Observing Groups / Star Parties after the Eclipse

iceman (Mike) · #1 15-10-2012, 06:47 AM

I'm getting more and more people (especially from Overseas) asking me about any observing groups after the eclipse.

I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread and hopefully people can contribute when they know that their astronomy group or club is planning any observing around the eclipse time.

Please add any info to this thread, including location, dates/times etc and maybe a website or any contact info.

iceman (Mike) · #2 15-10-2012, 06:49 AM

I'll start!

3RF are holding a "Post-Eclipse Star Safari" at Coonabarabran. Obviously Coona is not near Cairns so you'll still need to get yourself down to Coona after the eclipse (allow a few days travelling time unless you fly).

3RF are well known for hosting US and overseas visitors for their star parties in Coona.

More info here:
http://www.3rf.com.au/PESS/

xstream (John) · #3 15-10-2012, 07:26 AM

Anna and I will have Edwin with us. So if anyone knows somewhere accessible to Cairns that's nice and dark, and wants to do some observing one night after the eclipse, speak up!

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #4 16-10-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstream

Anna and I will have Edwin with us. So if anyone knows somewhere accessible to Cairns that's nice and dark, and wants to do some observing one night after the eclipse, speak up!

I hope I can catch up with you and Anna again while we're up there.
At the moment I'm exchanging mobile phone numbers with various people who will be attending the eclipse so we can organise a post eclipse celebration/ commiseration at a local watering hole.
Keep us updated if you come to any firm decision where you're likely to be.

gaa_ian (Ian) · #5 17-10-2012, 01:31 AM

Hey guys and Gals, as a Cairns local I am going to stick my neck out and do my best to help arrange a bit of a gathering !
I am working on the Cairns Astronomy club (yes, they exist !) to get involved & I already plan to catch up with a few people anyhow.
I have a number of great places we could meet up post eclipse.
Beach BBQ, Swimming Holes close to town, Cairns has more restaurants and pubs than you can poke a stick at.

iceman (Mike) · #6 17-10-2012, 12:04 PM

Sorry guys I've deleted some 'chatter' from this thread that could either be done via PM or in a different thread.

I don't want to clutter this thread with chatter and would rather keep it full of information for people wanting to meet up or have observing groups.

mental4astro (Alexander) · #7 17-10-2012, 12:47 PM

Hi all,

For those of you travelling through Sydney back home, and if you live in Sydney too, there's a gathering up at Katoomba Airfield in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, on Saturday 17th of November.

This link will take you to the November 17 Katoomba Airfield thread here in IIS with details and pictures of the Airfield

The Airfield is located at 1000m elevation, giving it one of the better sites within 2hours drive of the Sydney CBD.

This is an informal gathering with permission given to amateur astronomers to use the Airfield by the management of Katoomba Airfield.

Hope to see you there,

Mental.

starrynight (Philip) · #8 17-10-2012, 08:04 PM

Hi All,
If conditions are favourable we set up public viewing whenever we go camping. We will be doing this up the east coast to Cairns and return from about 5th November until the 23rd November. At Cairns itself we will be at Cairns Holiday Park Little St from 12th November. In addition to showing the eclipse to the locals we will be holding an information evening the night before plus solar viewing and night sky tours whilst we are there. Please contact us if you can drop in or maybe on our travels.
Marie and Philip. Starry Night Planetarium. www.starrynight.com.au
0413 779223
For our location at Cairns Holiday Park Little St click http://www.starrynight.com.au/MAPS/C...day%20Park.jpg

Pablo · #9 18-10-2012, 05:43 AM

Hi Starrynight, a few days ago I posted:

"Hi mates,

we're 13 spanish people interested in astronomy. We're members of aam ( http://www.aam.org.es/ ). We'll travel to watch the next total eclipse to your country, and we'll love to have a night watching the southern sky, in the Alice Springs area or close to Cairns. Can anybody, please, help us to do it?

Paying or free, it would be one of the tops of our trip!

Thanx a lot friends!!"

We're going to be in Cairns 13th & 14th nights... could we take a look with your equipment, teachers?

Thanx!!

silvadel10 (Rob) · #10 21-10-2012, 10:45 AM

Joey and I caretake a place 11km south of Dimbulah 50km from Mareeba, on the walsh River. We have a FREE campsite, Swimming, RedClaw. Sand, Available.
Rules are ! group or traveller at a time. NO noisy neighbours. Pre Bookings essential.
Good viewing site nearby and Joey has Meade 8" LX90 plus 4" and large cheap night Binocs
EMail rwdelacey@hotmail.com.
Cheers
Rob

stillwalkabout (Ken) · #11 06-11-2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaa_ian

Hey guys and Gals, as a Cairns local I am going to stick my neck out and do my best to help arrange a bit of a gathering !
I am working on the Cairns Astronomy club (yes, they exist !) to get involved & I already plan to catch up with a few people anyhow.
I have a number of great places we could meet up post eclipse.
Beach BBQ, Swimming Holes close to town, Cairns has more restaurants and pubs than you can poke a stick at.

Hi Ian
I'm a kewarra beach local been looking for a local astronomy club
Can you provide details please
I'll be at trinity beach from about eight the night before
Will have an 8 inch Newtonian set up if anyone wants to pop down
Cheers
Ken

californiastars (Daniel Perry) · #12 09-11-2012, 05:00 PM

Hi all,

My wife and I are about to board the plane to Oz from Los Angeles (OK, we leave in about 24 hours, actually). I was wondering if anyone is aware of any spots that'll be set up for night viewing (and imaging) the night before the eclipse while remaining available through the night and through the eclipse. We can't get too far from Cairns as we need to catch a flight to Sydney at about 11:30 on the morning of the eclipse. Considering the eclipse will be done by 7:40 and there will likely be considerable traffic in the area, we should probably be no more than about 45km from Cairns. As far as Port Douglas might be pushing it. But we're open to heading inland as well.

I'll have a small-ish tracking mount (Starlapse), tripod, camera, and a few lenses with me, so some decently dark skies would be very welcome.

Any help is much appreciated! Feel free to email me directly if you have any suggestions... danny @ californiastars . net

Best,
Danny

fungussface (Colin Noy) · #13 10-11-2012, 08:35 PM

Hi. My wife and I are at Sunland Leisure park in Cairns. Weather is not too good at the moment as full cloud cover. Hope it clears for Wednesday. Thinking of heading to the Esplanade in cairns near the airport, or to Holloways beach.
Any thoughts? Colin (fungussface and Science Teacher)

gaa_ian (Ian) · #14 13-11-2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stillwalkabout

Hi Ian
I'm a kewarra beach local been looking for a local astronomy club
Can you provide details please
I'll be at trinity beach from about eight the night before
Will have an 8 inch Newtonian set up if anyone wants to pop down
Cheers
Ken

Hi Ken
Post eclipse I will be doing what I can to facilitate the set up of a local club again. I will start with a post here on IIS & ask for PM's with contact details.
Cheers
Ian