Arkaroola Star Party

[Harb]

Anyone going here

http://www.arkaroola.com.au/starparty.php

[veganblue]

I went with two friends. We didn't know any one else and have only a casual interest in astronomy - not enthusiasts but interested all the same.

While there was no helping the weather, we didn't even get to look through a telescope. The view of McNaughton comet was tremendous - with the naked eye.

Apart from the location and the geology speech given by an enthusiastic and animated Adelaide University lecturer, there was little to recommend it. Go to Arkaroola by all means, but go for the camping, the bushwalking, the plants and wildlife and personal sky viewing.

The Star Party itself was a fizzer from an organisational point of view. Not encouraging or engaging which was surprising considering the full day of challenging travel required to get there and the fees paid.

[iceman]

That's not good to hear. What about the organisation wasn't up to expectations?

[fringe_dweller]

I have always thought that is rather strange place to have a 'star party', its so remote and hard to access by normal city sedan car - we once went up the road that goes there from the barrier highway for a bit, I couldnt believe how bad that road was, I dont know how good the other route is? - but this one was 4WD only, it was amazing country of course. I just assumed it was for rich international tourists in helicopters? - could be wrong of course :D
seems a bit of an elitist place to hold one, even if eminently suitable sky/elevation wise - you dont have to go that far for good enough skies here i would of thought - just my 10c worth :)

[veganblue]

We arrived on the second day since we were unable to cross the second creek due to flooding - we weren't the only ones.

When we informed the organiser that we had finally made it we were given a few parcels of star related material (not terribly helpful) and that was it. I guess the lack of people skills on behalf of the organisers was a big disappointment.

The talks were aimed at the hard core astronomy enthusiast who needed to know the physics behind the function of the different telescopes - for the first talk that we arrived for.

The lack of infomation about what the hell was going on was a pretty big deterrent and there was no real interest stimulated for getting involved.

None of us needed much encouragement - it's just that there wasn't *any*.

[JohnK]

Sounds like a bit of a fizzer. My mate and i camped back a few Km's near Chambers Gorge for a night and the Milky Way from Orion through to Crux was just brilliant, pretty well the whole sky was great for seeing. The Flinders Ranges is a great place for astronomy if you have the time. Autumn or Spring is the best.