Registration for the Queensland Astrofest 2007 is OPEN and filling fast.

[earthlight]

Hi Everyone,

Registration for the Queensland Astrofest 2007 (August 6th to 12th 2007) is OPEN and Friday and Saturday night bunks are filling fast.

Seven days to enjoy Queenslands clear skies and cool days. Spend each day relaxing around the camp seeing all the wonderful equipment and gather ideas of what you could buy next. Talk to well known astronomy enthusiasts like Eddie Trimarchi and Brendan Downs about their discoveries and photographic achievements.

If you get a chance between observing, sleeping, eating and talking, other activities available at the camp include canoeing in the lovely Brisbane River (if not dry), half-court tennis, indoor bowls, put-put golf and walking through the bush. Bird watching is great as many birds visit the camp such as kookaburras, apostle birds and the occasional black cockatoo. The neighbouring towns are quaint and the Linville Pub has great counter meals.

Bunkhouse accommodation caters for the easy traveller with plenty of room on the site for campers and caravan enthusiasts. We have special Female areas for the single astronomer and rooms for the family astronomer.

Our busiest day is Saturday when our Guest of Honour is Dr Fred Watson; Head Astronomer at the AAO at Siding Springs gives his talk. In the evening there is the Astro-Feast and the drawing of the Raffle.

Watch the Noticeboard (http://www.qldastrofest.org.au/) for vital news regarding the camp. http://www.qldastrofest.org.au/

Online Registrations: http://www.qldastrofest.org.au/html/reg_form2007.htm


Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Sincerely

Anne-Louise Surma-Hawes
Queensland Astrofest Registrar (registrar@qldastrofest.org.au)

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________

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.

[h0ughy]

Don't tell them they will have a good time and meet heaps of strange people with similar interests. Don't say that the sky is great, or that there is power available to capture the photons....... dont mention a word.

we need the space to set up......

[Dennis]

Hi Anne-Louise

The Online Registrations http link took me to:

Border Stargaze 2007 is the inaugural gathering of amateur astronomers and the public, hosted by the Astronomical Society of Albury Wodonga (ASAW) Inc.

Cheers

Dennis

[jjjnettie]

It'll be a cold one this year I think.

[Dennis]

Yep - freezer suits will be de rigueur in the wee hours of the morning.

Cheers

Dennis

[earthlight]

:doh:Yes Opps! I've fixed it now. I was looking at it, and wanting to go...


Yes I forgot to mention that there is plenty of 240V power, 1 socket for each person on the fields (bring a power board if you need more). But only 10Amp sockets for caravans, bring an adapter for 15Amp if you need one.

With snow just over the boarder already I really do think it will be icy!!! Easily zero at night and if there is a breeze down to -5 maybe. :cold:

Hope to see all your registerations flowing in soon.
55 registered so far!

Anne-Louise

[Dennis]

Are you doing T Shirts in a nice, healthy, vibrant and winning MAROON colour....

Cheers

Dennis

[h0ughy]

LOL a little bird told me someone wants a BLUE one

[earthlight]

And it has NOTHING to do with Sport! I can't stand AFL or Rugby or what ever the 'origin' was about.

I can't believe that something that has so much violence and alcohole abuse is supposed to be a role model for children. What do we see on the news? Who bashed who and so and so is getting off because he's so sorry, yeh right. Don't get me started on the people who watch these games.....

_______________________
earthlight

[acropolite]

HRH Liz & Myself are crossing the pond and going on a big oliday (see chicken run) and are intending on hiring a campervan or caravan in Brisbane to stay in. Can anyone recommend a suitable hire place in Brisbane.??

[h0ughy]

I was referring to a state colour where a certain gentleman still has it over the previous recipients (ie Queenslanders) in the counter weight tossing:whistle: . Wasn't that what you were referring to Dennis?;)

I do agree ARL is no role model:thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

are you flying into brisbane or the gold coast? Might have to do a quick search on the net to confirm, but there are some candidates here

http://www.apollocamper.com/

http://www.campertravel.com.au/city.asp?city_code=BNE&ref=g

http://www.govans.com.au/rates.htm

[Dennis]

Ahh, yes Mr H0ughy, I’d forgotten how you raiders from the South plundered our photons, won the all-nighters with your stamina and cleaned up the counter weight hurling comp too boot! Truly a champion State! Long live NSW!

