Blue Mountains - Katoomba Airfield, Saturday May 11

[mental4astro]

Hi all,

The Airfield is being made available to us for May, Saturday 11. Many thanks Rod, :)

Even with IISAC '13 also being on April, 12 people still were able to come to Katoomba. I'm impressed with the photos posted in April's thread taken that night.

Access to the Airfield is via Medlow Bath, the first village straight after Katoomba heading west. At Medlow Bath's only set of lights, turn into Railway Parade. Turn left into Rutland Steet (also called Grand Canyon Rd). The Airfield is 4km from here. The last 3km is unsealed, but the road surface has recently been regraded, so it's nice and smooth - heavy rain could change this though, so a cautious eye is a good idea.

On entering the Airfield, head up the track on the left hand side - there's no access to the observing area by heading straight ahead. Head past the "No Entry" sign and turn right up past the set of buildings towards the main runway to the set up area. The photo below will help show the way to the set up area.

If you haven't been to a star party before, you are most welcome to come. Scope or no-scope, no problem either. This is also a great occassion to bring your new scope for a good old thrash under a dark sky. If are considering which scope to get, you can come to see the variety of instruments that folks will be bringing and see the level of complexity each type has.

We are also welcome to stay overnight if it is a ripper of an evening. The Airfield's office building is open to us to sleep in. It also has a combustion heater that is the centre of the universe on those cold winter nights, :cold: :campfire:

I'm hoping to get there around 5pm, sunset. You are welcome to come when ever you can, and leave when best suits you. As we can stay the whole night, when you'd like to leave is up to you.

If you haven't been to a star party before, do bring a torch, but cover it with three or four layers of red cellophane. Red light causes the least amount of disruption to our dark adapted eyes.

Hope to see you there.

Mental.

[MortonH]

Will try for this one. My wife and daughter get back from the UK on the Saturday before, so we'll see if I'm 'allowed' a night out so soon. I'm missing the SPSP for them so fingers crossed!

[AstroJason]

I'll be there guys. Hopefully with some dew protection this time too!

[AG Hybrid]

:thumbsup:

[lacad01]

:prey: fingers crossed I'll be there

[killswitch]

Can't make it to this one unfortunately :(

[vic4loc]

Tentatively putting my name down for this one.

Victor.

[mental4astro]

A few days out and it's yes'n'no. Bit of a pain, so as always the final word on yea or ney will be a last minute thing.

Fingers crossed, even if just a touch of cloud it should be manageable.

Mental.

[Wavytone]

I'm available.

Alex, if the airstrip isn't available I'd suggest we keep a backup plan - Hargraves lookout or Mt Blackheath, 15 minutes away.
Just bear in mind if it is a perfect day, the hang/paragliders may be at Mt Blackheath till sunset (fun to watch in any case).

[vic4loc]

I'm 99% confirmed as well. Do you have the location or Google map screenshots of the backup locations (Hargraves & Mt Blackheath)? I wouldnt mind these locations either if the airfield is not available.

Victor.

[Wavytone]

I guess we need to know by lunchtime Saturday ?

Go to Blackheath, at the traffic lights turn left over the railway line then immediately left into Station St. Follow Shipley Rd to Shipley Plateau. Where it forks, keep right (up) as the left (down) goes to Megalong valley.

Mt Blackheath is at the end of the dirt road at -33°38'37", E 150°14'42. Hargraves is the lookout on the southwest corner of the plateau at -33°49'37", E 150°14'33".

[mental4astro]

Spoke with Rod this morning. Everything still good for Saturday at the Airfield.

I won't be able to get there for sunset as I would have hoped, probably closer to 7. I would love to get a couple of sketches done, not having done a DSO sketch for some time now. Fingers crossed.

[mental4astro]

A mate of mine & his wife will be coming too. Shane's an ex-pat living in New Mexico working as a seismologist. He's also a die hard photon junkie and has a bad case of missing the Southern sky. As I'm getting there a little late, please look after Shane & his missus, Pam.

Mental.

[GeoffW1]

Yep, will do :)

I aim to get there much earlier and cool the tube. Setting up in the dusk last time was a mistake I should have known not to make.

Cheers

[MortonH]

I'm pretty much confirmed. Will likely get there after sunset.

[eclipse]

Providing the weather holds out we will be there.

Les and Deb

[MortonH]

What's the road up to the airfield like in the dark? (since I haven't been before)

[AG Hybrid]

It got graded last month. So not bad since it hasn't heavily rained since.

[mental4astro]

The unsealed section was recently graded & is still in good condition without significant ruts, just spoke with Rod. But it is VERY dusty. Caution should still be exercised, as with all unsealed roads.

[MortonH]

Cool. thanks for that.

[rogerco]

Hoping to get up there to look around for future visits, will want to get there as early as possible, is there a time for opening up yet?

