Sometimes remote desert or plains style locations like Alice Springs are not so good because of dust particulate in the air. In addition they have minimal elevation. Sometimes they can turn it on, unfortunately any wind usually turns it to stone.
I observe regularly at Coonabarabran. I will be going there for 10 days at the end of Feb and that will make 28 days at Coona in the past year. I do a similar schedule every year. Last October we hosted a group of 8 Americans including Dave Kreige from Obsession telescopes at Coonabarabran for 8 days. We had several great nights. Two nights were superb. On one of those nights Dave Kriege, who has observed all over the world, commented that these were the best observing conditions he had ever experienced, apart from 1 solitary night atop Mona Kea, which has an enormous elevation advantage. Coona has the advantage of protection from light pollution within a 200km radius of the AAT at Siding Springs, which is about 30km out of Coona. They have a light pollution protection policy where every external light within a 200km radius of the AAT has to have a top cover preventing any light shining upwards. It works very well. I got genuine "best" repeated readings on my Unihedron SQM of 21.8 to 21.88 from 15km out of Coona in October. That sky quality is exceptional, and you will not see it anywhere in CONUS.
I have also observed in many other parts of Australia and New Zealand. The single best observing sight I know of in Australia is atop Mt Kaputar, which is a little ways out of Narrabri and about 1.5 to 2 hrs drive from Coonabarabran. It is a national park and it offers the best combination of exceptional seeing, very dark skies, combined with brilliant transparency and good elevation. Unfortunately from your point of view I don't think there is the likelihood of building an observatory up there as it is a national park. You can always ask though.
Hi Lance
well, I am no die hardcore astronomer compared to the likes of many others on this board, but I extend a warm welcome all the same. Those webpages of yours are a fine read, and I know we all share the passion in those words. I never ever get tired of those Southern sky highlights you mention, the LMC and SMC, and that stretch from Crux/Carina towards Canis Major is beyond belief under a dark sky, I love this time of the year. Fox!
Coona has the advantage of protection from light pollution within a 200km radius of the AAT at Siding Springs, which is about 30km out of Coona. They have a light pollution protection policy where every external light within a 200km radius of the AAT has to have a top cover preventing any light shining upwards. It works very well. Cheers,
John B
I can second that: like John, I'm also a regular 'pilgrim' to Coona, and when I was there last December I was told that there are plans to extend the radius to 250 km.
However... indeed, the elevation ranges only between 450 and 600 meters - we don't have anything like 12,500 ft in Oz... And as I found out on my last visit- when the clouds do roll in they can linger around for days on end...
Many years ago I lived in the central west NSW town of Orange.
I didn't own a scope then.
At 950 metres above sea level and west of the Great Dividing Range...I have often wondered since what the seeing and conditions would be like for imaging?
Lance, now is not a good time maybe wait 50-100 years? as the recources boom is going even more mental. they are digging up oz at an alarming rate now, where ever you put it, and probably the more remote and dark the worse, you could wake up one morning with a dirty great big mine (with small town/trucks/traffic/dust) next to ya in your pristine dark sky
i notice arkaroola is to get a huge uranium mine, wonder how they feel about that at the astro site there - and another one closer to broken hill
_____________________________
Thank you for the report! Yes i have been doing a lot of "digging" myself
regarding where & where not build an observatory in OZ. Being a "Stop-
the war/tree huggin-Counter Culture type", i always look to see if
there are any "messes" around. When researching Arkaroola i "dug" this up:
"Working Uranium Mines"
"520 kilometers north of Adelaide, on the
plains north-west of Lake Frome and 25
kilometers north east of the Arkaroola
Resort in the northern Flanders Ranges..."
Yes, in regards to Arkroola, a place that i know
all about their set up from their web page.
(love the robo-binos!) i thought you may want
to know this:
"Working Uranium Mines"
"520 kilometers north of Adelaide, on the
plains north-west of Lake Frome and 25
kilometers north east of the Arkaroola
Resort in the northern Flanders Ranges..."
i found this info at:
Sometimes remote desert or plains style locations like Alice Springs are not so good because of dust particulate in the air. In addition they have minimal elevation. Sometimes they can turn it on, unfortunately any wind usually turns it to stone.
