Goodbye southern skies, hello northern skies

erick (Eric) · #1 28-05-2013, 01:10 PM

Hi everyone. I've been a bit quiet lately as various changes in my life have arisen. But it is now 99% definite -my wife and I are headed closer to the North Pole shortly.

I am taking up a position in Haifa, Israel for five or more years, leaving within months.

Goodbye southern skies, which will be sad. But I'll now get a chance to investigate the northern hemisphere skies. But not from Haifa - that part of Israel is wall-to-wall light pollution! However, three hours drive gets me to the Negev Desert, in the southern part of the country down towards the Red Sea. That is where the University of Tel Aviv has its major observatory and the light pollution maps look promising. Mind you, I wonder how to fight off marauding wild camels in the dark? I don't think dew will be a problem, rather it may be sudden sandstorms!

Now what to take with me? The SDM definitely. But what about everything else I have got and all the projects I had in mind? I cannot store it all for years?

There might be a "fire sale" shortly - keep your eyes open.

Cheers
Eric

gary · #2 28-05-2013, 01:18 PM

Hi Eric,

Good luck with the move.

Best regards

Gary

Shano592 (Shane) · #3 28-05-2013, 01:25 PM

Boy, you've sure got ants in your pants!

You only just arrived into civilisation from Victoria.

Hope you have a great experience in the Land of David.

As for your gear ... perhaps a long term loan to someone you trust ... (not me, for those of you playing at home - Eric and I have spoken just the one time at the Pony Club).

Rob_K · #4 28-05-2013, 01:28 PM

Wow, that's big news Eric! Good luck with the move, gonna miss the red circle of death at star parties.

But, situation is nothing when it comes to communication so I'll look forward to your (northern) observing reports.

Cheers -

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #5 28-05-2013, 01:29 PM

I am thinking it's a long way from the Negev to Snake Valley mate! All sounds very exciting, a part of the world that is on my list to visit.

Best wishes for a safe move and look forward to some observing reports.

Malcolm

Ric · #6 28-05-2013, 02:24 PM

Best of luck with the trip Eric.

It sounds like it will be quite an adventure with new skies to explore.

Cheers

Larryp (Laurie) · #7 28-05-2013, 03:07 PM

Good luck with your adventure, Eric-it sounds great

niko · #8 28-05-2013, 04:24 PM

Safe travels to you and your wife Eric.

You'll be master of northern star hopping in no time!

Snake Valley won't be the same without you

bojan · #9 28-05-2013, 04:38 PM

Hi Eric,
well, it's good.. But you will find that Southern hemisphere is more interesting than the Northern one - I know because I know

Bon voyage and come back!

LewisM · #10 28-05-2013, 05:41 PM

There is an Israeli astro-imager (Harel I think his name is here) that occasionally visits here, and shoots in the Negev. May want to liaise with him?

mozzie (Peter) · #11 28-05-2013, 06:54 PM

well done erick..it must be a wonderful job to up and leave oz...all the best and clear skies in the north.

Deeno · #12 28-05-2013, 07:15 PM

Wow!
Thats a big change.
All the best for the future and bon voyage

Paul Haese · #13 29-05-2013, 09:22 AM

What a wonderful adventure you are about to embark upon. Best wishes for the time you are away and I look forward to talking face to face again and you telling us about the night skies you see. Good luck.

Ric · #14 29-05-2013, 09:43 AM

I was just thinking Eric, at least polar alignment will be a lot easier.

astroron (Ron) · #15 29-05-2013, 11:30 AM

Best of fortune on your new Adventure Eric

I will look forward to your communications from the
Northern Hemisphere.

Cheers

lacad01 (Adam) · #16 29-05-2013, 11:37 AM

All the best with the move Eric. Will be great to hear some reports of your Northern observing once you've settled in

niko · #17 29-05-2013, 11:48 AM

Ric, fat lot of good that'll do him - he's strictly an eyeballer!

Eric, bring Polaris home with you to help us poor imagers!

Liz · #18 29-05-2013, 12:46 PM

Wow, what a huge move Eric, but sounds exciting. All the best, and let us know how those clear desert skies go.

erick (Eric) · #19 30-05-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

Ric, fat lot of good that'll do him - he's strictly an eyeballer!

Eric, bring Polaris home with you to help us poor imagers!

Yes, I think I'll only take visual gear, the SDM and the C8, but I should take the wedge for the C8 so perhaps pointing at Polaris (+/- a few degrees, isn't it) will happen.

deanm (Dean) · #20 30-05-2013, 03:05 PM

Good luck (you'll need it - can be a pretty crazy place!).

I did a post-PhD stint at the Weizmann Institute (south-east of Tel Aviv) back in 1997 & remember stumbling (jet-lagged!) through an orange grove on my way to work, on day one (at 3 AM!) & seeing what I thought was a military helicopter at altitude with a search light beaming into the dark.

Turned out it was comet Hale-Bopp!

Haifa is an 'interesting' place. There are lots of 'interesting' places, although when we were there, my Israeli pal (who I'd gone to school with in Singapore 15 years prior), who was an IDF combat pilot, always packed his pistol when he took us for weekend visits.

We left only on the advice of the Oz consulate: they were evacuating their staff because of the Intifada.

You'll have *many* stories to share in years ahead...! And be prepared for F15s & F16s overflying overhead at 200 feet on Shabbat (on their way to a 'routine task').

And pedestrian crossings in Jerusalem have no 'cross request' buttons: use of such would offend Orthodox types on the Sabbath (must not "make fire").

Yoffi!

Dean