Memories. We lived in that park for a year - site 79. That was 22 years ago and it looks like a bit has changed but much is the same. We'll have to drop by for old times sake.
I've booked a place in Cairns from 10th to 15th November for the family and I, and we're looking forward to it! Will hopefully catch up with some IISers while up there!
How about collaborating on a KML for Google Maps with the locations where people intend to be? Just an approximate address with no name if you interested but are concerned about security. I would guess we'd have the coast from Port Douglas to Cairns fairly well covered.
On the Mulligan Highway at around 16.2716° S 144.7159° E seems to be as far as you can get from the coast, still be on the centre line, and catch the whole eclipse. Assuming a clear eastern horizon, the sun will have just cleared it.
A bit closer to the coast than that, the Mulligan Highway at Mt Carbine 16.5302° S 145.1363° E
On the Mulligan Highway at around 16.2716° S 144.7159° E seems to be as far as you can get from the coast, still be on the centre line, and catch the whole eclipse. Assuming a clear eastern horizon, the sun will have just cleared it.
A bit closer to the coast than that, the Mulligan Highway at Mt Carbine 16.5302° S 145.1363° E
Do we have any FNQers who'd know those areas?
Andrew,
Attached are images that may help.
The first is at Mt Carbine a few hundred metres west of the pub.
The car is aligned in the direction of the Sun at eclipse.
The coast ranges at this point are at about 4 degrees elevation so you certainly miss first contact, but with the eclipse at about 13 degrees it is well above the ranges. If the clouds are a problem on the morning, the road west of Mt Carbine would get you further back from the ranges. Fortunately, the road for about the next 20 km is roughly aligned to the sun at eclipse time so a view down the road will be possible and if you are careful you should be able to pull off to the side of the road. Second image is from this road.
Further along the Mulligan Highway where the centreline crosses is quite different. The road is north south so the view to the east is compromised by trees and local hills. In addition the power line is generally on the eastern side of the road so that may interfere with photos. There are some place where you could get a view towards the Sun at eclipse, but not many. The third is an image of one place a little south of the centreline. There are others. If arriving in the dark on eclipse morning, you would want to be careful to pick a spot which has a clear view toward where the eclipse will be. At the exact point where the centreline crosses the road no view of the eclipse is possible due to trees. You can get a good impression of this by using Google Earth streetview.
Trust this helps,
Terry
Denise and I have been invited to stay in Palm Cove for the week 11/11 -18/11, with free accommodation!
We just have to book our flights early.
Looking forward to meeting up with a lots of IIS members!
Denise and I have been invited to stay in Palm Cove for the week 11/11 -18/11, with free accommodation!
We just have to book our flights early.
Looking forward to meeting up with a lots of IIS members!
Apart from meeting Jen again, I'm also looking forward to having a look at M31, 31° above the horizon!
Plus the double cluster 16° above the horizon, and a whole bunch of other objects normally hidden from us Victorians!
Apart from meeting Jen again, I'm also looking forward to having a look at M31, 31° above the horizon!
Plus the double cluster 16° above the horizon, and a whole bunch of other objects normally hidden from us Victorians!
Yes Liz, I've just bought a Stellarvue F80 finder/GNG/RFT from IIS member 'Flashdrive'.
It's small enough to go in hand luggage and I plan to make up a small foldable Alt/Az mount that will also fit in a backpack.
The scope gets lots of good reviews, for example: http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1916
The attached 3 SkyMap Pro maps are for Oak Beach (on the eclipse line north of Cairns) the night before the eclipse.
The maps show the northern deep sky at 8pm, midnight and 4am. It will be dark from 7:45 pm to 4:20 am. http://www.skymap.com/smp_eval.htm
How about collaborating on a KML for Google Maps with the locations where people intend to be? Just an approximate address with no name if you interested but are concerned about security. I would guess we'd have the coast from Port Douglas to Cairns fairly well covered.
On the Mulligan Highway at around 16.2716° S 144.7159° E seems to be as far as you can get from the coast, still be on the centre line, and catch the whole eclipse. Assuming a clear eastern horizon, the sun will have just cleared it.
A bit closer to the coast than that, the Mulligan Highway at Mt Carbine 16.5302° S 145.1363° E