Scope spots

[martyn01 (Lane)]

Hey all been using google maps to try and find a close place in Sydney to go out at night and set up a scope, looking for dark place but with in a 30 min drive found this place and was wondering if anyone had been around there before

[pluto (Hugh)]

Where in Sydney are you?
There's an awesome helipad clearing in the Royal National Park just past Sutherland. Takes me an hour from the east. I'll post a map link when I get home.

[martyn01 (Lane)]

i live in west ryde

[Wavytone]

Hi Martyn,

By all means go check it out but I suspect that site might be locked out after sunset. You could possibly contact the ranger to arrange access, it has been done before.

However there is an easier solution - turn up at the Northern Sydney Astro Society's observing nights at North Turramurra Golf Course, check their website to confirm whether it's on of off (weather) before leaving home.

Having tried it 2 night ago for the first time I can confirm it is about as good as it gets, short of going to the Blue Mountains. You can just see the Milky Way. Limiting visual magnitude is about 3.5-4. Altitude is 181 metres, the seeing can be quite good and it's in a car park, well off Bobbin Head rd so lights aren't a problem. Best of all you'll have some like minded company and no hoons to bother you.

[martyn01 (Lane)]

Yeah thx for that did not even think about that I was thinking about pulling into the big white spot off the road, do you know where the gate is how far up the road it is really want to go out there on the 18 as I got the night off

[Wavytone]

Martyn go take a look in daylight. I just had a good look on Google Earth. Even if Ku Ring Gai Rd is open I'm fairly sure you won't be able to drive to that white clearing as most side roads are blocked off to stop the yobbos going bush in 4WD's.

The golf course site is also locked with a gate after dark, the NSAS arranges access on Friday nights, so not open on the 18th.

The alternative is to find a park or oval at a high location that is reasonably free from lighting, and where you can use the scope close to where you park, which suggests spending an evening driving to find out. Decent candidates are easily spotted on Google Maps.

There is a good one like this near my home - Killara oval, parking on Rosebery Rd. From memory there are two good ovals at Berowra Waters and Berowra Heights, though its a long time since I tried them and roaming dogs can be an issue if you are there alone.