IceInSpace Star Party (Central Coast) - May 7th 2005

[iceman]

Hey guys.

IceInSpace is having it's first official IceInSpace Star Party on Saturday the 7th May 2005, on the Central Coast of NSW.

This is an open invite to everyone, including their families. Even if you don't own a scope, or even if you don't want to bring one, there'll be plenty of big scopes to look through. If you live on the central coast, or anywhere from newcastle to sydney or the blue mountains, we'd love to see you.

Date: Saturday 7th May 2005
Time: 4pm
Location: "The Paintball Place", Greta Road, Kulnura (click for map) (http://www.iceinspace.com/downloads/kulnura_map.jpg). Myself or Anthony (our host) will try and get some balloons at the major intersections along the way.. you'll have to try hard to get lost :)

(see pics at bottom of thread) Once you're on Greta road, turn left on the 1st driveway (it's only 100metres down the road, look for the sign). Take a slight left through the trees which will get you into the observing field. Park your car safely around the edges of the field. If you need to drive onto the field to unload your scope etc (if it's heavy), no problems.

For those that don't want to bring scopes or drive there, and want to catch the train, we could arrange some carpooling from Gosford Station.. Rod or myself could perhaps take 1-3 people each. Contact me to arrange this.

There'll be plenty of talent there, including some of the central coasts top amateur astronomers with telescopes as large as 20 inches.

The plan is to arrive around 4pm, so everyone can setup their scopes in daylight, and then have a BBQ early dinner where everyone can get to know each other.

BBQ/dinner/drinks
Info for the BBQ:
- Bring your own meat
- Onions, bread (or breadrolls), i'll supply.
- BBQ/Tomato sauce, we'll supply.
- Tea and Coffee will be supplied (I'll bring some milk)
- Bring your own softdrink, beer, wine for the dinner, and for the long night ahead.

The site has gas BBQ's, running water, flush toilets and limited240v power.

If you're keen to do astrophotography with your laptops, there's other areas on the field you can setup (behind some big mounds) where your laptop glow won't annoy anyone :)

Other things to think about bringing:
- Aeroguard
- Dew shields/zappers
- Hairdryers
- Tarp for the ground
- Red Torches
- Cold weather gear
- Portable power

Remember it'll be star party ettiquette.. while it's a social occassion, when it's dark, people want it to stay dark. So no white lights.

Reply with your expressions of interest, questions etc.

What if it's wet/cloudy?
In the most unfortunate event of wet or cloudy weather, we'll still be going ahead with the BBQ (get to know each other) and hope the clouds clear.. I'm sure there'll be plenty to chat about, maybe some cards, some beers, who knows? :)


(list will be updated as people notify of their availability)

Definites:
iceman (mike) + family (?)
rodstar (rod) + family (?)
frogman (anthony)
brendan (brendan)
trufflehunter (wayne)
seeker + family (narayan)
Orion (ed), tornado33 (scott), George, Patrick, h0ughy (David) + others from NAS
John H + family
atalas (louie)
Gary Kopff & Mai Tran
hector (andrew murrell)
james
Lesa Moore
Rodney Hunter

Maybes:
Greg Bryant
Dave Reneke
xelasnave

If I've forgotten anything or anyone, let me know.

Here's a few pics of the field (heavily compressed):

Where you enter from Greta Road.
http://www.iceinspace.com/images/news/kul1.jpg

Where you go down through the trees.
http://www.iceinspace.com/images/news/kul2.jpg

The field (looking northeastish):
http://www.iceinspace.com/images/news/kul3.jpg

The field (looking southwestish):
http://www.iceinspace.com/images/news/kul4.jpg

[iceman]

Moved wayne to the 'definites' list.

Added a paragraph about rainy/cloudy weather.

Oh and I'll bring more stickers along to the May event, if there's anyone there who still wants some (and presuming I still have some left).

[ausastronomer]

Mike and all,

I have just realised that I am unable to attend on the 7th May, which is a great disappointment to me and my 8yr old, who was coming for the early part of the night.

Yesterday, I received an invite to a surprise 50th birthday party for my best friend of 30 years. I was really looking forward to attending on the 7th as I think it will be a great night with even more people and with some larger aperture scopes than we had last Saturday. Unfortunately, I can't risk upsetting a friend of 30 years for 1 nights observing, as my wife said, "you can play telescopes anytime (she doesn't understand) but Bob will only turn 50 once !!".

