Blue Mountains - Katoomba Airfield June 28th

[mental4astro]

Hi all,

The Airfield is being made available to us on the 28th of June. Many thanks Rod! ;)

This year so far has been a miserable one. I for one am very photon starved and am in need of a good photon fix. :scared2:

If you haven't been to the Airfield before, you are most welcome to come. Whether you have a scope or not, you are welcome.

Access is via Medlow Bath, the first village west of Katoomba. Turn into Station Pde at Medlow's only set of lights and then left into Rutland. Rutland turns into Grand Canyon drive. The Airfield is 4km from the Rutland turn off, with the last 3km being unsealed. This unsealed section was graded a year ago, so it could be showing some erosion ruts - take it easy here.

The Airfield is totally BYO power, food, drinks, etc. There is no knockoff time, it's up to you when you've had enough. We are welcome to stay overnight, and the office had a number of sofas to crash on.

Please remember that it gets very cold up there in winter. Come prepared for the cold. There is a combustion heater in the office building, which becomes the center of the universe :lol: It is a very welcome warm up spot!

This is an informal gathering. We all share the cost of a gift to Rod of his preferred brew. The hat gets passed around for this.

These get togethers are a great chance to ask questions if you are new to astro, with plenty of people willing to help out. The Airfield is at 1000m elevation which helps a great deal with reducing the affects of Sydney's light pollution and 2 hours drive from the CBD.

Heading to the Airfield

Note that some natsav systems call the Airfield, Katoomba Airport.

The first pic below shows the route to the Airfield coming from Katoomba. The second pic shows the way to the observing slab on the main runway.

On entering the Airfield, keep the left hand track - there is no access to the runway by using the two other tracks. Head past the 'No Entry' sign and turn right up the hill past the various buildings to the main runway. The set up slab is immediately on the left.

Mental.

[MortonH]

If I try not to get excited maybe I can actually make this one!

[jasonghaby]

Count me in. It has been way too long without a dark sky. Will be my first time at the airfield. very excited!!

[killswitch]

Count me in...

[Steffen]

Me too... :)

Cheers
Steffen.

[AG Hybrid]

I'll be there. Weather permitting. I'll do an all-nighter. Sunset to near sunrise.

I want a decent view of Venus.

[RB]

I'd love to visit you guys one day (night), love to see what it's like up there.
It's a beautiful area.

:)

[AG Hybrid]

Don't forgot to bring a hot water bottle to put in your eyepiece case. When your eyepieces are warm enough you can put it in your jacket. Because it will be cold up there.

Think I'll bring my cooker and kettle for hot water for drinks and hot water bottles.

[Wavytone]

Hooray.. hope this awesome weather continues !

[GUS.K]

Hi guys ,I live in Medlow bath, and would like to join your gathering.The road to the air strip is still a little corrugated,but as long as you keep your speed down its fine.Also,if any one is interested and wants to turn up earlier(if permitted),I will bring along my Lunt DS 60 H alpha scope and 80mm/Lunt solar wedge white light setup for some Solar observing.(hopefully others can bring their solar gear as well).

Thanks

GUS.K

[AstroJason]

Count me in too!

[mental4astro]

Gus, you are most welcome to come.

One thing, for anyone that arrives early, announce your arrival to Rod, the Airfield manager. Wondering strangers at the Airfield are not received well - there are expensive aircraft there. You just need to say you are there for the astro session. Once Rod knows your intentions, he won't leave you alone for a chat, :lol: Rod is a true gentleman.

Like Ardian, I too use a hot water bottle to keep my eyepieces warm in their case. I suggest you use a hot water bottle cosie or wrap the bottle in a towel so to soften the heat directly on the eyepieces. If the glass is warm from the start the eyepiece will be able to resist dew for much longer. A dew strap cannot heat a big lump of an eyepiece in the cold. But if the heat is in the eyepiece from the start, the heating strap will maintain the heat level in the eyepiece.

I've added pics and information on getting to the Airfield to the first post.

