North Queensland, Aug 29-30

[glenc]

This deep sky viewing weekend will be at Undara in tropical north Queensland, 275km SW of Cairns.
The northern Milky Way will be visible and M31 will be 30 degrees above the horizon. (Undara's latitude is 18.2 degrees south)
Weather prospects are excellent from this dark elevated site. (6 clear days per week, elevation is 800m)
There are a variety of accommodation options available. (starting at $16 per night for a tent site for 2)
You can book here: http://undara.com.au/accommodation/
Information about the national park is here:
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?noback=1&parkid=133
Weather details for the nearby town of Mt Surprise are here: (it is 29km from Undara to Mt Surprise)
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_030036.shtml
A Google map of the area is here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=-18.218%09144.655&ie=UTF8&ll=-18.217938,144.654922&spn=0.115118,0.167542&t=k&z=13&iwloc=addr&om=1
To find the distance from your place to Undara use:
http://www.nowwhere.com.au/caltex/austlocator/caltextripplanner.aspx
You can stay longer if you wish, the new moon is on 31/8/08.

[glenc]

Please send me a private message if you are planning to be at Undara Aug 29-30.
These images from SkyMapPro show the northern sky from Undara at 3 different times 8pm, midnight and 5am on 29/8/08.
The curve near the top of each map is elevation 45 degrees, north is in the middle of each map.
The Double Cluster will be 15 degrees above the horizon at 4am.

[glenc]

It is 14 weeks till the observing weekend at Undara.
Please send me a pm if you are planning to attend.
Thanks.

[CoombellKid]

Glen,

Unfortunately for me, any major astro events is out this year at least. Would
of loved to have been apart of it maybe next time.

regards,CS

[Gargoyle_Steve]

PM sent Glen.
Sadly I've already over-committed my holidays for this year for astro events, etc. I'm already dipping into next years leave.

[Shawn]

Im in , its just down the road... HTF am I going to fit the 14er in the Daewoo

Ill post this over on the dark side Glen, a lot of locals their...

:D

[glenc]

Look forward to seeing you there Shawn.

[Shawn]

Roger that Glen, Ill get a few of us I reckon...


Maybe I should have an open night at the Observatory on the 28th or 31st, since you have to drive past me to get there...

Shawn

...

[glenc]

That is a good idea, I would like to see your setup.

[Shawn]

Pick a day then Glen, we will make it that one...;)

[renormalised]

If I can get there I will:)

Depends upon what's happening at the time, and uni.

[glenc]

Good, I hope to see more people from the tablelands and the Cairns and Townsville area.

[Shawn]

Hi ya Glenc..

There's a couple or three of us interested at this stage, maybe more over the next month or so, who is doing the liasing, and can we have more info on the actual event...

Cheers Shawn

...

[glenc]

Shawn
Good to hear some of you are coming.
You can book accommodation here: http://undara.com.au/
I have booked an un-powered camping site. Look for an A'Van and a 10" Dob.

We can observe Friday and Saturday night from a large cleared area on the west side of Kalkani Crater.
See: http://www.maps-for-free.com/?val=-18.219,144.656,7,landmark
National Parks have given us permission to observe. During the day we can relax, talk and sleep.
Glen

[Shawn]

Unpowered campsite is fime by me, Look for a 3 tonne Canter tipper, Im bringing the 14er...:D. Just kidding, Ill bring my wide setup, Its at least portable, We will talk closer to the day hey, ?

Shawn

...

[glenc]

OK Shawn.

[glenc]

I plan to check out a couple of spots for viewing the 14/11/2012 total solar eclipse on the way to Undara.
1. S side of Oak Beach (-16.6087 S, 145.530 E)
2. 6km S of Whites Ck Rd (-16.2714 S, 144.715 E)
See: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2012Nov13Tgoogle.html

[glenc]

Has there been much cloud up at your place lately Shawn?

[glenc]

The astro camp at Undara is still on Friday 29/8 and Saturday 30/8.
You can book here: http://undara.com.au/accommodation/

[astroron]

:hi:anyone from South East Queensland or New South Wales going to Undarra at the end of the month?
Please PM me or answer this post.
:thumbsup:
Ron

[glenc]

Look for an AVan Aliner at Undara Fri 29/8 and Sat 30/8.
http://www.avan.com.au/aliner.html

It will be dark from 7:30pm to 5:15am.
Latitude is 18d11mS, Long is 144d37mE, Altitude 750m.

[GrahamL]

Is that the little camper you bought a while back glen?...looks very nice

when are you leaving ?

[CoombellKid]

Hey way to go Glen,

Nice of you to buy a bigger tent for us boy's :whistle: eh' Graham :D

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

Hope you all have great time ,glen left yesterday if you didn't know and are trying to get in touch rob.

[glenc]

I spent one night at Mt Surprise airstrip and 3 at Undara airstrip.
The first 2 nights were perfectly clear, we had a little bit of cloud the last two.
I managed to see most of the objects on my list of northern objects.
Ron and I plan to view northern galaxies from Mt Surprise airstrips in May 2010 with his 16".
The sky is very dark and clear right down to the horizon up there.

[gaa_ian]

If I did not have such a busy month in Gove (and if I had noticed it) I would have been there for that one Glen !
I will have to work to strengthen the links between the North Australian Astro clubs, so we find out about these things.