Sorry about that guys (and gals) but hopefully I can attend the next Kulnura Star Party in July. Not sure if I can get to Wiruna in June.

CS-John B

[iceman]

Sorry to hear it John. We'll miss your pentax's.. I mean, we'll miss you :)

We'll do it again for sure.

[Rodstar]

I wonder if we co-ordinated star parties across Australia and NZ on the same night, we could lay claim for the purposes of the Guiness Book of Records as the "largest" star party ever??

How about you folks outside of NSW have a party on the same night?

Rod

[[1ponders]]

There is already one on in NZ at Lake Taupo being organized by Bobby et al. The Aussies will be well represented.

I like the idea of being in the Guiness Book. If it is possible to organise nights on the 7th for ppl in WA, SA, Vic, NT, QLD as well as NSW and NZ maybe we could go for the "Most Spread Out Star Party for a Group" And if someone in each group had a laptop with internet connection each group could keep intouch, descibing what they were looking at etc etc Blah Blah.....you get the idea. :D

[seeker372011]

Mike/Anthony:

inotice you said 240V power is available on site..is it possible to run a line to power a scope?

alternatively can you park close to your scope so you can plug into the car?

[iceman]

Re power line, It's possible, i just don't know how many plugs he's got and how many extension leads.

It is certainly possible to park your car close enough, if you choose a spot on the edge of the field. Obviously we don't want cars parked in the middle of the area where noone can walk through.

[iceman]

Updated main post with more definites.

[JohnH]

I am a newbie to this and would love to attend - will bring wife pllus 6yrs old daughter. Hope we have clear skies...

[iceman]

I have updated the main post again..

Start time is now 4pm, not 3pm as earlier suggested.

Added info about what to do when you get there.

Info about the BBQ (and what to bring for it) added.

Any other definites? Louie?

I'll try and get John to see if Andrew and Daniel are definites, and i'll speak to Gary.

[ausastronomer]

Mike,

Get Gary to contact Andrew. They would probably arrive together anyway. I will contact Daniel.

CS-John B

[silvinator]

Hey Mike, can you put me and Le down as a maybe? How long do you think the night will go for?

[iceman]

Hey Silvie i've put you (and Le) down as a maybe.

The night will go for as long as you want it to.. It will start at 4pm for the BBQ, but you don't have to arrive until it's dark, it's up to you. And you can leave whenever you want, whether it's 8pm or 2am.

I won't be staying past 12 or 1am, as it's mothersday the next day and the kids will wake me up at 6am too.

[iceman]

Moved atalas (louie), Gary Kopff + Mai Tran, and Andrew Murrell to the 'definites' list. :clap:

[Rodstar]

Can't wait! How cool to have SOOOO many people coming. We'll have to have a group photo before dark!!

Mike, I'm thinking of bringing Jack, and maybe Noah. They can come up in my car, but no way of getting home at a reasonable hour because I am staying until very late!!! Is your family coming in two cars?? Any chance of my fella(s) catching a ride home with Kate??

Rod

[xelasnave]

I may be in Sydney that week and hope to turn up if thats ok... I have never been to a star party so it would be my first..
alex

[atalas]

Anthony hi! Is that the same area we viewed in last month?


Louie:cool3:

[frogman]

no
different spot same property tho

[frogman]

ill take some more photos tomorow... prettied up the page a bit more.http://my.integritynet.com.au/anthonylord/index.htm

[iceman]

Updates:

- New pictures of the new field. We can't use the one we were at last time, it's now dirt instead of grass.

- Updated instructions on how to get to the observing field from Greta Rd.

- Limited 240v power may be available, as we will have to run a generator. So please bring your own portable power if you need it. Don't rely on 240v power being available to run your scope.

- Added james to definites, and xelasnave to maybe's.

- Culled off-topic posts from the thread (sorry!)


Anyone seen a long range forecast?

[h0ughy]

Hopefully I will see some of you there. i intend to come along with Orion and tornado33.

[iceman]

Very good David! I'll add you to the definites list.

[ausastronomer]

Mike,

Daniel Beringer from Frontier Optics is unable to attend on this occasion. He has some relatives coming from interstate staying overnight with him for Mothers Day the next day. He will try to get to the next one at Kulnurra.

CS-John B

BTW Mike I would like a full roll call posted the following day on who attended :)

[iceman]

Sorry to hear that Daniel can't make it. Thanks for letting me know.

