North Queensland, Spring 2008

[glenc]

Are you interested in an astronomy camp in North Queensland next year? I suggest that it be on the new moon weekend 29/8/08.
The northern milky way is visible then and the weather is good.

I suggest that it be at Undara. (lat -18.19, long 144.61, alt 750m)
Undara is about 1700km north of Brisbane and 275km by road SW of Cairns.
http://www.undara.com.au/
They give a 15% discount to groups of 10 or more.

Their prices per adult per night are normally.
Carriage Rooms - Standard* $75
Carriage Rooms - Ensuite* $85
Wilderness Lodge* $25
Swags Tent Village (Excludes linen) $20
Safari Shelter (Includes power) $12
Camp Site or Van Site (no power) $8
* Single room supplements may apply.

This is the weather data for the nearby town of Mt Surprise.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averag...w_030036.shtml (http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_030036.shtml)
They have 17.6 clear days vs 2.1 cloudy days in August.

If you know of a better place please let me know.

[iceman]

Is that around the same time as QLD Astrofest?

[[1ponders]]

Astrofest this year is 6/8/07 - 12/8/07

[glenc]

Last year the Qld Astrofest was July, this year early August. Does anyone have a date for 2008?
So far there are 4 interested in North Queensland.

[glenc]

Another option is to stay at the Bedrock Village Caravan Park at Mount Surprise. http://www.bedrockvillage.com.au/

[duncan]

Count me in for sure.:thumbsup:

[astroron]

Looks good to me Glen:) :astron:

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Glen I have to say I'm definitely keen, we have over a year to plan and it sounds like a great idea! My only concern is proximity to Astrofest, but if it comes to a choice of attending one or another I'd probably lean towards this trip instead as a "one of" event over the annual Qld Astrofeast, as great as it is.

My annual winter Astro camp / trip / holiday schedule could end up looking like this:

2006 Astrofest
2007 Astrofest
2008 Nth Qld trip
2009 Astrofest
2010 Easter Island (still hopeful of making the Eclipse)
2011 Astrofest
2012 Nth Qld Eclipse

I could sure live with that schedule!
;)

[glenc]

On 29/8/08 we should be able to see the northern sky from RA 16 to RA 6.
The PN NGC 6543 transits 5 degrees above the horizon (dec +71). The attached SkyMapPro image is for 8pm from Undara.

[earthlight]

Queensland Astrofest Dates are chosen by the moon being the darkest on the saturday night or at least in the middle of the week. We keep away from September because burn offs and mist are more likely and June because of cold. We will choose June only if there is no suitable weeks found in July/August.

2007 6-12 August
2008 25th July - 3rd August Extra Weekend trial - 10 day camp
2009 14th- 23 August Extra days are penciled in case not worth it but I'm sure it will be a great hit.


Please don't clash. When I heard about Boarder StarGaze I really wanted to go but I love being involved with Astrofest. There are 52 weeks in the year don't make anyone make a choice. We love driving holidays and astronomy, combining them in anothe holiday would be perfect.

________________________
Anne-Louise Surma-Hawes
QLD Astrofest Registrar

[okiscopey]

Glen, sounds like an interesting trip. I'll be a 'grey astro nomad' next year and have always wanted to see the lava toobs .. so count me in!
:thumbsup:

[glenc]

Thanks everyone. I think the -18 degree latitude, good altitude (750m) and high chance of clear weather should provide interesting observing of the all the sky especially the northern sky. Six people are interested so far.
Glad there is no clash with the Qld Astrofest, thanks Anne-Louise.

[glenc]

There are three large elevated areas in Northern Australia, the Kimberleys in WA, Arnhem Land in the NT and the area SW of Cairns in Qld.
I used this map when I was looking for an elevated area in North Qld for this trip in 8/2008.
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/wallpaper/art/PIA06665-1600x1200.jpg
There are more wallpapers at:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/wallpaper/earth.cfm

[spacezebra]

Hi Anne-Louise

Good to hear that you had a great week. hopefully we will be posting our dates in the coming months - stay tuned. Cross fingers I will get to Astrofest next year :D!!!!!

