IISAC2009: IceInSpace AstroCamp - 15th to 18th October 2009
This thread will be the thread for all discussions and questions about IISAC2009.
It's just over 4 months now until IISAC2009 - the 4th instalment of the IceInSpace AstroCamp!
Have you got your annual leave forms in? Have you earned enough brownie points with your partner?
IISAC2009 is taking place on the 15th to the 18th October, 2009, at Lostock in the Hunter Valley of NSW. The IISAC2009 page is now live, and you can get all the information you need to know from there:
Admittedly, not all information is there yet - such as prices, registration form and some other essentials, but there's enough there to start getting excited about. Keep checking back as the organisation ramps up and I continue to add more information to the page.
A selection of photos from IISAC2008 (and other previous IISAC's) are at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!
As you can see from the first post above, the logo and t-shirt are now complete (a white shirt this year, for a change ).
Some other updates on the page:
- A statement of what to expect, of sorts:
Quote:
The IceInSpace AstroCamp is the no-fuss star party - come to relax, to have fun, to unwind and to meet some of the great, friendly people that make up the wider IceInSpace family. And when it's clear, observe under brilliant dark skies and take home memories you'll cherish forever.
- Some Testimonials, thanks to some of the attendees of IISAC2008.
- 3RF are confirmed as attending and will be conducting sky tours in telescopes ranging from 14" to 25".
Guest Speakers, Prices and other details will start becoming known over the next few weeks, so check back soon.
The following guest speakers have agreed to share their time and expertise and give talks at IISAC2009:
* Andrew Murrell and John Bambury: What's in the Sky at Lostock.
Andrew and John are two of Australia's most experienced observers, and will give a run-down of some of the objects you can observe at IISAC2009 - categorised into targets for small scopes (under 12"), medium scopes (12-18") and large scopes (over 18").
* Lesa Moore: Big Island, Big Telescope.
Lesa's postgraduate research project was based on a deep stack of photographic images used to uncover previously unseen low surface brightness galaxies in Virgo. To determine if the galaxies belong to the Virgo Cluster, distance measurements (spectra) are needed and because the galaxies are faint, Lesa opted for a big telescope. This talk will illustrate the outcomes of her research and show highlights of her trip to the top of Mauna Kea.
* Greg Bradley: tba.
* Professor Geraint Lewis: A universe for me? The anthropic principle in Astronomy.
Geraint is a professor of Astrophysics at Sydney University, and his talk will discuss the anthropic principle - looking at the successes and failures of this controversial idea, as well as looking to the future, where some think that the anthropic principle may be our only guide to one of the major outstanding questions in physics, namely how do we construct a theory of everything?
The official agenda/programme will be available soon.
Unfortunately it has been necessary to have a small price rise compared to last years prices, but as I'm sure you'll understand in our current economic climate, costs for running the star party have increased (including marquee hire costs, insurance, scout camp hire costs, etc).
I still believe IISAC2009 represents great value for a great weekend with great company!
More information coming soon, and the booking/registration form should be online within 1-2 weeks.
It's with great pleasure I can announce that we are now accepting registrations for IISAC2009!
With only 3 months to go, now is the time to get yourself organised, put in those leave forms, put in your registration booking for IISAC2009 and start counting down the days!
I hope to be able to make it down for this camp.
It would be FANTASTIC to catch up with you all.
wow will you really come all the way down for that woohoo well thats what i call dedication JJJ well if you are seriously going to go i might go too JJJ i need a female drinking buddy LMAO (let me have a chat with hubby and i will get back to ya) I need to see how far away it is from me I sooo wanna go
Don't get too excited Jen. My coming down is subject to the vagaries of the public health system. I'll find out Monday if I'll be fit for the trip. Fingers crossed eh.
Don't get too excited Jen. My coming down is subject to the vagaries of the public health system. I'll find out Monday if I'll be fit for the trip. Fingers crossed eh.
Ok JJJ hope all goes well for you, maybe we get more organised and start preparing for the next one
it,ll be great if jen and jjj could come im bringing the little lady ELISE she loves to camp and a little telescope time but enjoys the 3 days away from the kids she had a great time last year even won a draw prize
mozzie
Hi friends!
Greetings from brazil!
I want to go to the iisac2009 and i want to ask if you will have any support for people from outside australia, because i' ve never been in sidney before and i´ll need some help to go to lostock!
Thank'Sa lot!
Last edited by saulo; 11-08-2009 at 12:39 PM.
Reason: TYPPING ERROR
I've never been to a star party before. We want to pitch a tent and cook our own meals but what are the rules regarding lights. Can we have gas lights, gas fires, wood fires.
I've never been to a star party before. We want to pitch a tent and cook our own meals but what are the rules regarding lights. Can we have gas lights, gas fires, wood fires.
IISAC2009: IceInSpace AstroCamp - 15th to 18th October 2009
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wow will you really come all the way down for that woohoo well thats what i call dedication JJJ well if you are seriously going to go i might go too JJJ i need a female drinking buddy LMAO 
