I would just like to reiterate and say what a great time Lyn & I had at this year's IISAC. After last year's disappointments with the viewing, this one made up for it.
Thanks go to Mike and all the organisational crew for such a smooth running event and I'm sure next year will be a cracker.
Lyn was ecstatic at winning the major door prize of the Peppers Voucher as she has never won anything in her life and is still in amazement. Thanks go also to all the sponsors.
It was great to catch up with and meet some of the new members together with all the regulars and PC crew.
Thanks to all for posting those magnificent photos of the sites of Lostock.
Great memories there.
Cheers
Just got back from the U.S. today, it would have been nice to be there and see STARS! I did the LCROSS viewing trip instead this year, however ISSAC would have been more productive than the 2 seconds worth of glimps I got!
P.S. There is some nice photos been posted already of the area; well done to all.
Mike did a fantastic job in organising the event and with the help of the volunteers, IISAC09 was a great success.
As John.B said all the feedback that Mike has collected from previous years has been used to improve things and make IISAC very pleasant, enjoyable and he's got things running very smoothly.
The presentations are now easy to see and conditions are very comfortable in the marquee.
I had a blast, it was great to see everyone, I just wish I got to spend more time with all the regulars.
This year it seemed like the time just flew by.
Anyway a big thank you to Mike and all the volunteers, I had a fantastic time.
Another great astro camp!
Sue and I would like to thank Mike and organisers who did a great job again.Thanks to John and Andrew for the "sky tours" and good to meet up with people we did not know.Some more images.
1.upstream
2.vendor stall
3.Al meehan
4.daytime activities. kites.
5.imaging time
Apart from the official photos of the presentations, prizes and group photo, I also had a chance to take some candid shots and portraits which I'd like to share.
Just want to thank Mike and the organisers for another fantastic IISAC The guys do a wonderful and tireless job to ensure everything runs smoothly. They honestly should be commended by all who attended.
It was great to catch up with some of the locals from the PC and also to meet some new folk as well.
For anyone contemplating in going next year, don't procrastinate, you won't be disappointed.
Friday and Saturday was great and ended up doing at least 4-5 hrs of viewing each night. Saturday night did dew up from around 11pm and it was time to call it a night by 00:30hrs. Both nights were cold, but bearable.
Thanks Rodney for allowing me to use your TV paracorr and not to mention your tips on navigating the night sky, it was appreciated.
Here are some pics (my first post of pics!) so hopefully they come thru!
Pic4 was a mum with her poddy calf - she was guarding it closely.
Pic6 - resident Echidna !
To Dave, Mike and Andrew, many thanks for the tips you guys gave at the camp. Very useful especially with a Tak that was determined to believe it was in the Northern Hemisphere. I apologise for not being great company due to feeling crook. A day in bed plus copious amounts of Vitamin C on my return got things back on track.
To Dave (the gadget man), every time I looked up you had some new gizmo from out of space, I have ordered the digital protractor . What a top idea. Plus the Polar Alignment software which will be tried out shortly.
To Mike and organisers, one of the most relaxed and friendly camps I have attended and the evening meals were delicious.
WOW! I have stayed at Lostock before, but That was my first IISAC.
I was totally amazed how professionally everything was handled, and with a minimum of fuss.
Great work Mike and crew.
That was bl**dy br!ll!ant!
You should be exceptionally proud of yourselves, and justly so.
AND I reckon you gotta be over the moon that you have organised such a huge following of really nice people.
Hey Deeno, those snaps mate - breath taking stuff. Are you a professional photographer? You know just how to shoot a scene to accentuate its beauty. Great.
And a special thanks to the Pony Club gang. As always it was a pleasure to be among you!
Angela and I got back to Cairns late Tuesday - one big drive ! This is the first opportunity to post and say a big 'thank you' to all.
Well organised, well managed, very professional. Again, thanks to All !
We met some lovely people - actually we didn't meet anyone who wasn't.
I learnt heaps of stuff, and maybe I've moved up a notch from below 'lower novice' ( -8 on a scale of 1 to 10) to 'low novice' (-2 on that same scale).
I realise i still have some 'legs' left in my little 6" reflector, but only till I raise the cash for a 10" dob + push to. Anyone want to buy a scratched copy of the Beatles 'Double White' Album - (complete with wine stain on the front cover (so its a 1 and 3/4 white album in reality) - a cordless, batteryless electric drill or a half eaten packet of crisps ?
