Perth WA - Page 2

MrB (Simon) · #21 12-01-2009, 10:58 PM

What about out Brookton/Pingelly way?

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #22 14-01-2009, 09:02 PM

dunno im only reasonably new to perth, the place that i was thinking about is basically all open fields, just thinking. I guess we have to kind of settle on a place within the next month or so.

Vartigy · #23 15-01-2009, 12:22 PM

lol, if you're gonna travel far, may as well come to Goldfields!
Also, I know of plenty of decent camp sites, secluded, dark, and perfect for small groups, that are all around the Collie, Donnybrook, Capel regions. Can recommend a few sites if you're really stuck. But most of those sites are near water courses. So that may introduce mozzie dramas.

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #24 15-01-2009, 12:36 PM

I guess the problem is powering things and what not, some people don't have the facilitys to run in the field and especially for 2- 3 days, you would need some serious a-h capacity to run a full set up unless you had some PV cells for the day time! But definately we'll keep that in mind. (even if we have to run a gen set, hire a small one for the weekend shouldn't be too much of a hassel.

suma126 (Shane) · #25 15-01-2009, 02:48 PM

swac are going to dardaup on the long weekend if intressed can find more details for you there is power site there .there is about 4-10 people going .

suma126 (Shane) · #26 15-01-2009, 05:00 PM

sorry i meant dardarnup in the south west

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #27 15-01-2009, 05:03 PM

ive never heard of your club before :S hehehe, could be a good idea, what merrits does your site have? apart from power.

beren · #28 16-01-2009, 12:11 AM

Timing is difficult for me but it would be great to have/attend a local WA meet up

My favourite spot is just east of Mundaring Weir, not bad skies for being reasonably close to the city. Being a water catchment area gates and obstacles cover some of the prominent gravel roads accessing the area so provides some deterrent to unsavoury types. Further east you go the countryside becomes more open woodland with plenty of spots

Not familiar with wheatbelt destinations but kokerbin rock seems to be popular. Further afield I was going to inquire here http://www.stirlingrange.com.au/home.html

rogerg (Roger) · #29 16-01-2009, 12:39 AM

Stuart, watch your back while you're out there 'eh

I know of some pig hunters who think nothing of those gates

... in fact I ever know an astronomer who's come fact to face with them, in their cur, with guns, after hearing them and their shots coming.

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #30 16-01-2009, 09:38 AM

ahh yes pig hunters.. they are a little bit. what should i say it MAD, when i lived out on stations you would go for a little drive every now and then. we confiscated some good quad bikes and what not

It is scary though to not know if they are around, bullets can go a long way. eeek.

Had a look at that stirling ranges, would be a great place, because we have to think about its not just a over night trip there for we need things to do! apart from process images and talk maby even have workshops for people new into the fold.? im not sure.

Where ever it is ide like to do either a 2 or 3 night event, something "worthy" so to speak. Lots to do to keep people entertained.

Could people give me a estimate on how much they are willing to travel to great skies and what else they would like to do. I belive this will be the biggest weighting factor to where we hold this thing. Once we get a idea of this i can start looking around to see what is avalible so we can have power onsite or other amenities.

Currently down around Albany/esperance is getting some good response.

Let me know

rogerg (Roger) · #31 16-01-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

Could people give me a estimate on how much they are willing to travel to great skies and what else they would like to do. I belive this will be the biggest weighting factor to where we hold this thing. Once we get a idea of this i can start looking around to see what is avalible so we can have power onsite or other amenities.

To give you an idea, in ASWA:

About 30-50 people turn up to the Astro Camps twice a year which are 2 hours drive from Perth. 2/3rds people spend 2 nights out.

When I organise SDSO trips each month (or two) to locations about 2 hours drive from Perth I don't have a problem getting 5-10 people, occasionally more. People almost always only want to spend one night out, usually come late and leave early.

When I organise SDSO trips to locations about 4 hours drive from Perth I get 5-10 people along, usually for 3 nights. But, I know that I can't do these longer, more distant trips more than once maybe twice a year, as people simply can't give up that much time and travel to astronomy often.

I personally probably wouldn't travel as far as Albany/Esperance for a dark sky astronomy trip. Why? It's a long way for no or limited extra gain and I would want to do other activities while there but it's extremely hard to do that when sleep deprived or with a car or camp site full of expensive astro gear. I've tried mixing astronomy and a 2 week holiday in the past and it really really hasn't worked.

Roger.

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #32 16-01-2009, 12:00 PM

Thanks for that Roger.

Well then its a 2 hour event, kids and non obsessed astronomy folk need not apply

hehehe im with you i wouldn't give a rats about going for 2 -3 days at a time and not leave the site,

means that you can leave your telescope fully aligned, spend a good few hours sorting it out and then leave it.! put the scope in a park position if your really keen, but apart from that its all good. Now i just need a little bit more weight to balance out my scope and im a camper! might go and get me a 10kg weight! easy to work with then!

beren · #33 16-01-2009, 10:27 PM

thanks Roger, agree do worry about being close to shooters but my fav spots are not to far from the Calm/Ranger offices at the Weir so that may act as a deterrent. Plus the area is now designated as a national park and is generally fairly quiet.

stevejack (Steve) · #34 22-01-2009, 05:08 PM

Speaking of being too close to shooters, I'm heading out to combine clay shooting with DSO viewing at my dark sky site this weekend

I went last month (just after dark of the moon) and ran an extension cord out into an open field. Unfortunately there was a dust storm blowing (my laptop nearly blew off the table!) but we managed to see a few objects before giving up.
Hopefully this weekend is better!

stevejack (Steve) · #35 27-01-2009, 01:46 AM

On my way back yesterday I was looking for public-access sites not too far from Perth that could be used for observing sessions when you just want to pack the scope and go for a drive. I came back along Brookton Hwy and there were 3-4 good roadside truckstops (The blue "P" signs) which were located on the top of hills with very little or no obstruction from trees/vegetation with very dark skies. The first useable site was about 160km from Perth though.

funnily enough, it's also at 170km from Perth when going along a differnt route through York/Quarading that you run into a major salt lake (google maps coordinates -32.062701, 117.430651). Not sure if the land is owned by a farmer? (he would probably sell it to us for $20 if it is!). No trees even at the roadside - it is close to the lights of quarading though.

Anyway, thats about all I can offer - I'm sure there are sites closer to Perth but there's certainly a few areas with very dark skies that we can get to if you feel the urge to drive.