Another Johor recce trip

ian0138 · Post by **ian0138** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:32 pm

Took another joy ride to western side of Johor for another recce trip with Richard, Chris Yeo and Chris's gf.
This time, we hit the coaster area but seems too populated for unpolluted sky. Anyway the sky was very bad not until we were having dinner at Benut when the sky started to clear. Decide to take some blind turn here and there.....sort of got lost somewhere around Simpang Ringgam area when the sky look promising, so we decide to do a quick obb on a dirt track.
There are a little light pollution on the southern sky probably cause by a kampung nearby.
The area got a little misty at abt 11pm which we decide to call it a day

Sky look good at this area but still too far from Singapore to my liking, it is about 100km from the Johor side of the second link.

Next recce trip; Kulai and Tasik Linggiu, central Johor. Anyone?

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:57 pm

how about recce to terengganu? i heard from mr. aw the sky is much better than mersing.

Post by **acc** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:09 pm

Aiyo, the purpose of the recce trips are to find out 'good-enough' observing locations that are within a short drive to Singapore.

But maybe can organise 3D4N trips to P.Redang or Lang Tengah... Snorkelling in the day and star-gazing at nite...

cataclysm · Post by **cataclysm** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:33 pm

How is the sky at Desaru? Anyone been to there for star gazing?

Post by **Airconvent** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:34 am

seems the criteria of closer to singapore, good skies and safe location is still a dream...no wonder we bother to drive so far to mersing for our "fix" heh heh

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:55 am

P. Redang is very far and it takes like the whole day to travel there. Tioman would be better.

It would be good if a nice dark place that is near Singapore can be found.

river · Post by **river** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:52 am

The speed boat ride to P.Redang or Tioman can be a rough one for your equipment, you might want to fly in. Once you make your way there, there is a viewing tower on a hill near the marine park. Small visual setup is ideal.

If the Indonesian can improve their custom and security, some of its islands can be good ob site. Anyone went there recently?

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:04 pm

The 2nd recce trip is also fun and enjoyable. The 2nd ob site is much better than the 1st ob site as the skies are relatively dark and unaffected by light pollution. Unfortunately the sky transparency was not very good that night, though in 2 hours we still managed to observe many DSOs, eg. M4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 28, 44, 51, 57, 62, 68, 80, 104, omega centauri, jewel box, etc. We had to thank our lucky stars as we initially expected not to see a single star when we set off from Singapore, due to the bad weather.

Maybe we should recce somewhere there in the same area but a bit nearer to Singapore, for a good flat open ground. The idea is to make a quick getaway through the 2nd Link onto the NS highway to travel far but fast about 80-100 km for a dark site. This then can become a viable alternative to the Mersing site which is getting light-polluted and yet takes so long to get there.

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:57 pm

Maybe we should recce somewhere there in the same area but a bit nearer to Singapore, for a good flat open ground. The idea is to make a quick getaway through the 2nd Link onto the NS highway to travel far but fast about 80-100 km for a dark site.

According to the light pollution map (see Matthew's website), the pollution in western side of Malaysia is worse. I'm game for a trip to southern tip of Batam if anyone keen. Rlow and Wxg went there before.

chrisyeo · Post by **chrisyeo** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:04 pm

A (scary) photo of us using just our red lights...