AstroNight Cambroon 31st May

[astroron]

The nearest night to New Moon is Saturday the 31st May(this coming Saturday)
New Moon is on Tuesday the 3rd June, so I propose the 31st as the Cambroon AstroNight, with the possibility of another if required the following Saturday the 7th June:astron::astron::stargaze:
Ron

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Well Ron this surely comes as a surprise....... ;)

Let me be the first to jump on board and say " YES I'll be there "

I'm pretty sure Don will be coming too so he can give his new scope a proper workout under dark skies. He's modified his standard GSO dob base to something that is rock steady, comes apart and folds flat for transport, and assembles again very simply and easily in a few seconds. Worth a look for anyone wanting to do something similar.

[drmorbius]

I'll be the 2nd then... count me in!

I'm very interested in seeing that base Steve...

[[1ponders]]

And me makes 3!

[Xeelee]

and (maybe) me four!!

[007Borg]

Looks like we'll be 5th & 6th then...:D only we won't have the manchester football team in tow this time :lol:

looking forward to another great night Ron. I'll have to get onto this dew heater I was going to build now. And that new DOB base sounds interesting.

oh, and the other great thing is the bridge is now fixed :thumbsup:

Shaun

[jjjnettie]

Count me as a definite maybe!
I think I'll be bringing along a midget so I won't be doing an all nighter.

[AlexN]

im there.. :) i'll put my had up for the following weekend weather permitting.

not to sound overly keen or anything!

[Gargoyle_Steve]

It's ok Alex, keen is a very good thing. :thumbsup:

[AlexN]

speaking of keen.. best i start editing my latest jupiter images.. GRS + 2 moon shadows.. :)

//does a victory dance!//

[Scooter]

So whats the deal with this folks? Was this open for anyone and if so what happens (like where do you sleep etc.)? Map etc. said is was to Rons place so I was thinking that it could be a private property thus was interested in the details (costs etc.). Could be interested so TIA (at the very least I am sure one of you fine folks could check my collimation ;))

[[1ponders]]

Hi Scooter. The night is pretty much open to anyone we know who gets there :P . Generally though most are IIS members. Sleeping arrangements are usually in a tent or on Ron's comfy lounge room floor (BYOMattress ;) )

Depending on which way you are coming;
From Brisbane, head to Maleny, through Conondale and then right over the bridge at the Cambroon Caravan Park. (Map here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment_browse.php?a=36379)). Turn left at the T intersection, travel approx 1 Km to the next intersection and Ron's is about 50 meter further on on the left number 7.

Hope to see you there.

[Scooter]

Ahhh - well there ya go and thanks. Guess I should have checked the first post (your 2 acre dark sky site huh Ron? - nice). First thing I would need to firm up is how to transport the 12" dob in the car so that mightn't be resolved by this weekend (plus got little ones etc.) but I do want to do a dark sky trip so will definatley be interested at some stage provided that's cool with Ron. No tent but could easily catch some Z's in the car. What do you folks get up to if the weather goes bad?

[AlexN]

Heh... if the weather goes bad... A multitude of conversational topics, remote control whirly birds, star wars light saber scene re-inactments :P

If it goes real bad scopes go under whatever cover is available...

Come along if you're able, great site, great people. You'll have a blast and no doubt learn a few things!.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Collimation IS our speciality! :thumbsup:

Just to save any possible confusion, one very slight addition to the instructions Paul posted ....

" From Brisbane, head to Maleny, through Conondale and then right over the bridge at the Cambroon Caravan Park. (Map here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment_browse.php?a=36379)). Turn left at the T intersection, travel approx 1 Km to the next intersection - which is a fork in the road, take the branch to the right - and Ron's is about 50 meter further on on the left number 7."

You can in fact see Ron's gate from the final fork, and it is the ONLY gate you can see from there.

This "sticky" thread at the top of the Star Parties, Clubs & Observing Sessions page has a map, etc, to help clarify, if you haven't already seen it.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=8808

There's some other issues that I remember being unsure of myself the first time I went out to Ron's so to help anticipate your questions here's some answers first:

People usually start gathering mid afternoon, keep in mind if possible you want to be there well before sunset (5pm or so currently) to both avoid driving west directly into the sun - and to meet other people in daylight so we can all see each other! ;)

Re dinner - bring either something that you can cook up on Ron's BBQ which is what many do, or something you can microwave up for a hot meal. BYO coffee / coke / whatever your preferred beverage is also.

It can get quite cool at night so bring along warm clothes, as many layers as you feel may be required. Last month we got down to 6-7 degrees and keep in mind you're outside so wind and or dew can make it feel even cooler.

There's no charge as such as Ron is too much the gentleman, but since we all use Ron's power, water (Ron's on tank water only so don't plan on washing the car!:lol:) there is a donations box floating around somewhere. A gold coin or 2 doesn't go astray.

Most of all, come join us for a great evening of observing and socialising!

[Xeelee]

The weekend weather doesn't look good....... :(

Rain from Thursday through to Wednesday next week.

[AlexN]

yeah true.. Depending on that maybe push it to next weekend.. Mind you if its looking ok, i'll still be there. You know weather reports are fickle at best. I'll start my anti-rain dance now.:)

[[1ponders]]

:( I can't make next weekend

[Xeelee]

Nor can I..... :(

[AlexN]

No good... No good at all... well this weekend being a long weekend, perhaps if the weather is no good saturday, it may clear up sunday... all fingers/toes crossed...

[Gargoyle_Steve]

As has often been noted previously the weather at Cambroon can be very strange with respect to weather on the coast, due to being separated from the coastal plain by the range the way it is. If in doubt perhaps ring Ron Saturday afternoon for a cloud check - but it's always a great chance to sit and talk anyway!

[drmorbius]

Spot on Steve... the very worst that can happen is you'll get to spend quality time socialising with a group of top-notch people and maybe learn a thing or two about astronomy! :thumbsup:

[Xeelee]

It appears that I cannot go either this weekend or the next due to schoolwork

Hope everyone has a good time.

Clear Skies

Chris

[007Borg]

Hmmm, the 7th is looking good unless Ron can rustle up some divine miracle....:D


Shaun

[astroron]

:thumbsup:My water tank is happy....
I have been praying very hard for some good old tapoleen:P, and now my tank is full:):):):):)
But it doesn't look to good for tomorrow:(
Ron

[AlexN]

Well ron, Next weekend it may have to be... Its a bugger that not everyone can make it next weekend though...

[drmorbius]

Woohoo! Over here on the coast the sun is coming through the window. :2thumbs:

But it still looks grim through the other windows so I think it's short lived.... :(

I can make it either today or next weekend, but not both. So I'll see how it goes through the morning before I decide... :prey:

[drmorbius]

Well, the sun is well and truly gone down here, so I'd like to change my reservation to next Saturday...

[AlexN]

I just had the same thought here in northern brisbane.. suns out, fair bit of blue skies, but its just not convincing me that It'll stay.

I too will be up next weekend.

[astroron]

:hi:All it is well and truly clouded out and drizzley here :( so I hope to see you all next weekend for a much anticipated observing night:astron::stargaze:
Ron

[[1ponders]]

Bucketing down here atm. :(



But at least the sky will be nice and clean when it finishes :D

by Wednesday :(

[AlexN]

Paul - yep... and by then an auspost parcel full of new toys for alexs' astrophotography will be here... :) give me a few days to figure it all out before a nice night at Rons next weekend.