Barambah Dark Sky Camp April 23rd to 27th - registrations are OPEN!

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Hi folks and :welcome:

The Dark Sky Camp will be open and ready to receive all astro-enthusiasts from Thursday the 23rd of April through to Monday the 27th.
(Saturday the 25th - Anzac Day - is New Moon, so timing is great!)



I realise this is late notice, but the delay was inevitable if we were to secure our usual site for this camp. I am VERY pleased to say that we have secured the Barambah facility again for our camp, which will prove to have been well worth the wait to secure this in lieu of any alternate sites, as anyone who has seen the Barambah skies at night will confirm
:thumbsup:


All are welcome - you don't have to belong to IceInSpace, or any of the formal Astro societies, you don't even have to own your own telescope - come along, meet others with a similar interest, make new friends (or catch up with old ones), learn about the various types of telescope (and have a look through them) BEFORE shelling out your own hard earned dollars for something that may not suit you in the long run.

Before anyone say anything I KNOW the website hasn't been updated with the new dates yet, etc, but you CAN go to the registration page now if you like.
Here's our Home page:
www.darkskycamp.org.au (http://www.darkskycamp.org.au)

or send an email through:
registrar_at_darkskycamp(dot)org(do t)au

(you know how to "fix" that address right? We have to do that to stop the mountains of spam registrations we receive otherwise)


We'll also have the ongoing latest news on the DarkSkyCamp Blog site, so keep an eye on that one as time gets closer:
http://darkskycamp.blogspot.com/

You can also pm me here on IIS if you have probs with any of the above.

Hope to see you all there! :hi:

[Davros]

WooHoo will try and get a bit of time away from work. Should be achievable. Cant wait was excellent last time.

[AlexN]

im in! :)

[Tandum]

Me too.

Steve, that first link you posted is broken.

[drmorbius]

Hi all,

Apologies for being very, very slack...:doh: but the website is now up to date and ready to take your registrations. :thumbsup:

Just go to http://www.darkskycamp.org.au (http://www.darkskycamp.org.au/)

cheers -- randall

[lesbehrens]

ill be there:2thumbs::stargaze::astron:
les

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Fixed my link too Robin, now you have choices everywhere, so no excuse to NOT come.
;)

Look forward to seeing you again there if you can make it this time, and Mick I haven't seen you since the same time last year I reckon!

Hope to meet you face to face for the first time Les! :thumbsup:

[AlexN]

Registered earlier today... :) Cant wait for some SERIOUSLY dark skies!! :)

[Davros]

Sounds about right, very slack of me, but i have new toys now and very fond memories of those dark skies. I think the best part of the time was spent discussing deep philosophy around your scopes though :thumbsup:
Very much looking forward to it. I will be up for most of the camp this time. The new fourby will make the trip a bit easier to.
cheers
Mick

[AlexN]

ahh I wish I had a fourby to get there in :)

Hopefully this time around I wont have the technical issues I had last time around ! :D

[Davros]

Surprisingly enough it was at my last Barambah that i began to thik i needed a fourby again :D I just have too much crap.......whoops scientific instruments, to cart around. Helps with the business too.

[Analog6]

I was quietly planning to make it this year - now I have just had a week's notice that my job is gone, my employer is closing the doors.

maybe next year . . .

[Tandum]

I'm pretty sure I can find a good excuse not to drive my 6 litre V8 anywhere.
But I have registered and paid so it better not be wet ..... ;)

[AlexN]

LOL @ Robin! yep.. Driving a 5.7L V8, I feel your pain, mines not quite 6L but im sure its just as bad on the fuel :)

Im regitered friday till monday.. :) And yes, It better not be wet...

Everyone intending to attend, do not, I repeate D O N O T!! buy any new astronomy toys before Barambah..

Thank you. That is all!
Alex.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Geez that's terrible news, very sorry to hear that. I hope you can find a new (better) job soon. There's always our SPRING camp as well so maybe we'll see you at that one - there'll be plenty of Dark Sky to go around.

Good luck with the job hunting! :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

I'm hoping to be able to come.
But can't make any fixed plans at the moment.

[Xeelee]

Sorry guys, I can't make it this time. Uni has me bottled in tight unfortunately. Hope you all have a great time, and I hope to make it next time.

[Tandum]

Dont fret Chris, I'm sure it will be ****** down ... Alexn bought an sbig :)

[AlexN]

hehe... no no no... the past couple of months worth of rain was surely due to the SBIG.. :) I'll hold off on a filter wheel and filters till after barambah :D

[[1ponders]]

Fingers crossed for me this time, but it's definitely looking good for Saturday and maybe even Sunday.

