[graham.d]

It's 60 to 70 miles wide where I was. Yes, an hour's drive should get you away far enough. The main problem in the UK is finding places an hour away from any conurbation, certainly in the south east. But if you get to Scotland, the lake district, Wales, Cornwall etc. it's OK, except that then you often get b*ggered by the weather.

[Foolosophy]

It's 60 to 70 miles wide where I was. Yes, an hour's drive should get you away far enough. The main problem in the UK is finding places an hour away from any conurbation, certainly in the south east. But if you get to Scotland, the lake district, Wales, Cornwall etc. it's OK, except that then you often get b*ggered by the weather.

I can understand that - Australia supports about 22 million people and is a very large continent. Its still possible to keep driving here and eventually you can pitch a tent without worrying about paying anyone (although techinically a cheque to the Royal family should be sent. Apparently when the British invaded this land over 200 years ago and commenced a program of extermination and genocide, they had the temerity to simultaneously label this land vacant or terra nallus. Aboriginal people where officially recognised in about 1967 by the ASutralian parliament and legal system. Before that time technically an Aboriginal person was lumped into the same category as fauna - a plant, a mouse, a spider - maybe less. The only indigineous people anywhere in the world today not to have access to treaty coonditions and protection.)

This little babe is like laying beside a warm fire with luscious company and quality single malted whisley in hand

[graham.d]

Yes, it's amazing that no treaty has been agreed despite it being debated for some decades now. I don't think the majority of Australians see any advantage to them, though of course that isn't the point. I think Canada makes a big effort now and one can sense a national guilt about what happened in past times. Though it will never be enough, and maybe cannot be, because you can never really undo the past. The moral concepts we have today are not wholly aligned with those of people in past times so it is also probably not right to punish the people today for the attitudes of their ancestors. Nonetheless a compromise should be found because, as the phrase goes, delay is the cruellest for of denial.

Hey, that's a hoopy reflector!!

[Foolosophy]

Hey, that's a hoopy reflector!!

And resonably affordable for the basic set up

What costs plenty of dollars are accesories - lenses, digital cameras, accurate mounts, software etc.

These items can cost more than the initial outlay of the telescope.

A Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is fantastic for general photography and is portable and fairly easy to set up and align

[syhprum (OP)]

All I need now is an apartment is Brisbane and dispensation to live in our royal highness,s oversees land and my trusty BMW then maybe I could buy a telescope and get to see some stars.

[Foolosophy]

All I need now is an apartment is Brisbane and dispensation to live in our royal highness,s oversees land and my trusty BMW then maybe I could buy a telescope and get to see some stars.

...if its something you wish to do then it shoudlnt be a problem (about $5,000 will give you an excellent set up to take long exposures)

A friend of mine simply joined an Astronomical society or club and was able to go on night tours and take photographs and see lots of astronomical bodies and phenomena

[imatfaal]

Much as I would love to try the antipodean option - I can highly recommend the aegean alternative.  Lots of the small greek islands turn off the power from 1am till 4am.  And an ouzo or tsipouro help keep out any chill.

[graham.d]

The best night sky view I have ever seen is from one of the islands of Croatia. Only two buildings on it both of which served booze and food.

[Foolosophy]

Much as I would love to try the antipodean option - I can highly recommend the aegean alternative.  Lots of the small greek islands turn off the power from 1am till 4am.  And an ouzo or tsipouro help keep out any chill.

Being of Hellenic extraction myself and having visited most of Greece, I tend to agree with you

Nothing like the Πατρηδα hey?

[imatfaal]

Eftyhisméno to Néo Étos!

[Foolosophy]

Eftyhisméno to Néo Étos!

Nai. ke edo stin Australia i zestasia ehoume i plimires