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Astronomy in Hong Kong

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  1. #1

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    Astronomy in Hong Kong

    Hello all

    I've always wanted to take up astronomy and having bought good binoculars in the past, am now considering buying a telescope.

    I've just moved to HK and am therefore wondering (a) where to buy a good telescope and probably more importantly....(b) is it worth it here, with all the ambient city light etc? I live in Wan Chai but happy to travel (a bit) - does anyone know of any astronomy groups here?

    Maybe I'm kidding myself and it's a non-starter, but grateful for any views...

    Thanks


  2. #2

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    Quote Originally Posted by Aces_High:
    is it worth it here, with all the ambient city light etc?
    Yes, you'll need to get away from the light pollution -- head out to places like Sai Kung.

    香港夜空光度監測網絡 Hong Kong Night Sky Brightness Monitoring Network (NSN)

    Hong Kong Space Museum Astropark

    https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Hong+Kong+startrails

    Quote Originally Posted by Aces_High:
    does anyone know of any astronomy groups here?
    Here's one local group: https://www.hkas.org.hk/

    Quote Originally Posted by Aces_High:
    where to buy a good telescope
    Many of the camera shops in Mong Kok / Sham Shui Po should sell telescopes.
    greenmark, Aces_High and shri like this.

  3. #3

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    Not the smartest, most up-to-date website, but they specialise in telescopes and the like, and they have good knowledge.

    巨眼天文儀器社 | Grand Eye Scientific Company

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  4. #4

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    Dont just buy andy telescope. Most of the camera stores have cheapy shitty toy telescopes. If you want something decent and bit better than binoculars then go for a meade etx series with at least a 90 cm aperture. Also celestron nexus series do similar and computer guided like the etx. How ever they arent cheap. Been there done it. I would try a decent trippd for your binoculars to get rid of the shakes then learn your way around the sky.
    there is an astropark in sai kung country park but its at sea level which is the worst place for quality of sky, pollution or not. There are some better dark sites in Lantau and I have seen the milky way and several messier objects from the upper parts of the south lantau country trail.
    Good luck and drop me a line if you want more info.

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  5. #5

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    Wow - thanks so much everyone, this is hugely helpful. Sounds like I need to take some long drives at night (!). Does anyone know if there are good viewing spots on the south side of the Island? I'm still learning about HK but the couple of times I've been round that side, the skies seemed pleasingly dark(er). No doubt it's all relative...

    if I take the plunge I guess I'd only be looking for a decent 'scope. Going cheap would give such poor results that disillusionment would no doubt set in soon, or otherwise I'd end up buying something better soon enough anyway, so it'd cost more in the end. But good point about getting out with the binoculars first before spending on a telescope. I've got some Celestron 25x100 binoculars I bought in Shanghai where (surprise) the light was dreadful, so I need to give them a chance here. Dear god but they are heavy though - definitely a tripod job.

    Will check out all the places and links mentioned above - thanks so much again. I know it'll be challenging doing this here, but it's been a lifelong aspiration and waiting until/if we leave HK to jump in to the hobby is too depressing for words!


  6. #6

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    Is sha Tau Kok a good place for astronomy, virtually all of the light pollution is shielded by mountains/hills so you can see any lights from shenzhen or fanling /sheung shui


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    It's the inlet area near sha Tau Kok coast
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  8. #8

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    I think the best dark sites would be around the Fan Lau area of Lantau or the island of Po Toi or better, the Cheung Tsui peninsula. Basically anywhere in the south, furthest from light and also high elevation.

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  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by Trance Omega:
    I think the best dark sites would be around the Fan Lau area of Lantau or the island of Po Toi or better, the Cheung Tsui peninsula. Basically anywhere in the south, furthest from light and also high elevation.
    https://www.google.com.hk/maps/place...!6m1!1e1?hl=en

    would this area be ok, quite high but few light pollution

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by imparanoic:
    https://www.google.com.hk/maps/place...!6m1!1e1?hl=en

    would this area be ok, quite high but few light pollution
    if you arrange an astromony meeting at night, i be happy show you there ( drive to near point in ta kwu ling) and we walk the rest, this time of year is good, even better if a day of heavy rain clean up the air pollution like a few days ago
    Aces_High likes this.

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