :- http://tinyurl.com/y9wwm9e

from the Adelaide Dark Sky Group.

Here I have modelled Light Pollution (LP) using Walker's law for 200km around Adelaide.

The model results compare favourably with the Atlas of Light Pollution at

http://www.lightpollution.it/downloa...idotto0p25.gif


Regards,

Andrew Cool
www.skippysky.com.au

[bojan]

I am heading for Johns Hill tonight.. anybody?

[DavidU (Dave)]

One of the kids is sick but I will try to get there.I want to take the 12".

Originally Posted by bojan

I am heading for Johns Hill tonight.. anybody?

[bojan]

Was there but finished earlier (dew and timer malfunctioned during imaging, probably battery..)
Sorry if I missed you :-)

[DavidU (Dave)]

I did not get there. Daughter is suffering chronic asthma.

[bojan]

Originally Posted by DavidU

Daughter is suffering chronic asthma.

I am sorry to hear that.. I hope she will be better soon :-)

[aokman]

i shall have to sample this place ive been up around monbulk etc but still get people coming in. Bayswater is ok for me but its useless most nights.

I also know there are plenty of open sites up near the dams on Wellington road though ive never been to them at night?

[Songbird (Tama)]

Hello! besides it not being a 100% safe place, is Mt Dandenong a good place to go star viewing? I want somewhere close to Melb too.. don't want to drive out too far..

[PeterHA (Peter)]

The Johns Hill Reserve at Ridge Rd. near Kalista is the best spot around there I know of.
I go there sometimes, sky gets to 20.5 - 20.6 and good view of East, South and North.

[duppeydude]

I live in Narre Warre - so pretty far south east from CBD as it is... Can anyone suggest where's good to drive say about an hour from Narre Warren for a good observation spot?

[pdthomas23 (Peter)]

Originally Posted by duppeydude

I live in Narre Warre - so pretty far south east from CBD as it is... Can anyone suggest where's good to drive say about an hour from Narre Warren for a good observation spot?

You could try hooking up with the folk at Mount Burnett.
They are not far from you.
They also have an Open Day next weekend (Jan 24)
http://mtburnettobservatory.org/

Peter Thomas
Oakleigh