[mental4astro]

I'd say from 3:30. Most folks would be arriving closer to sunset, 5pm.

[rogerco]

Thanks, hope to get there.

[Wavytone]

Weather has changed - Overcast over the blue mountains. Keep an eye on the Katoomba webcam ... But its not looking good.

[lacad01]

Forecast isn't too promising looking at BOM site :(

[eclipse]

Looking at the weather here, and the forecasts, we have decided that we will not be coming tonight.

Les and Deb

[mental4astro]

Skippysky last I looked showed clear. Another site shows clear, others cloud & others rain.

Rod says cloud's slowly breaking up, no wind, & too hard to tell at this time.

I won't be ready to leave home until 4:30, 5pm. Guess I'll pack & see how things are going then.

[vic4loc]

Nearly 80% overcast where I am (Sydney west), not looking good, I will wait till the last minute to go, sorry guys.

Victor.

[AstroJason]

Was planning on leaving at 3:30 but might wait till 4:30 now too for final confirmation

[BenM]

Is it still anyones guess to what the weather will do?? as id really like to come check it out but dont want to drive from sydney eastern suburbs if its going to be overcast. Plus i need some friendly pointers on how to use my new scope!:D

[vic4loc]

The Katoomba webcam shows clouds, very hazy and foggy conditions, hasnt changed much in the past hour, sorry made decision to stay home, bummer :(

Victor.

[mental4astro]

I've got a couple of calls pending for 5pm.

Ben, if you're interested, be it at The Airfield or in Sydney tonight, I'd be happy to help you out. Just PM me. I'm in Maroubra.

[AG Hybrid]

A shame. The weather has been good as of late. Until next time.

[rogerco]

I'm up at the air field now and it's ninety percent thick cloud, clearing a bit to the east but I think what little breeze there is is from the west to north west. The people up here for the planes don't think it will clear. I'll hang around and have a cuppa see how it progresses. :(

[AstroJason]

Thanks for the update Roger

[mental4astro]

AGH! Not going to waste anyone's time anymore. Hopeless situation now. Spoke with Rod, breeze from NE, & back burning at Wooodford bringing smoke.

Oh, we'll. You'll find me tonight at Coogee Beach wetting a line. A good high tide at 9:08pm. Might bring home some dinner. Mmmmm, flathead, tailor, jewfish... Mmmmm.

[GeoffW1]

Thanks Roger,

I've hung back hoping, but I think I'll make the call for myself now too and give it a miss this time. Frustrating.

Sorry all

[rogerco]

Eh der! It's an air field there is a wind sock !! Wind from the north east and its solid cloud in that direction. Sorry folks I jinxed it. :shrug:

[AstroJason]

Good luck with the fishing Alex, like everyone else I'll give this one a miss. Cheers all.

[MortonH]

Must be cos my new mount arrived... :shrug:

[mental4astro]

That'll be right. :mad2:

Clearing over my head at home now. Geez...

[Steffen]

Ok, 5pm now, time to the go/no-go call, and I think I'm staying home. I've still got the scope set up and aligned in the backyard, ready to go on the drop of a hat. It won't be really dark, that's for sure…

See you some other time.

Cheers
Steffen.

[MortonH]

Quick peek at Saturn from the balcony is the best I can hope for tonight. Oh well...

[Manav]

No-Go from me! As of 4:15 Katoomba is partly cloudy with a chance of drizzle late this evening. Winds northeasterly and light.

[mental4astro]

What a belter of a sky it is from home! :eyepop:

Clear as!

I've decided to set up at home, & Ben's coming over for a bit too. PM me if you might like to join us at Maroubra from 8:30, 9pm.

Sky at the Airfield is clouded over solid. <sigh>. Oh, well, til next time at the Airfield

[mental4astro]

No Katoomba, but a good night at home. Ben accepted my offer for a session at my place last night. Talked shop aplenty & gave his new C8 a good old thrash. Good scope he's got himself.

Conditions were a mixed bag, but seeing was so unbelievably steady. Pushed the C8 to 400X & Saturn was tack sharp! Quite amazing. Clouds totally buggered off late, allowing for a good going over of the gems of this time of year.

Good to get to meet a fellow IISer for the first time. Hopefully next time it will be under more favourable dark sky conditions.

Cheers Ben!

Mental

PS, the fish live another day,:lol:

[vic4loc]

Hey Alex

Maybe next time I can join you at your place :) I drop my daughter off for my parents to babysit all the time when I go to dark site, and their place is in Kingsford, just a suburb away from you :)

Victor.

[mental4astro]

Victor, no worries. Anyone else? I can't make Katoomba always, & sometimes the Friday before will be better weather wise than the Saturday we're due up there. I've got the tea & coffee, you bring the bikkies.