[lacad01]

Have cleared the calendar and weather permitting will be there. Don't forget your thermals, will be pretty chilly :cold: :thumbsup:

[Camelopardalis]

Sold! Now, can I bring me tent...? :lol:

[Wavytone]

Enjoying a crisp clear night outside Armidale... Really, really dark sky... Can't wait to get the scopes out at Katoomba :)

[FieldsofLaura]

Hi All.

I have never been to one of your star gazing groups but would love to attend this Saturday, would this be ok?

If yes what time do you usually arrive. I don't have any star gazing equipment, again is this ok or is it recommended to be equipped with all the gear?

Thanks

Laura

[AG Hybrid]

Hey Laura,

Your more than welcome to come along. Bring $5 though. Its the price of contribution as we gift the Airfield owner for access to the airfield in Beer. Literally Beer. We all chip in for the costs of a slab.

Probably best to arrive before sunset. Most of us will, so you can check out our gear in the day light.

You don't need to bring any astro equipment of your own. Nearly all of us are primarily visual observers. We also have a wide variety of instruments for you to look through. You will actually be spoiled for choice. We all love to share the views through our equipment. If you want to discuss what equipment to buy for yourself we can all share our experience with you.

I would recommend warm cloths and a nice chair to sit in. Like a comfy foldable camping chair. I guarantee you will want a chair and just stair up into the night sky and watch the galaxy center pass overhead. We all do! A pair of binoculars wont do you wrong either. Don't have to be expensive or large. Even small binoculars perform will at the airfield if you have a pair. If you don't that's OK. We have binoculars you can look through as well.

Well- I don't have binoculars because I'm an idiot and broke mine! But, other people bring theirs.

Look forward to meet see you there. Also, check this thread on the day to see if weather is permitting and if the event is still on.

By the way. When I suggest warm cloths. Like ski clothing. 3-4 layer type stuff. You might not need all the layers but better to have it and not need it then need it ant not have them.

[Wavytone]

Hi Laura,

As per Adrian there will be plenty of scopes to go round, that's never a problem. You will need to be prepared for temps around zero; full-length thermal underwear under jeans, woollens, warm jacket, gloves and a beanie are a good idea. Alternively ski pants and ski jacket, if you have them.

One advantage of being well-padded up is that if it's a beautiful clear night you can just lie on the ground and look up.

Optional accessories:

- star atlas, planisphere (or an app on a smartphone/tablet)
- thermos of tea/coffee,
- something to sit on like a folding camp chair.

There is a cabin nearby to warm up in if you get really cold.

[FieldsofLaura]

Thank you for your very thorough reply Adrian.

Fingers crossed the weather holds out as this sounds awesome and I would love to learn more about star gazing from you guys.

Noted it is a $5pp donation for beer! Also noted to arrive before dusk.

I was thinking lots of layers, folding chairs and a sleeping bag to sit in in case it is completely freezing.

I'll keep checking on here for updates.

Thank you once again and look forward to meeting everyone.

[MortonH]

Bugger. I am double booked - taking my daughter to a show at Luna Park at 4pm.

It's almost a year since I did any observing at a dark location :sadeyes:

[AG Hybrid]

Don't worry Mort. We'll tell you all about how brilliant it was.

[Camelopardalis]

I might even take some pics to taunt with too :lol:

[Camelopardalis]

Welcome Laura - couldn't agree more regarding layers and layers and layers ... and if there is a gentle breeze it can feel biting at this time of year. If you have a camping mat, bring that too as you'll be able to lay down on the ground with a little insulation...the Milky Way at this time of year is amazing :D

[MortonH]

I was quite shocked at how cold it is the first time I went. Basically dress as if you were going to Antarctica!

[andyc]

Am definitely in! Will bring Dob and imaging gear, and am staying near Lithgow for the weekend so less intense travel :)

[ncorreia]

I'm in! Gonna bring the imaging equipment, binoculars and a few camping chairs :)

[Manav]

I am looking good for now unless otherwise :)

[vic4loc]

I'm 90% in, see you all there.. going to be cold! Hopefully this cold front will pass, blowing away any pollution, leaving beautiful clear crisp skies.