Cheers Petra

[glenc]

I plan to spend 3 nights at Undara, Fri 29/8/08 to Sun 31/8/08. Others can stay longer (or less nights) if they wish.
Here is a Google Earth image of the area. The airstrip is 1.8km long and 752m above sea level, the large brown cleared area at lower right (latitude -18.21, 114.69 longitude) is 852m above sea level. The road across the top of the image goes to Mt Surprise. There are 7 clear days to every 1 cloudy day in August/September. Day/Night temperatures are about 30 C/12 C.
Here is a road map. http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/MRWEB/prod/Content.nsf/2911b5cc11cfec994a2569e60005f0b3/7c8ffa658af038254a256be50004f930?Op enDocument
Undara is 98 km from Mt Garnet, 176 km from Greenvale, 260 km from Cairns, 410 km from Townsville and 1680 km from Brisbane.
There is more information here: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?noback=1&parkid=133 (http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?noback=1&parkid=133)
The Kalkani Crater rim walk — 2.5km return (1.5 hours) sounds interesting.

[NQLD_Newby]

Glen,

You can count me in on this one. Since there is so much time to plan etc, I will see if I can do a recon trip before then and post photo's, road conditions etc. I would have to see how things pan out but am almost positive that I would be able to do this. Its only about 5 hours from here if I go the back way, so might see if I can plan a family camping trip over christmas school holidays. My family loves camping trips so gives a good excuse to go and see the lava tubes, and do a little recon at the same time. Sounds like a fantastic trip.

[glenc]

Thanks Rex, that would be good.

[astroron]

Glen, I am looking forward to the trip next year:):stargaze::astron:

[glenc]

If I get time I might check out the Wed 14/11/2012 solar eclipse path.
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/TSE2012google.html
The eclipse will last for 2m 7s starting at 6:38 am with the Sun 13 deg above the horizon.

[glenc]

We could have a camp every two years. The best months for clear days in North Queensland are June to October.
Friday 29/8/08 is the date for next year. (7 clear days : 1 cloudy day)
Friday 11/6/2010 would be good for seeing a different part of the night sky. (3.5 clear days : 1 cloudy day)
Friday 9/11/2012 would be suitable for those going to the solar eclipse. (2 clear days : 1 cloudy day)

[glenc]

This page shows the accommodation options at Undara. You can think about what suits you.
http://www.au.v3travel.com/VCubed/Page/MyWebSite/MyWebSite.aspx?ShortName=Undara&view=ViewHomePage

[Kris J. Parker]

Sounds great. I recently move to Cairns from the Isa and have not been able to find a local astronomy group. Might be able to meet some people up this way for the first time.

Mark me down for three beds.

Should be a great weekend if all goes according to plan.

Cheers

Kris

[glenc]

I think it might be better if everyone makes their own booking. They can pay as much as they wish and stay as long as they like.
http://www.au.v3travel.com/VCubed/Pa...w=ViewHomePage (http://www.au.v3travel.com/VCubed/Page/MyWebSite/MyWebSite.aspx?ShortName=Undara&view=ViewHomePage)

[glenc]

Here is a map of the area.
www.greattropicaldrive.com.au/PDF/Trail_8.pdf

[glenc]

And here is a light pollution map for eastern Australia.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18951&d=1162409428

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Great research as usual Glen! I'm definitely looking forward to this trip!!

I'm working on completing the list of observable Messier objects for my latitude before then, so that hopefully I can observe & log the last ones during this journey.
(I may have to do another trip northwards prior to this event to achieve that goal though).

[glenc]

I am working on a list of bright objects between dec+40 and dec+65 and I will calculate their transit times for 30/8/08.
It is a pity the Hann Hwy through the Gregory Ranges (900m alt) from Hughenden to The Lynd is not sealed, it would be a great place to observe, one of the best places in Australia. http://www.abc.net.au/westqld/stories/s1250610.htm
Does anyone on IIS have influence with the Queensland Department of Main Roads???
I often check the cloud around Undara and the Gregory Ranges using. http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDE00902.loop.shtml

[glenc]

The ratio clear days to cloudy days exceeds 2 to 1 from April to November in Hughenden and Charters Towers. It exceeds 3 to 1 from April to November in Georgetown with a maximum of 19 to 1 in August. :)
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_030018.shtml
Only trouble is it gets hot in Oct & Nov.

[Mick]

Here is a link to the Cairns Astronomy Group Kris.
http://www.users.bigpond.com/jamesbak.htm

[glenc]

This astrocamp is still on for the last weekend in August. Please make your own bookings with Undara.
http://undara.com.au/accommodation/

[glenc]

Please send me a private message if you are planning to be at Undara Aug 29-30. Thanks.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I'm stretching my holiday time pretty thinly this year Glen, so I'm still working out whether or not I can make this one.

I'm already taking time off work for the astro camps at Barambah and Duckadang (Astrofest), plus some time off each major set of school hols for my son to come and stay .... I'll let you know once I know myself!

[glenc]

OK Steve

[glenc]

The Undara astro-camp is still on Friday 29/8 and Saturday 30/8.