John, you can be sure there'll be a writeup or two, with pics and a full role call. :D Being Mothers Day and Abbey's 1st birthday though, I may not get to it until Monday.. I'll post a quick impression Sunday morning before the wife gets out of bed :)

[iceman]

Michael from Koolang can't make it.

Not good so far :(

[h0ughy]

I hope that this passes before the weekend

[Brendan]

oh bugger, looks like a pretty thick cloud band

[frogman]

OI SHUT UP !!!!! Think "+" it WILL be a perfect DEW FREE, Cloud FREE night.... come on power of positive thought........

It s like saying " Good thing Its not raining lets wash the car "

:D :D :D

Anthony

[h0ughy]

Frogman

maybe you might need to wash your car west of the great divide?

It will be a perfectly clear crisp beautiful night, with a slight zepher from the west, and a power blackout!

[frogman]

Beautiful ..... Thats what we want to hear ! :D

Anthony

[Rodstar]

She'll be fine on the night guys!

And if it's not, there'll be plenty to talk about. I mean 2 billion threads later (or however many have been posted on this forum) we still seem to always find something to talk about!

:cloudy:

[atalas]

God spoke to me last night and told everything will be fine OK !

Louie:face:

[Rodstar]

He was talking about your SOUL Louie, not the weather!
:whistle:

[atalas]

Gee'z I can worry about that after May the 7th !


Louie:wink2:

[iceman]

Lesa Moore is coming! :clap:

[thehunter]

Hi Mike
add me to 'the definites' ..... thank you!

Rodney
:cheers:

[iceman]

Hi Rodney.

Glad to see you signed up. I've added you to the definites.

Will be a good night, socially :D The weather isn't looking very favourable. But it will still be fun to catch up with everyone anyway.

[frogman]

Hey guys it nice and dark out here tonight hope it will be this dark on Saturday

[Rodstar]

Another Rodney. Very cool. And from the Central Coast, too. Looking forward to seeing you, "thehunter"!

[JohnH]

may not be for the reasons we want...

[seeker372011]

Ok everyone at the count of three huff and puff and blow the cloud away

[hector]

Hi All
Hector and I will be there on Saturday Night, but i will be lkate as i work on Saturdays. I will be travelling from Newcastle and leaving at 3.30pm. I should get to the observing site at about 5pm if all goes well.
I will be using Hector for the evening as I would at the SPSP. Giving sky tours so that everyone can look thru a 20".
Does anyone have a list of objects they would like to view?????
Bring one along.

[Rodstar]

Looking forward to through your scope, Andrew!

Can you put me down for M46 + planetary next door.

Clear skies!

[iceman]

Hi Andrew.

Great you'll be bringing hector.. I just hope it has a cloud penetrating laser :D

[atalas]

Hey big guy! I wan't to see stephan's quintet thank you .

Louie :clap:

[iceman]

JohnH, where did you find that image? Which website?

Guys even though the weather is working against us, we're still going to have a great time, even if we don't get any observing in. There'll still be a great socialising BBQ, and i'm sure some talk about telescopes and some great astronomy discussions with some of the central coasts best known in the field.

Don't forget to bring your meat and any beverages you want.

oh and is it possible for someone to bring a few litres of milk in an esky?

[iceman]

Oh also, don't forget:
1. It will be cold.
2. It may be raining.
3. If the sky is clear, there will be dew.

[JohnH]

Mike you can find the cloud forecast here:

http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/auscloud3days.shtml

Not sure it will make you happy though :-(

[frogman]

!

[iceman]

lol nice Anthony :)

and you're right John, i'm not happy about those clouds :(

[frogman]

Hey guys and girls ONLY 1 MORE SLEEPS....

[Orion]

It doesn't look to good over my way.

[iceman]

The weather is not good, and won't likely be good tonight either. So viewing is not likely at this stage :( :( :(

The BBQ area is undercover. There will be places to sit, eat, relax, undercover out of the rain (if it's raining).

We could potentially call it off and postpone it, but some people mightn't read this and so would head up anyway. We'll have another one soon if there's no viewing tonight.

[iceman]

It might get a bit better tonight.

[Brendan]

I'm still planing on heading down, might be a bit late, got some stuff to do before i leave.

[mick pinner]

good luck to you New South Welshman on your get together tonight, there are about 7-8 coming to our get together, 50/50 cloud at the moment but there's always hope, have a great time fellas.

[h0ughy]

Please accept my apologies for tonight. Weather and family have brought me back to earth.