Cheers

Dennis

[earthlight]

Well... ah... yes I understand that now. :ashamed: sorry. Football really pushes the destruct button, my neighbours love it as does my brother-in-law so I have to hear about it all the time.

_______________________
earthlight

[jjjnettie]

Not to be forgetting the reigning womens counterweight tosser.
I may live in Queensland, but my state of origin is NSW.

[[1ponders]]

Jeez Jeanette, and I always thought you were such a nice lady.


:lol:;) :poke:

[jjjnettie]

Phil,
I see a lot of Britz campervans getting around. You should find them easy enough on the net.

[acropolite]

h0ughy, we're driving, coming across on the Spirit then driving up, so we're looking for a caravan hire place. I've done some searching already but most roads seem to point back to motorhome rental places.

edit: finally found one, but it wasn't easy. They don't like renting vans for towing, the insurance costs apparently are very high, no gravel roads either.

Now to get HRH down the back yard tossing some weights....:P

[AstroJunk]

I picked up a copy of BBC Sky at Night magazine today - nice to see QLD Astrofest rightfully placed in the World's top 10 star parties.

Well done to the organisers - quite an achievement:thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

WOW what position?:whistle: and what were the top ten in order??????;)

[AstroJunk]

Number one of course!


Ok, they weren't numbered:whistle:

[h0ughy]

can you post the list?

[AstroJunk]

North to south

UK
Kielder Star Camp - Northumberland
Equinox Star Party - Norfolk

Canada
Starfest - Ontario

Switzerland
Swiss Star Party

USA
Grand Canyon Star Party - Arizona
Texas Star Party - Texas
Winter Star party - Florida

Bolivia
Southern Skies Star Party

Australia
Queensland Astrofest - Qld
South Pacific Star Party - NSW

[Greg Bryant]

And rightfully so (though I think a few major US star parties were missed in the listing!).

For amateurs wanting a star party under our brilliant southern skies, Australia and New Zealand have many on offer. And with quite a few being promoted in overseas magazines (eg. US S&T and Astronomy), they’re international star parties.

(heck, SPSP originated out of the knowledge of a dozen keynote American amateurs en route to Australia - I know as I was involved in its inception. Since its first gathering, in 1993, SPSP has had international visitors most years, and several visiting guest speakers).

Qld Astrofest originated the same year, and the Victorians have had gatherings going back around that time too. And of course, the IIS AstroCamp has grown quickly to be the 2nd largest star party in Australia.

International star parties have been alive and well in Australia and NZ for well over a decade.

They're organised by amateur astronomers for amateur astronomers. Countless volunteer hours are involved. That's why Australian Sky & Telescope strongly supports them.

[AstroJunk]

And of course the BBC won't do me for breach of copyright if I say how much I enjoyed their very fine magazine, especially the southern sky charts and the cover cd chock full of goodies like the previous months Sky at Night TV programme:D It's available in all good newsagents now ...

Do you think I got away with it?

[acropolite]

Here's my best guess Google kmz file (zipped), is this where it's all happening???

[[1ponders]]

That looks about it Phil.

[[1ponders]]

Phil if you go to google maps and do a search for Linville Australia, keep following the road north to Avoca Vale, turn right (Avoca Esplanade) and the little dogleg further on the road where it crosses the Brisbane river is the Duckadang Camp.

[firstlight]

We (the committee) think that the editors were looking to get a good spread across the world with Star Parties and across the year. The weekend of the Astrofest is Stellafane and of course in Australia is the Border Stargaze. I'm sure that there will be many more parties on at the same time.... how big is the list going to be? A pdf of the spread is in the noticeboard on the frontpage of the website www.qldastrofest.org.au (http://www.qldastrofest.org.au)

Having said that we are stoked that we got that rating.:2thumbs: We have contacted Sir Patrick Moore and acquired an autographed June issue (not May :shrug:) of the Sky at Night mag, this will be a door prize to an over-night registrant. We have Peter Marples to thank for contacting Sir Patrick. Peter phoned him at home and was greeted with "Confound it, who is it?" :lol:

Cheers
Tony

[[1ponders]]

He must have know it was Peter M calling before he answered the phone Tony :lol:

[h0ughy]

hey thats good news - even more reason to go

[firstlight]

Caller ID

[[1ponders]]

:lol:

[firstlight]

Hi all,

I've put up a few prizes from our sponsors on the Raffle`Page the other day. Still a few more from our majors, but once again it looks pretty cool.