Victor.

[killswitch]

FYI Kathmandu has a sale on their thermals again (available in-store too, save $10 shipping)

http://www.kathmandu.com.au/mens/base-layers/polypro-long-sleeve-top-v2-black.html?___SID=U (http://www.kathmandu.com.au/womens/base-layers/tops/polypro-long-sleeve-top-v2-black.html)

http://www.kathmandu.com.au/mens/base-layers/polypro-long-johns-v2-black-1.html?___SID=U

Other stuff also on sale :

http://www.kathmandu.com.au/winter-sale.html#!p=4&offset=6449
(http://www.kathmandu.com.au/winter-sale.html#!p=4&offset=6449)

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

I can't make it either - my wife's birthday on the 28th. Pity, as I could have tried out my new Minitower II.

Never mind, I get to take it to Sussex Inlet next week, away from the town lights.

Cheers

[AG Hybrid]

Geezz gonna have to get there early to get a nice spot on the concrete. Gonna be lots of extra people! :D

[mental4astro]

With there being several people imaging, would any of you mind if I hijack your scopes for a few minutes to take snapshots of a few different targets with my GSTAR camera? I have a 0.5X reducer too. Just four targets, Omega Cent. Eta Carina, Centaurus (or M83) & Grus Trio.

[Camelopardalis]

It might take me a couple of hours to get my polar alignment setup :eyepop: but you're welcome to use mine... if I bring my little refractor, we can suck in Eta Carinae without the reducer even :D

[GTB_an_Owl]

worried about the cold? - then get serious

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=120729

geoff

[dulwich.hill]

The Mewlon and I will be there too!

[AG Hybrid]

Hell yes! It's been too long since I've looked through it.

[icytailmark]

you guys are gunna freeze ur butts off its snowing!!!!

[AG Hybrid]

I'm less worried about snow. More worried about wind.

That, and clouds of course. Skippysky isn't suggest awesome conditions. Things may change over the next 3 days though.

[mental4astro]

Just spoke with Rod - snowed at Blackheath yesterday. Blooming cold alright. Wind today has died right down from yesterday, but as Adrian says, the next three days are what matters. A couple of the old pine trees there at Medlow Bath blew down over the highway yesterday too, blocking the road and brought down powerlines where the petrol station is.

Combustion heater's got plenty of fuel ready to go. Will be a popular meeting spot the heater on Saturday...

Geoff, you certainly have the good stuff going, :)

Folks, Geoff's post reminds me to mention not to forget your feet! Feet get real cold quickly, and make concentrating on the business at hand next to impossible. Keep your tootsies warm!

[Camelopardalis]

We need the jetstream to calm down or foxtrot oscar :D

[GUS.K]

Still very windy and cold up here in Medlow Bath, lost power yesterday from 5pm until lunchtime today. Hopefully the wind dies down for Saturday,will post weather conditions again on Friday night and Saturday morning.

GUS.K

[Wavytone]

Much as I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, I dislike wasting 4 hours driving for nothing.

While it's 99% likely to be clear, it's going to blow its proverbials out. Check the Mt Boyce AWS wind readings before you depart http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60901/IDN60901.94743.shtml

The other thing to check is the aerological diagram for 10 am to see what the jetstream is doing.

I'll make my decision about 3pm on Saturday, if the wind doesn't drop I'll stay put.

[GUS.K]

High clouds up here at Medlow bath at the moment, at least the winds have died down,hopefully a good day tomorrow.

GUS.K

[AG Hybrid]

Its good to have someone at Medlow Bath. Someone right there on site you know? Someone other than Rod I mean.

[Wavytone]

Looks like I have a night pass :)

Anyone interested in sharing the drive, city or north shore ?