[iceman]

I'll still be there @ around 4pm, and Rodstar is still coming.. I won't be bringing the family though.. 3 kids in the wet isn't a good thing :)

Shame you can't come David, hopefully next time..

I'm debating whether to take my scope.. it's unlikely we'll get to look through it.. but i'll feel lost leaving home without it :(

[Orion]

Sorry fellows, we also from the NAS ask for your apologies for tonight the weather has realy turned us off and I hope that the weather will be alright next time around.

All the best.

[thehunter]

my apologies for tonight - I need to keep the home fire burning

Rodney

[iceman]

No problems to the guys that didn't show, completely understandable.

We had a group of 8 or so of us show up:
anthony (frogman)
louie (atalas)
narayan + wife (seeker)
mike (iceman)
brendan (brendan)
gary kopff (gary)
rod (rodstar)
andrew murrell (hector)

We had a good BBQ and chin wag.. everyone headed off at about 7:30pm.

Was a good fun night, despite no observing.. good to put a face to the names and have a good social chat. I'll post the photo up tomorrow, gotta wrap the wife's present for tomorrow :D

Thanks for coming anyway guys, hopefully we'll get together next Friday night (13th) for an impromptu session if the skies are clear.

[JohnH]

My apologies also - and the skies are clear(ish) here do I'm trying a few shots between the clouds....oh it's mothers day!

[Rodstar]

Friday the 13th.......I wonder if we'll spot any witches on their broomsticks???

[frogman]

wouldnt that just S___T you up the stairs..... 10:30 Pm it started to clear by 1 am it was amazing thank you for collimating my little girl for me guys....

ill be out tonight imm tell you how the new setup goes !!
Antony

[iceman]

It was clear? Dang that! :)

Here's the photo of our little gathering..

[h0ughy]

Looks like misfit corner to me!:P

I look forward to meeting you guys soon, maybe next friday night? We will see what the weather gives us! :cool:

[Orion]

Ah, so thats who you are! I can't belive that it cleared up after everyone went home.

[gbeal]

Sorry to hear it was less than ideal. Ours went well, and Ponders has been delegated the task of committing it to paper, so I will leave this up to him
Gary

[iceman]

It didn't clear up until well after we went home, 11pm or so.. noone even brought their scopes (except Louie) :D

[acropolite]

Suggest that next time make it a "Paintball Party", and bring your scope just in case :P

[Rodstar]

HOughy, you should fit in just fine!

[ballaratdragons]

Unfortunate about the clearing after you left.

Try an all nighter camp-out next time! If it does clear up you will still be there.

At least you all had a great get-together.

[iceman]

What a difference a day makes.. tonight it was crystal clear all night :( How disappointing :(

Oh well, maybe this friday we'll be luckier.

[h0ughy]

I think I will change the note at the bottom of the notices from now on to read Mr Pesimistic.

We are due for showers on thursday, friday is unknown at the moment.

[iceman]

I'm actually free on Saturday now, so we can do it friday or saturday, depending on what people want. I'll check what time the moon sets on both days.

I'll start a new thread for it too, it doesn't belong in here anymore.

[Brendan]

I would like to add my thanks to frog man for hosting us on Sat night and the rest for some very interesting converstation.

Shame it cleared up.

how ever some one needs to educate wombats on the correct way to cross the road, this does not hurling grunts at the driver of the vehicle :D, think next time i will take the freeway.

[frogman]

HAHAHAHHAHA you didnt hit him did you ????
but yeah you have to love the way they look at you as if to say " WHAT ??? " and keep walking....
that roads great for wombles

Anthony

[trufflehunter]

Sorry I couldn't turn up guys... I didn't think it would have gone ahead with the rain! Fingers crossed for next weekend. Saturday would suit me better. I don't get home from work on Friday till at least 5:00

...and you look like a damn fine bunch of 'misfits' to me!

[atalas]

Hey I don't think I have ever heard anyone complain that it cleard up before !

Louie :rofl:

[Brendan]

no anthony didn't hit him, thought the peice of grass hanging out of its mouth like a durrie was kinda amusing at the time. gota love abs. :lol:

[JohnH]

Sat pm it looks to be clearing up is anyone intending to show up?

[iceman]

Wrong thread John, try this one:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2002

Do you want to be added to the central coast mailing list?

I'll be turning up if it's clear.

[frogman]

Hello strangers ..... i havent posted since 2005 .. found a 4 inch dob for the verandah and thought of you " bunch " ....
Anyone still observing ?
Think i met Rod again here in Canberra but not sure .

