Best possible suburbs for astronomy in Sydney?

Manav (Yugant) · #1 30-05-2010, 12:36 PM

Hi IIS Team,

I've asked this before from an astronomy point of view and the common suggestion was Blue mountains or Wollongong which is all good if I want to pack and go. However, if I was to buy a property which suburb would you recommend? Keep in mind it can't be too far away from CBD.

What I'm looking for are pockets of suburbs within the Sydney area where there are natural barriers to the LP (e.g. hills etc). I know Hornsby has clearer skies than say Paramatta for example. Its not much different but I guess every little bit counts.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

Regards

renormalised (Carl) · #2 30-05-2010, 01:38 PM

Dural, Menai, Como, Engadine, Heathcote, Bundeena, Lilli Pilli, Gymea Bay, Maianbar, Waterfall, Box Hill, Kellyville, Normanhurst, Terrey Hills ...I mean, take your pick. It all depends on how far out you want to go and how long you're willing to commute...and how much you're willing to spend or rent. You could go out as far as Windsor, Richmond, Camden, Penrith or even further if you wanted to.

Geez, trying to see anything around Parramatta would be trying to look through thick pea soup!!!. Bad enough anywhere else!!!.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #3 30-05-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manav

Hi IIS Team,

I've asked this before from an astronomy point of view and the common suggestion was Blue mountains or Wollongong which is all good if I want to pack and go. However, if I was to buy a property which suburb would you recommend? Keep in mind it can't be too far away from CBD.

What I'm looking for are pockets of suburbs within the Sydney area where there are natural barriers to the LP (e.g. hills etc). I know Hornsby has clearer skies than say Paramatta for example. Its not much different but I guess every little bit counts.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

Define "too far from CBD". Home is about 40 mins drive from sister-in-law in Wooloomooloo (outside peak hours). Are you happy to drive to where ever you want to go? Neither of us work in the city so that doesn't worry us.

Just about anywhere north or west of Castle Hill you can find some reasonably dark spots. It won't be cheap though if you want enough yard for a viewing area with good horizons.

My son's place at Picton gets dark skies. It has rail to the CBD.

astronut (John) · #4 30-05-2010, 01:51 PM

Come to a MAS observing night either at The Oaks (just west of Camden) or to our very dark site south of Berrima, 1 hour south of Campbelltown.
Let me know if you're interested.

Cheers, John

renormalised (Carl) · #5 30-05-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithrandir

Define "too far from CBD". It won't be cheap though if you want enough yard for a viewing area with good horizons.

You can say that again...you'll be parting with some serious cash to get a good spot. Goto realestate.com.au and have a look.

Manav (Yugant) · #6 30-05-2010, 04:22 PM

Hi Carl and Andrew,

I haven't lived in Sydney long enough to know the area well enough. Castle Hill has got my interest so has the area around Hornsby. I was hoping there may be suburbs around that area that may be slightly hidden and may have dark sides on one direction (i.e. low density area/national forest). But you guys have given me enough info to start my search on real estate website.

On a side note my main astrophotography attempts have been from Parramatta so any area away from here has to be better :p

Take Care

AstralTraveller (David) · #7 30-05-2010, 06:17 PM

Cronulla or the northern beaches should have better eastern horizons. Then again you have all the disadvantages of being near the sea (ie salt in the air -> corrosion) and I believe $$$ may be involved.

If you measure 'near the CBD' in terms of time rather than km then the Gong is no further than western Sydney. I wouldn't know the exact conversion but I know that Gong to central on the train is 1:15 to 1:30. Central Gong is too bright (I know - I'm there) but Corrimal and north are reasonable (for suburbia). On the other hand I suspect it is cloudier here than in western Sydney. The escarpment behind town is very beautiful but it does cause orographic uplift.

big_dav_2001 (Davin) · #8 30-05-2010, 06:33 PM

Hi mate...

Quote:

Castle Hill has got my interest so has the area around Hornsby. I was hoping there may be suburbs around that area that may be slightly hidden and may have dark sides on one direction (i.e. low density area/national forest).

I live in Schofields, on the edge of the 'main suburb' and while do get some LP to the east, i get some pretty good views towards the western half of the sky due to farmland in that direction. This works out well, if i cant see well enough to the east, i just have to wait, and in time, the rotation of the earth will bring the object into the area which is darkest for me. Contrary to media portrayal, public transport is actually pretty good in this area, and its just 10 mins off the M7.

Davin

wavelandscott (Scott) · #9 30-05-2010, 09:26 PM

There are some pockets of darkish skies from Roseville - Lindfield - Gordon - Turramurra around the parks and nearby ovals and such...it really depends on what you are used to and can tolerate. I'd give a lot to have my yard in Connecticut transformed into our back yard in Roseville in terms of darkness (I won't even mention the southern constellations.

It is hard to generalize and it really is a block to block difference. You might check with the Nortern Sydney Astronomical Society, they used to do some viewing at North Turramurra Golf Course...

Satchmo · #10 30-05-2010, 10:52 PM

I live in Berowra who's sky has gone down hill a lot in the last 15 years, mainly from the growth of Hornsby and the Beaumont Rd Industrial Estate. Cowan is a fair bit darker and only another 5 minutes Nth. Theres no significant amount of housing after Cowan until you get to Gosford/ Central Coast. If you have a look at Google Earth you can see why the sky is so much better there. The F3 Freeway has a Berowra ramp which makes Hornsby only 10 minutes drive away. Hope this helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manav

Hi IIS Team,

I've asked this before from an astronomy point of view and the common suggestion was Blue mountains or Wollongong which is all good if I want to pack and go. However, if I was to buy a property which suburb would you recommend? Keep in mind it can't be too far away from CBD.

What I'm looking for are pockets of suburbs within the Sydney area where there are natural barriers to the LP (e.g. hills etc). I know Hornsby has clearer skies than say Paramatta for example. Its not much different but I guess every little bit counts.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

Regards

Manav (Yugant) · #11 01-06-2010, 02:17 PM

Thanks guys! I'll be checking these out!

Wavytone · #12 01-06-2010, 04:38 PM

Not all fringe suburbs are equal, the microclimates can be very different.

For a start avoid the low-lying areas which have been heavily farmed in the past because (a) farmed dark soil areas hold water which is a good source for fogs and (b) the low-lying areas trap fog.

Ideally you want to look for a place that is on a ridge (less or no fog) and ideally sandstone/sandy country (ie was more or less native bush) so it won't be fog-prone.

In these respects you can eliminate the whole south/southwestern fringe (Campbelltown), the west this side of Glenbrook (ie Penrith), and the low-lying areas northwest (Blacktown to Richmond).

This leaves Dural and north, which is on a ridge, or the upper north shore which is another long ridge where Killara, Pymble, Turramurra, Hornsby, Berowra are increasingly high.

Then there's light pollution. Personal experience has been that from east Killara, north Turramurra, the northern fringe of Horsnby/Asquith are about as good as it gets unless you are prepared to go a long way further afield.

I live in Killara in a dark street and while its OK its nothing special. You have to go north of Hornsby to see any useful reduction in sky glow.

If I were wanting a home with observatory, and could reduce my work to say 3 days a week i'd move to Blackheath. Much darker.