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Old 20-06-2021, 08:39 PM
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strongmanmike (Michael)
Highest Observatory in Oz

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Sometimes...dreams do come true...

Every now and then, life sends you curve balls, bad luck or plain'ol tough times and like all of us, I have had a few of these too ...but then, although seemingly not as equally , sometimes, just occasionally, life finds a way of dealing you a good hand and even your wildest dreams can come true...

Some of you will be aware that my wife an I have been searching for a suitable dark sky rural location to "live the dream" as it were..for FOUR YEARS!!! now...well?..after 1000's kms of travel, to some 150 or so open homes around the region, even as far as Bega, Young and Cowra, some near misses, out bids and pull-outs due to dodgy developers and (F'ING!!) real estate agents (all rather self interested, untrustworthy BS artists!)...seems we have fiiiiiinally hit the friggin Jackpot

I won't bore you with words here on IIS...if you are interested or intrigued, you can check out the royal flush dealt to us here:

100acre Eagleview Australia's Highest Observatory (coming soon) just scroll down for pictures and info and make sure you check out the 360 panorama, at almost 5000ft, right at the bottom!

and, if you are still interested, some more pictures and info are in the album here:

Album with more photos HERE

We took possession on 25 May and I for one still haven't come down...still floating in serious disbelief...

My fourth observatory build and perched up at around 1450m ASL, with views out to 82km, it will be the highest in Australia...very cool.... Preliminary naked eye observations have already clearly revealed dark, rock steady skies, with very little to no discernible twinkling of stars, right down to the horizon. A quick peruse of the Crux area, with my son, while strolling around the 100acres at night, with single malt whisky in hand, revealed mag 6.6 stars naked eye, easy!..I am sure more careful site testing will go lower...

Every weekend is an adventure now....

Flabbergasted, stunned, over the Moon, happy as Larry, pig in mud, kid in a toy shop Mike
Attached Thumbnails
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Click for full-size image (Eagleviewfromtheair3dome2title2.jpg)
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Click for full-size image (Shooting the sunset at 1440m.jpg)
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Click for full-size image (Above the fog above the cloud2.jpg)
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Click for full-size image (Snow at Eagleview 10 June 2021.jpg)
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Click for full-size image (TinderrySouth-Seth Lazar SQM.jpg)
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Click for full-size image (Above the clouds.jpg)
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Click for full-size image (The View to end all views.jpg)
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Last edited by strongmanmike; 02-07-2021 at 10:00 PM.
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  #2  
Old 20-06-2021, 08:43 PM
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Camelopardalis (Dunk)
Drifting from the pole

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Looks awesome Mike mucho congrats!
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Old 20-06-2021, 08:45 PM
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gregbradley
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Congrats Mike.

Looking forward to seeing the superb images you'll take.

Greg.
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Old 20-06-2021, 08:49 PM
Hans Tucker (Hans)
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So ... considerably bigger observatory in the planning stage .. bigger scope than the current 12" to take advantage of the perfect location?
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Old 20-06-2021, 08:50 PM
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Retrograde (Pete)
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Congratulations Mike - looks and sounds awesome!

Wishing you many happy photons.
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Old 20-06-2021, 09:11 PM
DarkArts
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That looks amazing. Congratulations.

Will this be the "home away from home" or your permanent residence?
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Old 20-06-2021, 09:27 PM
jahnpahwa (JP)
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Ah!! I remember this being listed and thought it was ace. Thats excellent news mate! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with out there
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Old 20-06-2021, 09:37 PM
AdamJL
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sooooo... will you be renting this awesome space out?
congratulations!!!
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Old 20-06-2021, 10:27 PM
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alpal
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Hi Mike,
that's fantastic news.
I hope Peter Ward twists your arm to put his Alluna there.


cheers
Allan
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  #10  
Old 21-06-2021, 12:03 AM
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wavelandscott (Scott)
Plays well with others!

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Looks great! Congratulations.
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  #11  
Old 21-06-2021, 05:25 AM
Alchemy (Clive)
Quietly watching

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Aside from astronomy, what a beautiful place to live, away from the frenzy and madness of the city, no need for masks up there… unless it’s snowing 😁
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  #12  
Old 21-06-2021, 06:19 AM
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xelasnave
Gravity does not Suck

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I am so happy for you Mike..living on a decent bit of land is the best and free of light pollution a treasure.

I look forward to following the rest of your story as it unfolds.
Alex
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Old 21-06-2021, 07:21 AM
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vlazg (George)
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What a spot, congratulations.. Full of envy , except for how COLD 🥶 it will be..
Looking forward to more stunning images
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  #14  
Old 21-06-2021, 07:26 AM
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h0ughy (David)
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Well words are not enough, but simply congratulations from the doghouse elevation 2m and bortle 7 skies with views of industry and the swamp

Last edited by h0ughy; 21-06-2021 at 03:27 PM.
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Old 21-06-2021, 07:34 AM
N1 (Mirko)
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Well done Mike. A bit of a commute maybe but worth it for sure
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  #16  
Old 21-06-2021, 07:53 AM
JA
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Excellent Mike & Conratulations
That Bortle 2 rating you mentioned and seen on the the website images may as well be Bortle 1 as your reading of about 178 µcd/m^2 is sooo close to perfect sky darkness of ~171 µcd/m^2 it doesn't matter
(Says me in the Melbourne suburbs at 3130 µcd/m^2)
The image of you standing above that cloud layer is very VERY cool and one many astronomers would relish

Best
JA

Last edited by JA; 21-06-2021 at 09:31 AM.
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  #17  
Old 21-06-2021, 09:06 AM
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rustigsmed (Russell)
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congratulations Mike fantastic news. Looking forward to the images you produce from out there!
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Old 21-06-2021, 10:41 AM
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anj026
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Wow, that is higher than the highest peak in WA! Looks fantastic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meharry
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  #19  
Old 21-06-2021, 11:15 AM
gts055 (Mark)
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Thumbs up

Living the great escape
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  #20  
Old 21-06-2021, 11:44 AM
gary
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Hi Mike,

I have been fortunate enough to see a lot of the world, so firstly, let me
say, even if you had never owned a telescope in your life, that is one helluva
fantastic place to live. Sure, you could go and buy an island, but then you
would be at sea level, which brings me to my second point. As far as
observing spots in Australia, that is as good as it gets.

And let me think. Is Mike the type of guy who will move there and never
bother observing? No, we know you are going to keep pushing the limits
with all the passion, dedication and skill you have been demonstrating
for many years. I can't think of a more deserving person to occupy this
high ground. Our heartfelt congratulations and we wish you and your wife
a long and happy life at your new home.
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