Guinness World Record attempt – most people stargazing in one place

[Slawomir]

Might be a nice excuse to catch up with fellow stargazers...http://light2015.org.au/event/guinness-world-record-attempt-most-people-stargazing-in-one-place/

[AstralTraveller]

Participating in that would be something new for me but I won't be in Canberra. They mention multiple sites but I didn't notice any info on other sites. Anyone know anything?

[Wavytone]

Photoshopping a few large crowds and some scopes should do nicely :D

[N1]

For the multiple sites category, any site and any number of observers should be acceptable, as long as it's documented (such as by an observing report). These could be collated say on the appropriate forum on IIS, and then become part of the effort.

I don't do FB, otherwise I'd ask them directly if that was acceptable. Maybe not, because of Guinnes rules...

[Tony Law]

We are having our own event in co-operation with Mount Stromlo to help gain the World Record Stargazing Crown! COntact me if interested in joining us.

president@macastro.org.au

Cheers
Tony Law
President, MAS

[pfitzgerald]

Details can be found in the links in my OP last week.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=134999

Paul

[dimithri86]

I am going to the penrith UWS one, anyone else going?

[Kunama]

I will be at Stromlo with my c1880 Berry&Mackay 3.25" F15 brass refractor and the Tak FC76DC.

[Somnium]

what are the details for the UWS event?

[OzEclipse]

Hi Matt,

The event is listed to be at fellows oval at anu not Mt Stromlo?

Joe

[dimithri86]

http://www.uws.edu.au/observatorypenrith/uws_observatory_-_penrith_campus/whats_on/astronomy_night_-_21_august_2015_-_7.00pm_-_9.00pm

http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/world-record-stargazing-uws-penrith-observatory-tickets-17910233992

[Somnium]

thanks

[Andy01]

It's also on at Monash Uni, Clayton campus - Melbourne this friday night 6-9pm but you need to easily register online if you're bring a 'scope. Binos & long lenses on dslrs are acceptable also.

[OzEclipse]

Don't go to Mount Stromlo on Friday!

The Canberra record stargazing event is only being held on the main ANU campus at ACTON. Confirmed with the organizer today.

Here is the observing field location map for Canberra.

The stargazing attempt is only on one site at the Fellows Oval at the ANU Acton campus. There is nothing happening at Mount Stromlo Observatory.

I have attached the event location map below.

To be counted in the record, you need to register your name with Eventbrite.

More Event details here

http://www.anu.edu.au/events/mt-stromlo-observatory-world-record-night

Register here at Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/world-record-stargazing-canberra-tickets-17208918338

cheers

Joe Cali

[pluto]

Shame, looks like it's sold out everywhere near me in Sydney...

[webtubbs]

I'm going to the one in Strahan tomorrow night, but not holding out much hope of seeing very much. The forecast is looking dreadful :(

[OzEclipse]

Science week stargazing record attempt.

I was on the Canberra observing field tonight with one of my scopes for the observing record attempt.

I think we smashed both the single site and multiple sites across one country records tonight. In order to be counted in the record, you had to have a telescope, pair of binoculars or a camera with a telephoto lens. Organizers made cheap ($5.50) telescopes available for purchase. All 10000 of the cheap telescopes sold out around the country days beforehand.

Heavy cloud was predicted for much of south east Australia. Instead, we had alternating patches of clear and cloud. It was clear for the ten minute time window for both record attempts and we had cloud breaks at the two preset record times. The event was organized by Mt Stromlo Observatory but was held on the Australian National University's main campus in the city. The observatory area is too small and public transport non-existent. It was held on the Fellows Oval cricket ground at the Australian National University. It wasn't packed, but 2000 odd people even with telescopes don't cover a cricket ground.

Record for most observers from a single site previously stood at about 600. The set time for this attempt was 710pm -720pm. The cloud cleared just beforehand and tonight's new record set in Canberra was around 1860 people. I didn't remember the exact number but it was within 10 of this figure.

The record for most observers from multiple sites across a country stood at just over 3000. Given that we already had 1860 people on the field in Canberra, and the word is that most sites in Sydney and Melbourne had breaks in the weather. This attempt occurred from 830-840pm. Once again the cloud cleared and I think the count across the country will probably be in excess of ten thousand but I didn't hear it announced. Apparently, most sites had a clearing.

Congratulations to the organizers, Brad Tucker and Emma Kirby of Mt Stromlo Observatory and the hundreds of volunteers who acted as head counters. As a staff member of the university I wasn't allowed to be a head counter. But I enjoyed just being one of the crowd bumping into old friends and acquaintances I hadn't seen for years. A group of young Chinese students got so excited when looking at the Moon and Saturn through my scope. It was a lot of fun and a great night for our city!

Cheers

Joe Cali

[noswonky]

The facebook page reports an official single site record of 1869 and a provisional tally of 7232 for the whole country (previous record was 3006 for Mexico).
https://www.facebook.com/WorldRecordStargazing?fref=ts


I was at the UWS event with other members of Western Sydney Amateur Astronomy Group acting as stewards (doing the official counting and timing).

Here's a picture of the 242 stargazers after the record attempt.
Hope this link works...

https://www.facebook.com/UWSObservatory/photos/a.371818189616795.1073741831.323174 717814476/705771859554758/?type=1&theater