Cheers
Tony

[[1ponders]]

I hope you've closed registration now Tony. Your making it too hard for us early registers. ;)

[[1ponders]]

:cool:

The countdown it well and truely ON!!!

I wonder if I turned up at the gate on the afternoon of Friday the 3rd if they would let me in. :D

[acropolite]

All you early starters are likely to suck all the good photons right out of the sky, maybe I should get there earlier...:rofl:

[[1ponders]]

Get in line mate ;) :lol:

[firstlight]

Registration packs are folded and sealed in envelopes tonight (this morning?). We had hoped to send them Thursday, but had a few problems getting them printed.

Cheers
Tony

[jjjnettie]

I've booked but not paid yet, didn't really know if I would be going or not.
But I'm a definate now, so the cheque is in the mail.

[h0ughy]

what days JJJ?;)

[jjjnettie]

Friday and Saturday nights Dave.
I'm sooo looking forward to this.
Save me a spot on the field please.

[jjjnettie]

A quick weather report from the Astrofest region.
Thursday morning was -2
Friday morning was -4
This wasn't taking into account the wind chill factor.
They say it was much colder in isolated pockets.
Temperatures are expected to drop even further this weekend.

[[1ponders]]

Won't need the peltier on the camera then ;) :thumbsup:

[acropolite]

Not even that cold in Tassie, this AM @ home was +1.5 most mornings lately have been no colder than -2

[jjjnettie]

The local op shop has newish waterproof ski pants for only $10 a pair, reckon I might buy a pair.

[thunderchildobs]

A some years ago some of us had a late night coffee in the large freezer at astrofest. The freezer was -4, outside was -8.

Brendan

[h0ughy]

now that's amusing. who else participated in the late night latte?:help:

[firstlight]

As of 26/07/07, the upper caravan and camper trailer areas are full on the weekend and any others wil be setting up house in the yard below the Main Hall, next to the tennis courts and such (power is available). A word of caution: Don't set up under the large gum tree as there is a good chance that it might decide to shed some extraneous branches... Not to mention this is where we will hold the Counterweight Toss.

We can accomodate 120 for the AstroFeast, so if you would like to take part, you will need to register soon as places are running short.

For a full breakdown of the accommodation, visit the website.

[mickal555]

Thats interesting as my rego number was 120!

:D

Got my pack today :D :D Can't wait.

[firstlight]

Not all registrants are sitting for dinner on Saturday evening. Some reasonably recent numbers are on the website notice board. Star Optics have confirmed their contribution to the raffle... on the raffle page of course:D

Cheers
Tony

[earthlight]

Hi All,

Can't believe it's nearly here! We printed name badges today, do they look great or what! Alan has done a great job on the shirts I've already been wearing mine!! :P So has Rigil and Tony. But that's the good thing about the committee, getting things first. :D
Thanks to everyone who has registered and paid this year. I'll only have to deal with 1/4 of the normal cash flow which is so much better.
So far we're up to 175 over the whole week, :eyepop: and 48 will be there on Monday!

Anyway I can't wait!
30100
____________________________
Anne-Louise

[[1ponders]]

Nice shirt Tony :thumbsup: Where did you get the Klingon mask though. :D

[firstlight]

It's Narn actually, although it seems to have a Dilgar influence.:P

[[1ponders]]

:lol:

[earthlight]

2 sleeps to go!!!!!!!

[mickal555]

Woo!

[h0ughy]

Packed and ready to leave in the morning at 6, be on site on Monday morning

[[1ponders]]

Race ya! ;)

[h0ughy]

hope to be there by 11:P :D

[[1ponders]]

I'll put the coffee on :D

[jjjnettie]

Beep the horn as you go past my turnoff!

[firstlight]

See everyone up there over the next week. About to sign off for the duration.

[h0ughy]

Ok When Will Things Be Set Up For This Years Event To Register?

[DJVege]

The site seems to be dead right now.

[firstlight]

MDhosting has just got our page up and running but it is a cashed version and I can't log on to update... waiting for live chat as I type.

Tony