Anthony

[h0ughy]

wow now there is a blast from the past!:thumbsup:

[frogman]

Yeah man ... found the posts and all the old gear and nights we spent out .... i miss it :)

[Rodstar]

Hey Froggy! Ah that takes me right back....our first gathering was, if I recall at that crazy bloke's place in Woy Woy, who wanted to build a Planetarium at Kariong...then the first ever observing session for IIS at the Water Tower at Somersby....and then...your kind invitation to Paint Ball, and the rest is history!

I remember your 12 inch dob very well, your enthusiasm and generosity in welcoming us to Paint Ball every month. Lots of memories of the early group of observers with their scopes - Mike Salway (10 inch dob), Rocket Boy (130mm Takahashi), HOughy (12 inch SCT), John Bambury (10 inch Dob), Atatalas (110 Takahashi?), Wayne (8 in SCT), Ed Roca (18 inch Dob), George Lavanos (who wore shorts and bare feet in the middle of winter!!), Gary Kopff, Andrew Murrell, Narayan. And then the many others who came to join us at Paint Ball with their children..Joe and Anushka, Scott (now back in the US) with his boys, my three kids, the list goes on and on...

Froggy, to your original question, for some of us, astronomy is something you cannot maintain the rage about indefinitely - it is an interest that (rather appropriately) waxes and wanes over the years. I bought a law firm 5 years ago, and the energy needed to run a business with 50+ staff has made it far more difficult to observe as I am so dang tired at night. However, in a few weeks I will be taking delivery of a brand new 20 inch SDM, and I am expecting this will get me much more motivated in 2018!

Good on you for buying the verandah dob! There is a passionate group of amateur astronomers in the ACT, so you should be able to connect with some IIS people down there if you are keen.

I don't recall seeing you in Canberra - last time I think I saw you was at Zanzibar in West Gosford. Nice to hear from you, and hope to meet you in person, possibly under the Milky Way, some time soon! :thumbsup:

[Octane]

Wow, dude! Good to see you here again! I was checking out your profile the other day to see when was the last time you had logged in. :D

Where abouts are you here in Canberra?

H

[ausastronomer]

Hi Froggy,

Nice to hear from you again and good to see you have got yourself a verandah scope.

I am still observing although not with the same intensity I used to. I go to all of the Ozsky Events at Coona which is an 8 day event that we host for visiting US observers. That gives me a fix and calms the nerves for a while.

I haven't observed much from home in the last 12 months due to the unsuitability of conditions in the temporary house I was living (like no back yard and telescopes buried). I have just moved house last Friday to a much better house with a large back yard and pretty decent skies so I plan to do some back yard observing again in the coming weeks. Unlike Rod, :hi: I have no need, or desire for any new telescopes. The 3 scopes I have are all premium scopes (18" Obsession and 14" and 10" SDM's) and due to the changing metallurgy of the construction materials used in the scopes, they seem to get considerably heavier with every year that passes :D. In addition I have ready access to scopes up to 30" with Ozsky so I don't need anything super large myself. I mainly do lunar / planets and double stars from home and both the 10" and 14" SDM's are ideal for this.

Hopefully we can cross paths again at some time in the future.

Cheers
John B

[ausastronomer]

[QUOTE=Rodstar;1359372] George Lavanos (who wore shorts and bare feet in the middle of winter!!)


Hi Rod,

I will never forget George turning up to Paintball in early June 2005 for a nights observing, wearing nothing but shorts, thongs and tee-shirt.

Nor will I ever forget George grinding a mirror in the creek / waterhole at the first IISAC at Lostock in late January 2006, because of the 40+ degree temperatures. That is a sight I will never forget, I couldn't stop laughing. If that mirror turned out to be better than 4/1 waves it got lucky :) Although he was only rough grinding it.

A real character !!

Cheers,
John B

[RB]

Anthony, hey buddy, how's it going, we've missed you !!!
So good to hear from you.
Ah, the memories, paintball guns, pizzas, scopes, eyepieces and the odd cigar or two...
We need a reunion....

RB
:prey:


Rod, the memories keep flooding back..... :D



hahaha John, what a character George was.
And exactly as you describe, I remember him grinding that mirror in the creek in that heat !!
Here's that photo I took of him that day.
Wow, just wow.

RB

[Octane]

Those were the days. I'd have just finished polar alignment, ready to take my first image, while everyone else was packing up getting ready to go home. :D :D :D

H