Who's going to SPSP 2014?

[MortonH]

Having been unable to attend IISAC last weekend I'm planning to go to SPSP for the first time in a few years. Just wondering which other IIS members are going :question:

[Allan]

Morton, I am going. I suspect a lot of IIS's will be there. I plan on being very social again and stealing looks through as many telescopes as I can. I pick up my Discmounts DM4 in a few weeks so my new NP101is will finally get its first run at SPSP if anyone else wants a look.

[tlgerdes]

If you post here, please also put which field you are locating on, main field or imaging field. They are about a 10 min walk apart, so will help in people planning walkabout tours.

I'm up on the imaging field as the site marshal, and stay in the caravan next to the radio dish antenna.

[MortonH]

Main field for me.

[multiweb]

Will be at the house Thursday morning.

[Barrykgerdes]

Good
Make sure you get the hot water going.
Barry

[multiweb]

Always do.... and the wine.

[Barrykgerdes]

Thar's a good lad

Barry

[AG Hybrid]

I will be going. I've got time off for the Thursday and Friday. Main field I guess as I am visual.

[MortonH]

Cool. Apparently you can set up your scope beside your tent in the camping area like we do at IISAC, so I'll probably do that if I can get a good spot.

[MortonH]

Never seen a NP101. Will be in the queue!

[xstream]

Anna and I will be there, setup on the main field with Edwin.
Boy it's been awhile, 5 years to be exact. How time flys! :eyepop:

[AG Hybrid]

Sounds good to me. I'm not hardcore about a bit of stray light.

[MortonH]

Have you read the light policy? No light allowed in the camping area either!

[killswitch]

Ill probably be going as well (visual).

[Steffen]

I'm considering coming along, too. It'd be my first SPSP.

Cheers
Steffen.

[AstroJason]

I'm hoping to come along, provided I get the leave approved.

[AG Hybrid]

Well that's great. I thought it was only the main field where the light policy was at its noosiest. If its dark at the campsite even better.

[tlgerdes]

As Freddy Krueger once said "How sweet, fresh meat" :lol:

[lacad01]

I'm planning on going for Thursday/Friday and try and find a little corner on the imaging field for some wide-fields :)

[tlgerdes]

There are some fantastic corners on the imaging field for you to find.

[MortonH]

Have actually registered now. Only a week left until it closes!

Looking forward to exploring the whole site during the day. Only saw the main field and dining area last time!

[lacad01]

Thanks Trevor, looking forward to it. Registered today :thumbsup:

[AG Hybrid]

Wait registration is only open for 2-3 weeks?

[killswitch]

Hows the 3G reception in Wiruna?



You can register on the day but its costs a bit more. Im waiting for my leave to be approved before i register.

[tlgerdes]

Hi Ed,

Both Telstra (850Mhz) and Optus (900Mhz) reception is reasonable (don't have a VF phone to test with) considering we are about 40kms from the tower. On a good day we can get 7Mbs down and 1Mbs up, on a normal day it will be half that.

[tlgerdes]

Wait for what? Rego has been open since mid March, it closes on the 8th of May. As Ed said, you can still turn up, register and pay your money ..... but the Saturday roast cant be guaranteed :P

[Irish stargazer]

No Vodafone reception at all last time I tried but Telstra is pretty good. Made a video Skype call from there on Friday with no problems

[Logieberra]

I'm hoping to go also, subject to leave being approved. This would be my very first SPSP/NSW Astro Club visit.

[Camelopardalis]

And when there are 3-400 astros out there all trying to grab their email...with red filters on of course :lol:

[mental4astro]

I'll be there too for two nights. Main field I guess. Hoping to have a battery of scopes there too, :lol:. Running past some things with the Committee of ASNSW first. The 17.5" will be stretching its legs for sure - hasn't for some 6 moths, err, that should be months...

[MortonH]

So Gondwana will be on display?

[mental4astro]

I've only just approached the ASNSW committee seeking permission to do so. Cut things a bit short, but the business has only just been launched.

[mental4astro]

I'm really happy to announce that the Committee of ASNSW has given me the green light for Gondwana Telescopes at SPSP this year. My most sincere thank you to them, :)

In appreciation of this, I'm hoping to do a sketching workshop at SPSP too. Very significant for both me and Wiruna as it was at Wiruna that Scott Mellish developed the sketching technique that bares his name. I keenly await their reply.

Alex.

[MortonH]

Woohoo! Can't wait to see your work (scopes and sketching).

[lacad01]

That's great news Alex, will be on the lookout for ya :thumbsup:

[tlgerdes]

For those going to the SP Star Party and are afraid of the cold, Aldi has a as ski gear special on Saturday the 17th of may.
https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys/snow-gear-sat-17-may-2014/

Wiruna night temps in May are around 0deg but we have seen -3 at the May event 2yrs ago

[AG Hybrid]

Thanks for that. The face mask with nostril openings is pretty darn good. The gloves that works with touch screens is good too.

[Big Dave]

Yep

[uwahl]

I will be there for my first ever star party with my scope gear. Is anyone else bringing a caravan? If you are and have been before can you give me a clue as to where I should park it? I know the layout of the place as I spent a weekend there with a pair of binos about a year ago but don't want to tread on any toes (or should it be roll over any toes?) by lumbering around the site with a van in tow looking for a place to stop.:confused2:

[tlgerdes]

Hi Ulrich,

Don't worry too much, there will be marshals on site to direct you where to park yourself depending on whether you want the main field or the imaging field. In general for the main field, it is along the tree line in the field adjacent to entry, for the imaging field it will be along the northern fence line.

There is plenty of room for everyone.

[Poita]

I'm too sick to go, but I have a Lunt 60 solar scope, and a G11 with a C14 if anyone wants to borrow it for the star party.

I'm in Mudgee, so about 25 mins drive from the site, you could swing by Mudgee, grab some wine and supplies from the local shops, and borrow my gear, just make sure you bring it back again at the end :)
I could put the ED80 back together again too.
Cameras also available.

The only thing I don't have is battery packs.

Drop me a PM if you want to maybe leave your gear at home and borrow mine :)

[Octane]

Peter, you're very generous. :)

H

[mental4astro]

Would you like to make use of a 12" dob all to yourself? :)

I'm offering my new Marana, fitted with Argo Navis, to anyone who would like to give it a spin. I'm happy to give interested people at least an hour's use of the telescope.

While I'm helping out with the 3RF Sky Tour, the 12" Marana will be available. You may need to bring your own eyepieces as I will be using mine at the Sky Tour.

If you are interested, please let me know so I can arrange a little demo on how to use the scope and the Argo Navis during daylight. This is important as a hand crafted dob is nothing like a mass produced one. Marana is a balanced instrument, so no brakes, clamps, clutches, etc, to dampen the action of the instrument. Finger pressure is all that's needed to get her to move, :D

I will not be far away either during the night as Marana will be set up right next to where I'll be conducting the Sky Tour.

You will be able to find me at SPSP by looking for the Gondwana Telescopes flag banner near to where the 3RF folks will be.