Good Dark Sky Site West of Ipswich ?

[Helmann (Brett)]

Does anyone know a good dark site west of Ipswich.
I am thinking around Fernvale, Lowood, etc.
Am really looking for a astro friendly farm or a secluded park.
I live in Ipswich and only wanna drive about 30 minutes tops.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Brett.

[steve000 (Steve)]

I do brett. My mums place.
if you were to come out you would need to be 100% self sufficient except maybe using the loo
her place is about 30mins west of ips down the warrego highway.
im often there weekends when its dark.

If you are interested im holding an astro camp for people from work, once i get to know you a little more id be happy to invite.

As the place is privately owned if we were to allow you to come out I would ask that you follow basic rules. no fire, not being a menace etc. mainly common sence.

[Suzy]

The SAS astro club has a monthly meet at a dark site in Layburne.
http://www.sas.org.au/

I've been to Fernvale observing - beautiful, incredibile black sky. I went into the fishing/camping grounds around that area - closer to Somerset Damn, I think. Can't remember what the camp ground is called, but if you know the area, you'll know it.

[Helmann (Brett)]

Would that be Leyburne that is out past Warwick???
That is a little farther than I would like to travel.
Thank you for the suggestion though.
Fernvale would be great but I don't know of any camp sites out there. Unless you mean the camp site at Wivenhoe dam?

What are peoples experiences like observing at camping sites???
I would imagine that lots of curious people with bright torches would kinda ruin it.

[Suzy]

Checked with hubby, and it was a camping spot at Atkinson's Damn.
Apologies for the confusion. We stayed closer to the entrance, so we didn't have any people or lights around us. It was very dark there anyway, even where people were camping, none of their light interfered with us.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Helmann

Would that be Leyburne that is out past Warwick???
That is a little farther than I would like to travel.
Thank you for the suggestion though.
Fernvale would be great but I don't know of any camp sites out there. Unless you mean the camp site at Wivenhoe dam?

What are peoples experiences like observing at camping sites???
I would imagine that lots of curious people with bright torches would kinda ruin it.

Hi Leyburne is not out past Warwick, it is a bout 150KMS from Ipswich or about one and a half hours drive from you, which for dark sky's and good company is not to far to travel and you could gain some valuable information at the same time

[Helmann (Brett)]

At this stage the good info would definately be worth it.

[RobF (Rob)]

You owe it to yourself to visit Ron's (astroron - at Cambroon) or Peter's (pyrmid - 10 Chain Hill) too sometime at new moon Hellman. Check out the Star Parties forum leading up to New Moon for what's happening at each site. You'll never strike 2 nicer hosts, and the rest of us hanger-ons can be tolerable most of the time.....

Peter is less than an hour from you, Ron about 1.75hrs drive.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by RobF

You owe it to yourself to visit Ron's (astroron - at Cambroon) or Peter's (pyrmid - 10 Chain Hill) too sometime at new moon Hellman. Check out the Star Parties forum leading up to New Moon for what's happening at each site. You'll never strike 2 nicer hosts, and the rest of us hanger-ons can be tolerable most of the time.....

Peter is less than an hour from you, Ron about 1.75hrs drive.

Thanks Rob I forgot to push my own barrow
Cheers

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by astroron

Thanks Rob I forgot to push my own barrow
Cheers

I thinx you need a public relations person to handle your star parties Mr Ron.

Just take note that there are rules at Star Parties, like not entering with your car head lights on and only use red light torches on the field, and be careful you don't interfere with imagers doing their jobs (tripping over leads, bright lights etc.). I think I covered it all . Apparently, last time, my red light was not red enough , that's to you Ron. But I've fixed it now with a brand new Skywatcher dual torch.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

I thinx you need a public relations person to handle your star parties Mr Ron.

Just take note that there are rules at Star Parties, like not entering with your car head lights on and only use red light torches on the field, and be careful you don't interfere with imagers doing their jobs (tripping over leads, bright lights etc.). I think I covered it all . Apparently, last time, my red light was not red enough , that's to you Ron. But I've fixed it now with a brand new Skywatcher dual torch.

Suzy,your torch was as bright as the Red traffic light on the corner of Ipswich Road
It's good to see you have a descent torch at last
Cheers

[that_guy (Tony)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

I thinx you need a public relations person to handle your star parties Mr Ron.

Just take note that there are rules at Star Parties, like not entering with your car head lights on

i remember when jjj, shell, terry and I arrived with the light blaring hehehehe

[Suzy]

Who knew red lights come in different shades . I thought I was pretty smart replacing my bulbs with red L.E.D.s .
But now that I have my "real" red light torch, I see there is a big difference- it's dark red (yet bright), compared to a pinky red that the L.E.D.s output.

[astroron (Ron)]

I thinx you need a public relations person to handle your star parties Mr Ron.

Suzy, you can always be my Public Relations officer to handle my Star Parties
Cheers