IISAC2009 - Lock these dates in!

[iceman]

Hi all

Planning is now underway for IISAC2009, and the dates have been finalised.

October provides a great climate at Lostock, and hopefully we'll get some clear skies to go along with that.

IISAC2009 will be on Thursday, Friday and Saturday the 15th, 16th, 17th of October 2009

(new moon is the 18th October)

The good news is, this is in the school holidays for NSW (Term 4 starts on the 19th October), so you'll be able to bring kids!

Lock the dates in, plan your annual leave and I look forward to seeing you there!

[Octane]

Mike,

I've locked it in 100%. :D

Regards,
Humayun

[Matty P]

Great, we'll definitely be there. :D

Mike, you should start another countdown timer for IISAC 09 already. :lol:

Can't wait. :thumbsup:

[Tilt]

Done.

See you there :thumbsup:

Michael

[RB]

Sounds good to me too !
What time will you guys be getting there? :P

:thumbsup:

[ausastronomer]

Excellent news Mike.

I was actually going to suggest to you that we should aim for the Sept/Oct school holiday period in NSW.

Cheers,
John B

[cookie8]

Good on you Mike. I haven't even finish my unpacking! Would love to come again but my only concern: It will be HSC time for my son :mad2:

[Satchmo]

The weather is notoriously unstable at this time of year , great for gliding but not so good for observing. I would think a move back towards Winter would be better position, just my 2cents . Anyhow glad to here that IIS2009 is on; I haven't even packed my tent away yet :)

[sheeny]

mmmm... be there by 13:00???:P

Al.

[erick]

October, 2009 :prey:

[iceman]

The BOM history shows January as much much more unstable than October. 5 clear days as opposed to 8, and 13 cloudy days as opposed to 10.

So October is supposed to be better.

The best ratios are in winter, but it's very cold there in winter!

[Ric]

I'll pencil it in for next year, hopefully things will be a bit less hectic for me.

Cheers

[madwayne]

I know of a certain wise owl with a marquee that would be very happy if it were Winter.

On a serious note, thanks for the heads up Mike and I plan on being there.

Regards
Wayne

[Omaroo]

Like mark, I'm another vote for winter. Much better for the vertical stuff - however, it is cold. I'm OK - I have a freezer suit and I understand that many don't. I enjoy winter camping because there are no bugs and there are fewer people about. What about a really down-sized mid-year session called IISWAC (Ice In Space Winter Astro Camp)? :D

Anyways...booked in! :)

[erick]

For WACers only? After Snake Valley Observing in mid winter, no problem. :D

[Omaroo]

:) Yep - not too different from Cooma in winter. Brrr!!

[GTB_an_Owl]

Actually Wayne - the wise old owl see's no point in camping beside a river with a great swimming hole in the middle of winter

geoff

[iceman]

Now there's a good point! :) And that swimming hole is damned cold in winter!

[cookie8]

Yep, I am another vote for winter. Longer nights;less dew and overhead Milky Way.:thumbsup:

[Matty P]

I really don't mind, only as long as it is clear. I'll be happy. :D

:thumbsup:

[ausastronomer]

When I go observing in the middle of winter I like the comforts of home to be close handy. I like to observe from Coonabarabran or similar in winter, where I can walk 20 metres from my freezing telescope into my comfortably warm cottage accomodation. Not walk 20 metres from my freezing telescope into a freezing tent and then freeze my goolies off for the remainder of the night. I have observed from the upper hunter in the middle of winter and it gets exceptionally cold at times. It gets to -5 deg C pretty regularly. Whilst winter is a great time to observe, its not the time to hold star parties at "camping venues" IMO. I think attendance would be poor.

Cheers,
John B

[xstream]

Wednesday morning!:thumbsup: