Depressing future ahead

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #1 12-10-2011, 01:30 PM

Well, my life got turned upside down a few weeks ago, I'll spare you the details, but essentially now I have no choice but to move, and the direction I go will be toward Brisbane, because that's where I work. With that move, comes extra light pollution. I get enough as it is in Beachmere. I ask you, is it worth hanging on to my 8" dob? It's a big lug to carry around and probably the main reason I don't do anywhere near as much star gazing as I want to, but now, I'm guessing I wont be able to see much at all. I'll be doing my damndest to remain on the North side though.

What options do I have? (equipment or seeing wise)

MortonH · #2 12-10-2011, 01:59 PM

When I lived in a unit near the city (Sydney) I used my 8" Dob on a balcony that faced north-east, so I could get reasonable views of the planets when they were rising and also some brighter globulars (e.g. Omega Centauri, M4, etc). After a while I sold it and kept only a small ED refractor, but there were plenty of times when I wished I still had the Dob (which was a fraction of the price of the refractor).

Morton

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 12-10-2011, 02:29 PM

You poor thing....
Keep your dobbie though. Do you have a UHC filter? It really does help cut through the light pollution.
SEQAS holds Urban Observers do's twice a month at Bracken Ridge at the Barrett St Reserve. ( i used to ride my horse there many years ago)
http://www.seqas.org/
I think once you get together with a group of like mindeds, you'll start enjoying observing again.

kustard (Simon) · #4 12-10-2011, 02:35 PM

Keep it, you never know when your situation will change again. I had my 8" SCT in storage for about 8 years and I'm glad I kept it (even though I eventually sold it to upgrade to a 9.25" scope).

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #5 12-10-2011, 02:43 PM

Good points all, thanks for the morale boost

Maybe I just need to get an additional refractor (I like planets) that is a bit more portable, and definitely a UHC filter! (thanks jjjnettie!)

Sardukar (Tim) · #6 12-10-2011, 05:51 PM

Im in sydney and have an 8 inch dob, the light pollution is terrible so finding stuff is pretty hard (but a nice challenge). Im new, but still have managed to see m4, m7, 47 tuc, omega centuri and a bunch of other stuff (sometimes ill just tour the sky and randomly find stuff lol). The problem is that some nights the sky will be amazingly dark, but if theres any cloud or maybe alot of dust in the atmosphere it turns to crap.

So dont worry too much, you will still be able to see DSOs, however it will alot harder to see fine detail and you'll be really happy when you finally get a clear night.

shelltree (Shelley) · #7 12-10-2011, 09:28 PM

I live in Brissy and though I'm a little out from the city (Western suburbs), I am still able to find some nice goodies on a suburban street with a horrid bright street light right next to me (with a 10" dob). We even managed to find Uranus and NGC3918 (blue planetary)!

jenchris (Jennifer) · #8 12-10-2011, 11:26 PM

That's not much fun, Brisbane spreads light like a Buckshot tin shed

andrew2008 · #9 13-10-2011, 09:39 AM

Definitely keep it Trent. At the very least planets will still look great as should a lot of clusters.

As for LP it will vary suburb to suburb. I had my first 10" dob while living at Carindale and for a newbie i saw a heap of things - all messiers, saturn neb, helix neb was a challenge but i got it. Really taught me patience but you will definitely be a better observer for it. Now unfortunately at Upper Mt Gravatt and the LP is far worse. Nearly to the point its getting harder to be motivated as i only have a smaller refractor at home and it just doesn't see as much. On a good night at Carindale i could prob see about 1.5 mag dimmer than now. Both suburbs are about the same distance from the city.

And south side rules

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #10 13-10-2011, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew2008

And south side rules

Northside......

jenchris (Jennifer) · #11 13-10-2011, 10:25 AM

I live halfway between Gold Coast and Bris Vegas and provided the sky is clear of cloud, there's only minor domes over both the cities 45 k away!
I think getting over the hills to the Beaudesert side would be quite good- but I'm not selling up for that!

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #12 13-10-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Northside......

Yaaaaaay .. !! North Side Rules .

Flash .

jenchris (Jennifer) · #13 13-10-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Yaaaaaay .. !! North Side Rules

Only if you like Dengue fever, Maroochydore and endless pine plantations.