[GUS.K]

Weather at Medlow Bath.Sunny at the moment,occasional strong wind gusts,expected to get worse,with cloud cover to increase by this afternoon.

GUS.K

[Wavytone]

It's already blowing strong and cloudy over the upper north shore. Wind at Mt Boyce 20-30 knots.

Satellite photo shows a band of cloud which I think is what's over us now, and clear behind that (southwest nsw) however the cloud is being driven by a strong cold front, so even if it does clear up in the afternoon the wind will be howling.

I'm sure it's quite unpleasant at the airstrip and hopeless for scopes. Alex won't want his new scope plastered in dust.

There goes another month...

[AG Hybrid]

Bah. We have handled wind before. If its not cloudy its open season.

Also, what makes you think Alex would use his new scopes?

[ncorreia]

So my weather forecast looks crap, but you can't trust the weather man. Who's still going? Trying to make the last minute decision whether to make the journey or not.

[Camelopardalis]

Even ignoring the wind, the satellite map isn't looking encouraging :confused2:

[AG Hybrid]

Interestingly enough. Skippy sky is predicting clear skies in 9 hours and more so in 12 hours at the airfield.

Edit: Well. Maybe not. If we lived at New Castle or at least the central coast we would have better chances.

[AstroJason]

How many times have we gone when its looked like it was going to be bad and its turned out to be unbelievably good? I am willing to take a chance today. That cloud band might evaporate into nothing like we have seen at Hargraves! Plus we have been to the airfield when its been clouded over and its cleared after 10/11. I'm up for an all nighter so don't mind waiting it out if it was to become cloudy.

[andyc]

Am up near Lithgow just now. It's fresh and sunny now, but already very windy. Its howling a bit in the chimney, reminds me of scotland!

Forecast is for damaging wind gusts later this afternoon with showers/storms. I did a little observing last night here in similar wind as now (the wind picked up in the evening), and though the scope wasn't being blown over, it was pretty disconcerting! A few photos earlier in the evening and in the lee shelter of a house in super clear skies though :)

If it remains like this I'm not so sure I'll head across, with the risk of bad weather and of fallen branches on the road in. I might be better off staying here and hoping it moderates in late evening/overnight.

Edit: the band on the satellite image (http://realtime2.bsch.au.com/vis_sat2.html?region=nsw&loop=no&images=&allday=&start=&stop=#nav) looks strong and very intimidating, will be hunkering down till that's passed...

[AG Hybrid]

Im up for an all nighter too. Just need to wait for conformation.

[mental4astro]

OK,

Mixed messages being had all round from all manner of sources.

Rod says it is windy. But, both Rod and I think that the best chance we have of getting any viewing done is not from our usual haunt of the slab, but from the 'Hanging Swamp' that is nestled between the two runways. Look at the picture below.

The Swamp is not a marshy wet mess, but a geologic phenomenon. Trees just don't grow on this patch of ground, and Lord knows how many times that National Parks and Wildlife have tried planting trees there, but they all die! This is the site that the Scouts do their camping from at the Airfield.

It is grassy, but totally enclosed by trees which provide shelter from the wind.

Access is not hard. From the "No Entry" sign, instead of turning right up the hill, you keep going straight past the two big hangers, crossing the secondary runway and entering a fire trail. The Swamp is immediately to the left. I've marked it on the picture.

I am looking at leaving by 3pm. I'll ask Rod to put a couple of markers to show the entry to the fire trail, and I'll look to put up a couple of little lights too. The office will still be available to us along with the combustion heater.

Alex.

[AstroJason]

Great news Alex, see you there, I'm planning on leaving around 2ish.

[killswitch]

Im in... i want to check out this new spot

Does anyone have spare 2" dust caps? Ill buy them off you

[Steffen]

I'll be there. So, are we all going straight to the swamp then?

Meteoblue forecasts 0.7 arc second seeing, I wish that would come true :)

Cheers
Steffen.