I observe regularly at Coonabarabran. I will be going there for 10 days at the end of Feb and that will make 28 days at Coona in the past year. I do a similar schedule every year. Last October we hosted a group of 8 Americans including Dave Kreige from Obsession telescopes at Coonabarabran for 8 days. We had several great nights. Two nights were superb. On one of those nights Dave Kriege, who has observed all over the world, commented that these were the best observing conditions he had ever experienced, apart from 1 solitary night atop Mona Kea, which has an enormous elevation advantage. Coona has the advantage of protection from light pollution within a 200km radius of the AAT at Siding Springs, which is about 30km out of Coona. They have a light pollution protection policy where every external light within a 200km radius of the AAT has to have a top cover preventing any light shining upwards. It works very well. I got genuine "best" repeated readings on my Unihedron SQM of 21.8 to 21.88 from 15km out of Coona in October. That sky quality is exceptional, and you will not see it anywhere in CONUS.
I have also observed in many other parts of Australia and New Zealand. The single best observing sight I know of in Australia is atop Mt Kaputar, which is a little ways out of Narrabri and about 1.5 to 2 hrs drive from Coonabarabran. It is a national park and it offers the best combination of exceptional seeing, very dark skies, combined with brilliant transparency and good elevation. Unfortunately from your point of view I don't think there is the likelihood of building an observatory up there as it is a national park. You can always ask though.
Hi Lance
well, I am no die hardcore astronomer compared to the likes of many others on this board, but I extend a warm welcome all the same. Those webpages of yours are a fine read, and I know we all share the passion in those words. I never ever get tired of those Southern sky highlights you mention, the LMC and SMC, and that stretch from Crux/Carina towards Canis Major is beyond belief under a dark sky, I love this time of the year. Fox!
___________________________________ _________
Thanx mate
yes, i have seen the sky in it's "pure form". Now i can't do with the same-old/same-old!
This was a life changing event to say the least! Ever since then i cannot help but think i have been cheated in the the north! i have been searching for a place down south to build an observatory ever since.
Welcome Lance ...
I like my spot as it is home but the weather has me beat at the moment but when its clear it is good as there is little industry here to contribute to making the little light polution worse... plenty of water and reasonably close to beaches and fair sized towns... the likelyhood of developemnt seems remote as we are too far from our state capital for anyone to care...
Best idea get a camper van and live in that ... I have seriously considered same because of the hobby.
best wishes
alex
___________________________________ _______
Thanx Alex,
i see Byron Bay is in your neck of the wood's..... this place is close to
my heart, being a "drop-out" of sorts!
Re: "get a camper" i'd have get a BIG ONE! hehehehehehehehe
abell, yeah uranium mining certainly doesnt conjure up the nicest mental picture - they leach up that way. I stayed at Arkaroola for 10 days a couple of years ago - awesome facility (drank the spring water there - clean and tasty!)...The Bino chairs are very cool, stable and provide excellent views through the 20 x 80 Vixens. The joystick control makes you feel like you are flying a spaceship through the galaxy (metaphorically speaking).
One of the hill tops across from Sillers Lookout was originally chosen as the preferred site for the Anglo Australian observatory as the best place in Australia (for atmospheric conditions etc). I beleive they went with Siding Springs, because logistically, the Flinders Rangers was considered too remote (even though it was/is the best place).
A very hostile and arid place all the same...ie: beautiful!!! But so are places like Mauna Kei etc...
Lance I have 200 acres of bush and probably the highest hill top around here (well next door is a little higher) I cleared it to put an observatory you are welcome to consider that if you like..
There is no grid power, closest neighbour about 3 klms away who uses 12 vlt lights if he stays up past 9 pm.
I have one light but mostly I use candles.
