n00b question re good place to get to by train from Sydney for night viewing

[Magnum]

Hi,

Just joined, live near centre of Sydney, and would like to know some nice dark spots that are reasonable to get to (and back again!) by train from Central. Is it best to head out west to the Blue Mountains, or is there somewhere closer?

Also, is there some kind of weather report or service that will tell you if a night's viewing will be good? I can look at a radar map like www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR714.loop.shtml, but it isn't showing much clouds right now even though it's quite hazy tonight.

Cheers!

[noeyedeer (Matt)]

welcome Magnum, the radar image is for rainfall, not cloud cover. the best way to find clear nights is using synopsis charts and hoping the big H is over head or close by with no fronts. satellite images are good also for predicting upcoming clear nights.

as for dark skies near Sydney there is plenty of threads about this, but I'm sure people around the area will help you
clear skies,
matt

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

G'day Magnum,

to IIS.

What you are asking for is a dark site to view the sky. Trains will get you North, South and West. It's just a matter of how far.

The Blue Mountains is a great place. But not tonight! The best time is when the Moon is not visible in the sky. If you already knew this, my apology.

Incase you didn't, the best all night period is during the New Moon phase. At this time there a several places around town where you can view the sky with fellow amateur astronomers, and in safety.

In the Blue Mountains, we get together at Katoomba Airfield during the New Moon phase. You will need to get to the Airfield from Medlow Bath train station (next station west from Katoomba), the Airfield is about 4km from the station. Details of this get-together can be found in the Star Parties forum.

If the Airfield isn't viable for you, another option in the Blue Mountains is in Leura. Leura Golf Club is a bit of a hike from the Leura station, but there are very few bright lights glaring down in it. I've taken a scope there a couple of years ago.

The one thing with all train stations is they are all surrounded by bright lights. The trick is to find a dark enough place that is also safe. For this reason, if you don't go to a formal or informal astro gathering, make sure to go with at least one mate.

Mental.

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

If you mean to alight from the train, walk a short distance and observe, I would suggest Yerrinbool in the Southern Highlands. About 55m from Campbelltown or around 2h from Central, it would have to be the quietest and darkest village I know of. You would have to plan well and not miss the last train back to Sydney.

How about just posting up that you wish to observe, willing to travel and then see if you get a response from someone willing to drive with you to a dark site?

[rogerco (Roger)]

If you don't mind the occasional train going past you could consider Linden Station. You will need to tell the guard to stop there and wave a lantern to get back on (no I thing you ring Lawson from the phone on the platform). Linden is not an active station so there is nobody there. Its dark by mid mountains standards, and you don't have to walk anywahere. BUT it is dangerous in that trains don't expect there to be anybody there so go past very fast.

As others have said most of the station in the Blue Mountains have houses around them. There is also the road works that have temporarily removed some nearby parks from use.

[Wavytone]

Hi Magnum,

It's a nice question but I'm afraid you're doomed to be disappointed for the simple reason that stations are built in the middle of towns which means lots of streetlights spoiling the night sky, unless you have some means of transport that will carry you a few km from/to a station - safely in the dark. Linden is one possibility but its not what i call dark there.

The alternative is to take a mountain bike with you - with a light as you'll need it. If you can manage that this opens a number of interesting possibilities:

a) Leura, the park at Olympian Parade near Gordon Falls (its only 20 minutes walk from the station, I have done it a couple of times). Also Leura Oval is not lit and also is quite dark.

b) Katoomba, along Cliff drive there are a couple of fine lookouts notably Cahill's lookout which will give an exceptional view of the night sky (I have used a scope there a few times).

c) Blackheath, which has a couple of fairly dark parks in the town. Govetts Leap is OK, and Evans Lookout is excellent but i think its too far even for a cyclist.

Lastly, around midsummer the nights are short and it can be reasonably temperate all night; it is possible to arrive in the evening, find a nice spot and stay the the night looking up, then head home in the dawn.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Depending where you are in the city you're better off going south or north rather than west.

[Wavytone]

Totally disagree, Marc; its too built-up along the coast, no chance of escaping light pollution. I've tried most of the back roads from Newcastle to the 'Gong.

Correction. Magnum you could try Stanwell Park, its just south of Royal National Park and far enough from Wollongong to give an interesting night sky, though I wouldn't rate it as good as the upper Blue Mountains. It's a steep 30 minute walk from the station down to where the park is located, do-able. You might have to walk out onto the beach as the area is floodlit, including the park itself.

[Magnum]

Thanks very much for all your replies guys.

I stand corrected about the type of weather map I linked to, I'm used to caring only whether it's raining . This one is much better for my purposes: http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/4day_col.shtml

I like the idea of Linden station, there's an observatory nearby and people actually meet there for a bit of . I don't think you need to tell the guard anymore if you want to get off, it doesn't say anything about that on sydneytrains.info, but I shall keep it in mind and double-check.

I'll let you know how I go.