orly_andico wrote:I think it's still worth checking out... if the Milky Way is visible in DSLR images and isn't swamped by skyglow, this means it's still usable as an imaging location.
Yes it is definitely worth checking out. Not just Tanjong Beach, Palawan Beach may be good as well. I haven't got the chance to explore the entire stretch of the two beaches. Maybe you want to go there to take a look one of these days.
From what I can see, sky glow in the SE to SW direction is not that serious.
St John Island, Sister’s Island and landfill at Pulau Semakau at the SE-SW direction which produce little or some light pollution. There are also no ships anchored off Sentosa in the same direction unlike East Coast where plenty of ships anchored there. It is possible that sea off Sentosa is a shipping route whereby no anchorage is allowed.
For west, north and east direction, not so ideal. West - Light sources from the oil industries on Pulau Bukom. North & East - light glow due to floodlights from Sentosa Golf course and mainland Singapore. Assuming that lights at golf course are turned off after midnight, the North & East sky may be slightly better at later hours.
For widefield shots, I would say this is a good place for photographers who want to try out the Milky Way shots. Under clear skies and just 30 seconds exposure without tracking, you can get instant gratification on seeing the faint Milky Way on the DSLR LCD screen
For visual obs (maybe using bino), I think this will also be a nice place to do so when the sky is clear. I can see many many stars there. If you look at some of my photos, some stars are even visible less than 10 degree above the horizon.
For telescope / DSO imaging, my concerns are the strong winds blowing inland from the sea which may vibrate the telescope and the small beach sands which may accidentally go into the equipment. Maybe a sturdy tripod and careful handling of the equipment should be able to address these concerns. Perhaps if anyone explore the place in future, please drop a note here to let us know about your thoughts on the suitability of the site.
One good thing for those who drive, the admission charge to Sentosa is $2 after 5pm on weekdays & $3 after 5pm on weekends. Parking is only $1 per entry after 5pm. Cost wise it is not that expensive for drivers if go after 7pm. For this place, I just parked my car at Tanjong Beach carpark and walk 100m then can start shooting. If going by public transport, the only issue I foresee is how get out of Sentosa when the public services close shop. Probably need to call a cab after 11pm.
In terms of amenities, I think there are none at Tanjong Beach. Need to bring own food/drinks/chairs. But there is a nearby toilet just behind Tanjong Beach Club. Not so sure for Palawan Beach.
In terms of safety, I did not see any security guards or patrols going around during the two short nights I was there. Although I don’t foresee any problems with safety but it is always good to go with a friend. Once in a while, there will be some people walking by the beach so it is not entirely deserted place.
Here is a shot of the beach...how I wish I can unplugged the "decorative" lights on the trees. The lights on the left actually show up as beams of blue light in some of my photos
Hope these are useful info for all.
George