The view South is light free until you get to Grafton some 100 klms by road but my view is over mostly state forrest..in fact you go past a sign that says state forrest some 4 klms before you get to my place..I am 30 klms South of the proverbial one horse town called Tabualm ..so it is dark up home... I went to Coona once and think I get a better view of the Southern Sky then at their observatory because there is some light polution ...still they have got me on the above sea level thing I think.
During the summer it can be wet as it is now but in winter it is wonderful...
I have done widefields with 55mm canon 300d standard lens and the longest was 45 minutes and it still did not white out... but 20 minute on widefields is what I like best..and have got my mount to go 9 minutes so other shots I go for 9 minutes now (er when the clouds clear)
The life style is pretty good... mainly old hippies in the hills and cow punchers on the flats... Casino is the first major town heading East (50 klms from Tabby) then Lismore ..then over to Balina..a bit up for Byron..
I have had two star paries first one one guest (Glen from here) and the seond two guests Glen and Rob also form here... so I dont know you could say we have a strong club thing going.
Security is not an issue as to the original inhabitants where I am is sortta spooky for them.. anyways anyone who comes into the road is noted and tracked most times by the few nerveous hippies further down my road.
Anyways if you are up this way get in touch if you can see yourself in this region...
There is plenty of rock and sand for building and plenty of millable trees (hard wood)
I wont be selling the place so what you put there can stay as long as you are alive or longer...
[quote=astrojase;289040]abell, yeah uranium mining certainly doesnt conjure up the nicest mental picture - .......(drank the spring water there - clean and tasty!)...
OH SH#T! Your the green guy right! LOL ahahahahahahahahahaha
Lance I have 200 acres of bush and probably the highest hill top around here (well next door is a little higher) I cleared it to put an observatory you are welcome to consider that if you like..
There is no grid power, closest neighbour about 3 klms away who uses 12 vlt lights if he stays up past 9 pm.
I have one light but mostly I use candles.
The view South is light free until you get to Grafton some 100 klms by road but my view is over mostly state forrest..in fact you go past a sign that says state forrest some 4 klms before you get to my place..I am 30 klms South of the proverbial one horse town called Tabualm ..so it is dark up home... I went to Coona once and think I get a better view of the Southern Sky then at their observatory because there is some light polution ...still they have got me on the above sea level thing I think.
During the summer it can be wet as it is now but in winter it is wonderful...
I have done widefields with 55mm canon 300d standard lens and the longest was 45 minutes and it still did not white out... but 20 minute on widefields is what I like best..and have got my mount to go 9 minutes so other shots I go for 9 minutes now (er when the clouds clear)
The life style is pretty good... mainly old hippies in the hills and cow punchers on the flats... Casino is the first major town heading East (50 klms from Tabby) then Lismore ..then over to Balina..a bit up for Byron..
I have had two star paries first one one guest (Glen from here) and the seond two guests Glen and Rob also form here... so I dont know you could say we have a strong club thing going.
Security is not an issue as to the original inhabitants where I am is sortta spooky for them.. anyways anyone who comes into the road is noted and tracked most times by the few nerveous hippies further down my road.
Anyways if you are up this way get in touch if you can see yourself in this region...
There is plenty of rock and sand for building and plenty of millable trees (hard wood)
I wont be selling the place so what you put there can stay as long as you are alive or longer...
yea, your offer is on the short list for sure! i got an eMail from a
guy in NZ (North Island) who say's he'll meet me at the airport
and carry my bags..... i think that 28" makes 'em CrAzY!
i'll let you know when i'll be flyin' in so the tribe can prepare the
peace pipe.
You'll want to avoid Melbourne coz our climate just plain sucks - as an astronomer, seeing 4x more of that famous southern ocean slate grey, low-level drizzly stratocrapulus cloud than clear skies in any given year really ticks me off. Somewhere like Northwestern Vic is excellent due to the nearly constant clear weather and completely flat terrain for 100's of km in all directions, leading to steady seeing.
Congratulations!
i got an eMail from a
