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Welcome to Southern Galactic  |
An International Astronomy Community.
A global membership of professional and advanced astronomers, scientists, astrophotographers and science writers.
Southern Galactic Site Operations
Southern Galactic Telescope Hosting Australia is located in the highlands of Central Victoria. Our location is under the full administrative control of Southern Galactic Telescope Hosting Services and we offer our users the best value site within the most superior facilities available in Australia.
Southern Galactic Site 1 / Cobaw Plateau
Site Coordinates
Latitude: 37°12'46.51"S
Longitude: 144°37'41.03"E
Elevation: 610 Meters
Climate Data
Rainfall: 680mm (annum)
Temp Ranges:-2 to 40° C
Mag Deviation: 11.133°
Cobaw Plateau Weather Stats.
Main Building Positions
Pier 1 - Taken.
Pier 2 - Taken.
Pier 3 - Taken.
Pier 4 - Available.
Pier 5 - Taken.
Pier 6 - Available.
Pier 7 - Available.
Pier 8 - Available.
Pier 9 - Taken.
Outside Roll Off Positions. Now Taking Orders.
Pod 1 - Taken.
Pod 2 - Taken.
Pod 3 - Available.
Pod 4 - Available.
Pod 5 - Available.
Pod 6 - Available.
Pod 7 - Available.
Pod 8 - Available.
Southern Galactic Telescope Hosting Australia Head Office is located within the predominantly rural based Macedon Ranges Shire and is surrounded by large land holdings of 500 hectares or more. The area is also recognized as an important water recharge resource and is protected from vegetation removal, mineral exploration and extraction as well as any further residential development on sites of less than 40 hectares in area. Being on the northern face of the Great Dividing Range, the more stable and dryer weather patterns provide a better quality sky with far less light pollution, atmospheric aberration and particulate air matter as would normally be encountered further to the south. Further north, large rural regional cities such as Bendigo, Castlemaine, Heathcote, Nagambie and Shepparton and Ballarat create light pollution problems for astronomers seeking dark skies as they head towards central or western Victoria. This is not the case at Site 1 because of its unique location and topographical locality.
For an overlay map of Southern galactics Site 1 location showing Light Pollution Levels and Index:
See our Light Pollution Index page.
Facilities
Although the Southern Galactic Victorian Site is not generally open to the public, the facility does conduct 'Special Workshops' and 'Public Open Weekends' throughout the year. Site 2 is accessable to service staff only however special gatherings and activities are run at certain times of the year by Arkaroola staff. See their website for further details.
Southern Galactic Open Public events are usually announced several months in advance and posted in the Southern Ggalactic Forum under the Macedon Ranges Observatory / Events Section. Visitors must provide advance notification if they are intending to visit the facility outside of these times and will need to sign in before entering the site.
ALL VISITORS SHOULD ARRIVE BEFORE SUNSET if attending an Open Event or Workshop. Please remember to keep speed limits at walking pace only when arriving and to TURN OFF YOUR HEADLIGHTS after sunset. RED COLORED Lighting is mandatory after sunset so as not to affect the night vision of other visitors and astronomers. Once you arrive at the site, you will be shown where to park your vehicle. An introductionary tour of the facilities will follow to help you familiarize yourself with the entire site in case it is your first visit. Authorised astronomers using the main observatory facility must sign in with the Site Director before entering the building.
Astronomers with their own telescopes and equipment using observing fields and Telescope Pads may commence setting up at this time.
Directions
Take the Calder Freeway from Melbourne and take the Heathcote exit on the second left Kyneton Off-Ramp. At the roundabout, turn right along the Redesdale/Heathcote Rd. Once you cross over the Freeway, you'll see Pipers Creek Rd. on your right. Turn right and follow Pipers Creek Rd. Turn left onto the Kyneton-Baynton Rd. Follow this road for 12 Kms and you'll see Prendergasts Lane on your right. Turn right then do a left turn at the roadside letterboxes and continue up along Prendergasts Lane. Follow this road for 3.5 kms till you see Perc-Boyers Lane on your right. Turn right and Southern galactic Site 1 will be on your right hand side. The entrance is signed. (PLEASE NOTE: Although this road is well made and suitable for all vehicles all year round, this is a steep winding gravel road with numerous 'blind spots', tight corners, fallen debris, kangaroos and other hazards.) Please take care while driving.
If you require a MAP to help you, a PDF map showing the entire area may be down-loaded by clicking on the links below. You will require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the downloaded map. If you don't have the program on your computer, it may be downloaded for free by clicking on the provided link also. For those that have Google Earth, a KMZ link is also provided to show the MRO Location.
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All times are GMT. The time now is 07:33 AM.
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