[Camelopardalis]

Alrighty! Gonna load up and grab a bite to eat. I expect it will be 3pm by the time I leave :sadeyes:

[AG Hybrid]

Alright ill start packing and head on out.

[mental4astro]

Rod will be setting up some markers to show where the firetrail entrance is for access to the Hanging Swamp.

Note: We are not setting up on the usual spot!

We will be using the Hanging Swamp as pictured in the photo below.

It is a grassy area, not as clear as the slab, but surrounded by trees that will help shelter us from the wind. The combustion heater is a walk away, but will still be up and running.

Cheers,

Alex.

[Wavytone]

Mmmmm. I'll come, but not expecting too much.

Yes it's clear. But the synoptic chart shows 2 cold front blowing through tonight and the isobars real close for tonight meaning it's going to be a howling gale - 30 knots plus at Mt Boyce. It's about the worst possible night for a week.

Yes the swamp might give some protection, but the seeing will be shocking. I think there'll be more huddled around the stove than outside.

[AG Hybrid]

Upside. If its windy you can go easy on the dew heaters.

[Camelopardalis]

Bonus!

[andyc]

Front's through here (south of Lithgow) and wind has dropped a lot. A few showers approaching, but might be decent up at katoomba, especially later on. Am too settled in here now to move - sorry, cosy open fire, wine an the chance of the same skies without moving is too tempting!

[GeoffW1]

He doesn't. He uses other peoples' :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[mental4astro]

We have fire!

No stars, but fire!

[MortonH]

Hope that's not a telescope in there!

[hobbit]

bonfire in high winds. That can't be good.

[lacad01]

We were toying with the idea of a sacrificial scope to appease the weather gods :P

[Steffen]

Yeah, those plywood Dobs burn like tinder!

Cheers
Steffen.

[Camelopardalis]

Well, I hope the weather improved for the guys braving it out after I left! It was snowing (but not settling) in Medlow Bath :D

By the time I got down to Linden it was clear...

The fire WAS awesome :D

[ncorreia]

Same here, looked like it all cleared up once we were on the road! Hope someone got to see the stars :P

Everything I own smells like smoke which = good times either way! Thanks for setting it all up Alex!

[mental4astro]

The expected clearing of cloud and easing of wind didn't eventuate sadly. Well, it did clear after we left, but not the wind to improve any possible seeing stability.

BUT! the great discovery of the night was the Hanging Swamp as a sheltered observing site. Even though conditions were pretty much bloody terrible, the shelter the surrounding trees gave was enough to take not just the sting out of the wind, but was actually pleasant enough to merit a bonfire to chew the fat around. This area has a designated fire pit which we had permission to use. It made for several very pleasing hours around a merry little blaze.

The kicker for me was those moments when the sky did clear, the Milky Way wad on fire it was so transparent!

So, folks, what do you think. Worth revisiting this spot at the Airfield?

Mental

[Wavytone]

Alex, glad I left early and had a good nights sleep ;)

On the way home I was thinking about the site too, but I think the concrete pads at the airstrip are better:

1. Less dust kicked up around the scopes if they're on the concrete, which matters for dobs with open bottom ends.

2. In warmer weather the mozzies will eat you alive at the hanging swamp. Serious problem to the extent I wouldn't consider trying - I've already had a March fly bite at the strip that took a year to heal. The concrete slabs being in a much more open location mean fewer mozzies.

3. If it's so windy that you can't use a dob on the old spot (the concrete pads) the seeing will be crap anyway.

4. The open fire is all very well on a rotten night, but ruins the site for observing. Conversely the concrete pads are close enough to the cabin.

The mt Blackheath site - with proper fireplaces in a location that screens the light - was better in that you could both observe and have an open fire nearby without annoying anyone. And no March flies there.

One downside with the concrete pads is the racket from Rods generator.

[Steffen]

I seem to have lost my dew shield in the swamp :( I think it might have blown away while packing up.

If anyone has found it – basically a sheet of flocked plastic, held together with velcro, to suit a 6" Mak – please let me know.

Cheers
Steffen.