Short observation trip to Batu Layar 20 Mar to 21 Mar 2004

Post by **acc** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 11:38 pm

The observation site looks juz like the one in Mersing!

Post by **Airconvent** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 1:09 am

rlow wrote:Hi rich 1

there were a lot of deepsky objects to see then around Sagittarius (and areas thereafter) at that time but the clouds rolled in and covered the whole sky until dawn so we did not get a chance to see many deepsky objects, including prominent targets such as M17, M18, M55, M11, M27 etc.

The site is flat and grassy, with only two sparse trees slightly blocking the SE horizon. The taxi is able to drop us and our equipment exactly at the 'doorstep' of our observation site. I think the overall trip is about 2 hours, probably shorter than the Mersing trip, and there is no potential heavy traffic or traffic jams or long queue for custom checks to contend with.

The wind condition is similar to Mersing and therefore it can be dealt with in a similar way. Though I have been to Batu Layar at least four times before, I cannot really comment if the wind is seasonal or all-year-round.

We don't have a map of that area but I can show you a sketch the next time we meet. I did not take any panoramic photos, as it wasn't anything spectacular... I wonder if Weixing did take any?

regards
rlow

hi rich 2,
just some comments :
1. Looks pretty remote. After the taxi left, how did you 2 go back??
2. I noticed a van in Weixing's pic...does this mean there are other people there...
3. Also noted that there is no natural barrier to the sea as compared with Mersing which means fine sea spray could reach your optics?
4. The trip may be 2 hrs but its not accessible by car (need to take boat) which means what you can get there is what you can carry...

rich

Post by **weixing** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 1:37 am

Hi,
My answer to your comments:
1) We ask the taxis to come and pick us up next day morning.
2) Yes, we got company. One family is having camping on that day.
3) The sea is around 20 to 30 meter away and the wind and the sea are not so strong, so I don't think the sea spray will reach us.
4) Yes. We take boat at changi and then take a taxis to the site. Anyway, I manage to take my Sky-Watcher 150 F5 Newtonian with Vixen GP mount there without much problems...

Anyway, Richard Low and I plan to went there again next month (April 2004) and may be try another site... hope that more people can join us even they don't bring their scope(ha ha... then they can help me carry my stuff..

)

Have a nice day.

PS: I think I spend less than S$60 for the whole trip.

harlequin2902 · Post by **harlequin2902** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 2:10 am

Wow, planning another trip huh ? :-) if its anytime before Apr 10, I would be interested in joining. For me, this will be a nice prelude to 'the big one' this May :-D

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 3:50 pm

Talking about the limits of carrying equipment there, I have to lift my hat off to Weixing, as it was actually quite amazing that Weixing could carry and endure all his stuff (GP mount/counterweights/accessories in his haversack, OTA/accessories in a duffel bag, and Vixen tripod with an Optech sling) all by himself, taking two buses, a bumboat and taxi rides to that place!! NS training must have conditioned him extremely well!

Though I only brought along a Megrez 80SD in the last trip, on previous trips I did bring there a C8/fork mount in a haversack and wedgepod on my shoulders. So what you can bring there depends on how you pack and carry the equipment, and your physical/mental strength and endurance.