Light pollution map of Johor and Singapore

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:34 am

Below is a detailed map showing light pollution in the area stretching from Johor to Singapore and on to Batam/Bintan.

I obtained it using Google Earth and added some place names, including Telok Sari, Mersing, Telok Mahkota, etc.

For those who would like to use this feature on Google Earth (which you can download from Google), turn on the layer at:
Gallery-->NASA-->Earth City Lights

Some quick observations:
Generally, it is a lot more light polluted along the west coast of Johor than the east coast.

Telok Sari is indeed a good site, but the poor thing is being encroached upon from the north and south as we already know.

In southern Johor, there is quite a dark area immediately south of Telok Mahkota (Jasons Bay). I hope to check it out one day as there also appears to be some open fields next to the road. It's I think just a 45 min drive from Kota Tinggi.

The only area along the North-South Highway that is dark is the area due south of Segamat.

Regarding the dark sky observing site at Telok Sari, I have measured the distance (using Google Earth's ruler feature) of the site to the Causeway as 127km, and the distance of the site to the northern light polluted suburbs of Johor Bahru as 110km.

Google Earth is wonderful!
(In addition, I have discovered that the Maps feature on the general Google website (http://maps.google.com) is also very good: it shows in great detail roads, terrain, and satellite imagery as well, but not light pollution.)

Post by **zong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:08 am

omg I'm blinded by the lights from Singapore!!

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:47 am

I just did a search on Google: "light pollution map of johor" and also "light pollution map of singapore", and this very forum page appears at the top. Indexed in less than 12 hours (it shows 3 hrs). Amazing! We're being trawled by Google everyday.

Another note: there is a slight typo in the map: "Simpang Penggam" should read "Simpang Renggam". Apologies to the residents there. I did try stargazing in that area a few years ago during a meteor shower, in a field about 5km west of Simpang Renggam. It was cloudy then but I could also tell that it is not at all a dark area. This is confirmed by the Google light pollution map.

One more point: we can see that the main light dome of Singapore extends for about 30km (see esp east and west of Singapore out to sea).

cataclysm · Post by **cataclysm** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:38 pm

Very good info! Gavin.

Post by **acc** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:43 pm

Wow great find Gavin. Hopefully the Jason's bay site turns out good!

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:05 pm

I have obbed before at the Jason Bay flat area more than 10 years ago. Currently we regularly go to a ob site at Sedili Besar (just north of Jason Bay) and we have been obbing there more than a half dozen times last year. Its only a 1-hr drive from JB checkpoint, very convenient for drivers, if you compared to the 3-hr drive to Telok Sari.

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:15 pm

rlow wrote:I have obbed before at the Jason Bay flat area more than 10 years ago. Currently we regularly go to a ob site at Sedili Besar (just north of Jason Bay) and we have been obbing there more than a half dozen times last year. Its only a 1-hr drive from JB checkpoint, very convenient for drivers, if you compared to the 3-hr drive to Telok Sari.

Hi Richard,

I've been quite keen to explore this region, esp since its much nearer to JB. I might want to go there this Sat.

Regarding the site near Sedili Besar which you mention, how are the conditions at this site, e.g. light pollution and obstructions, etc. How does it compare to Telok Sari and the Desaru area? Good to hear that you've found a suitable place! Is it at Sedili Besar itself, or some distance from it?

Is there a road bridge across the river at Sedili Besar to the northern side?

Here are satellite photos of the northern and sourthern sections of Telok Mahkota (Jason Bay). (Sedili Besar is I think at the south bank of the river near the river's mouth; the river Sungei Sedili Besar being at the northern end of the bay)

In particular, I would like to check out a site 5km south of Telok Mahkota as it looks promising.

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:24 am

Hi Gavin,

Regarding your query on the conditon at the Sedili Besar ob site: it is on a small flat high ground straddled between the road and cliff-edge, quite a scenic spot 30m above the rocky seashore. The road access is through a new long and majestic bridge across the wide river. The ob site has no lampost and minimal lights from houses, except for a red beacon light from com. tower, and a 30+ degrees light dome from Kota Tinggi in SW direction. There are occasional lights from passing cars which may disrupt night vision if you don't close your eyes. It is dark there, though maybe Telok Sari site may be slightly better. Quite windy at certain times. It is a private land which we have the owner's blessing to use it for observing. There is a resort nearby for those who want a more luxurious stay. Because it is only a 1-hr drive compared to 3-hrs drive to Telok Sari, it is convenient for me to ob at Sedili from 8pm to 12 midnight on a night with last quarter moon, apart from an all-nighter obbing on new moon nights.

Post by **Airconvent** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:11 am

Looking at Mersing it seems it is getting quite bad already.
Jason's Bay looks good and its much nearer but also much nearer to Singapore's sky glow too. Is it obvious at the site?
Generally its best if its not private property as the owner needs to be informed for impromptu trips.

meisters · Post by **meisters** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:48 pm

So are you going there tomorrow? How long would it take to drive there?