Anyone in Brisbane

[GPC (Glenn)]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone out there who lives in Brisbane would be able to share any info on where some good sites are to go and set up to have a look around the night sky? I understand that in close to cities is not particularly good for observing, but if anyone knows of some sites not too far out of town i would be keen to hear where they are.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Rougly where are you Glenn?

[GPC (Glenn)]

I am on the north side.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Samford Valley may be a good bet then. Mag 5.5 skies on a good night and there are plenty of parks and reserves to use. The flatter and more well tended they are, the more chance you will get traffic and streetlight issues, but you may wish to have a look at Undambi Rotary Reserve (Mt O'Reilly Road) and Westbourne Park (Cnr Cumberland Rd & Westbourne Drive). The second is probably the best bet due to less traffic, but there is a nice hardstanding (basketball hoop) at Undambi!

[mangrovedutch (Dutch)]

G'day mate, I'm on the South side. It might be worth looking for an Astronomy club nearby. I joined the S.A.S. (on the southside), and went to their meeting yesterday and walked out with a wealth of knowledge. Have a look in the Our Community section, there might be something nearby.

Regards, Dutch

[keni (Ken)]

Hi Glenn,
Welcome to IIS from another newbie.
I'm like you still feeling my way around and can thoroughly recommend going to one of the Astronomy Club's public viewing nights.
As luck would have it SEQAS are having one of their monthly nights tonight at Bracken Ridge.
Full details can be found on their Web Site http://www.seqas.org/
under the Urban Observing link.
The other northside club is BAS http://www.bas.asn.au/
They hold regular public viewing nights too.
Both clubs are very helpful and able to answer all your questions.

Hope that helps,
Ken.

PS Jonathon thanks for those Samford sites.
I'm not far from there so will have to check them out.

[GPC (Glenn)]

Thanks for the info Ken, if i wasnt busy tonight i would have loved to drop down there. I will make sure i am free for next months! and Jonathan thanks for those areas to go check out! When we get a clear night i will go and check them out, as it happens i am within short distance of those areas aswell!

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

I'm a Samford resident, so if the sky ever clears up, we should have a get together

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Dutch - I was at the SAS yesterday, did I meet you?
I'm the tall woman with a white SAS shirt on?
Were you with your missus?
Sky was pretty good this evening

[mangrovedutch (Dutch)]

Yep, that was me.

Regards Dutch