[jjjnettie]

Great news Paul.:)

[astroron]

Great news Paul:)first time since we reccied the place:thumbsup:

[Gargoyle_Steve]

That would be great Paul, we've been hoping to get you out there eventually!
:thumbsup:


Just a quick update for everyone - after an initial flurry registrations are picking up speed again, and the small area "near the chessboard" where power is available for imagers looks like being in hot demand this time.

What we may have to do is to mark out the "chessboard" area into a grid with one imager / gear per segment. We've only got room there for 6 imaging rigs while trying to maintain SOME sky for everyone in between the buildings, so I guess it's first on site gets the pick of the segments - and Alex and Robyn are already booked to arrive before the weekend to claim their spots!

So if you plan to attend and DO need 240v power for imaging, register as soon as you can, and make sure you let us know you need a spot here asap, by additional email or pm if necessary.

[pmrid]

Hi Steve,
the dates are a problem for me I'm afraid. I will be working offshore and don't get back until the morning of the 24th on current planning. So the earliest I could hope to be there would be the 25th. I'll keep the possibility open - perhaps come up for the last couple of days.
Peter

[AlexN]

I registered 27th of Feb, I'll definitely require a powered spot on the chessboard..

[[1ponders]]

Power schmower.....with a stand alone TV Guider, DSLR and 12 converter for the laptop ya can put me anywhere..........but if there's a spare spot.......;)

:D

[Zubenel]

HI Steve ,
IS there any spare ( Black ) :whistle:squares on the chess board for a non powered visual observer as I may be able to come. ( First time maybe)
Cheers Wes

[AlexN]

Wes... Setting up for visual observation near a bunch of imagers might not be the best idea... your eyes will never get dark adapted sitting near 5 imaging rigs... flashing lights and computer monitors every direction you look... not to mention a bunch of imagers sitting around cursing their sometimes inoperable gear :P (ahhh the memories of barambah last year! :D)

[Tandum]

There's a large field for visual, the chessboard is next to power. I found a photo.
http://www.barambaheec.eq.edu.au/images/facili3.jpg

[jjjnettie]

Alex and I did a recon last camp and there's heaps of room just down that little set of stairs off the chess board.
You're on the grass, but you're still close to the others and the power.
I'd be quite happy to set up there. Makes for a soft landing when you drop your camera.:doh:

[jjjnettie]

:lol:
Problems? What problems?:whistle:

[AlexN]

Yeah yeah laugh it up JJJ! I think this time around we'll both be problem free!!

//Alex Grasps as many bits of wood as he can with hands feet and mouth!

[jjjnettie]

Hey, good things came out of those particular imaging sessions!

[pmrid]

He couldn't be talking about me could he?

Peter

[jjjnettie]

Thanks Robin.:thumbsup:
If you go down these steps there is oodles of room on the grass. Nice and even too.

[jjjnettie]

:rofl:

[Zubenel]

Hmmmmm , That what happens when you chime in half way through a conversation.I thought the "Chess Board" was a metaphorical description only . Not the real deal.:doh: So far I have been shown a set of green stairs??:rofl:?? Is this the large field that was talked about:shrug: Or is some one pulling my leg:scared::lol:.. Is there any room for us visuals ...ROn...~
Cheers Zub

[AlexN]

Theres a rather massive football field sized area for visual observers, and down there, its DARK! I couldnt see my hand 30cm in front of me down on the observing field...

[astroron]

Wes,go to this site and click on previous camps for images of the observing field:D
http://www.darkskycamp.org.au/index.shtml
Look forward to seeing you there:thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

Unlike the Chessboard where at times you can read large print.:lol:

[AlexN]

hahaha... You definitely can JJJ... I found after a while up there I didnt even need my torch to dig through the spaghetti central of cables on my rig! :) (you'll be glad to know my cable count has dropped significantly... :D)

[Tandum]

That photo shows the actual chessboard. It's a paved area where you can play chess with massive chess pieces. I don;t remember seeing the chess pieces however. They'd be there someplace. Gotta be there to grasp it I guess :)

At the bottom of those stairs in the photo is the open grassy area jjj mentioned, which may be suitable for photography but as I remember there are tall trees to the east.

There is also a motion activated fluro near the chessboard with is truely annoying even though steve, mick and the gang wrapped all lights in red plastic etc, we couldn't figure out how to kill that light or the motion detector. The fluro was a sealed unit. I'm thinking to find and wrap the detector in alfoil next time. It will either be off or on after that :)

[Gargoyle_Steve]

The chess pieces are there, they normally sit in between the 2 toilet blocks in the thoroughfare area. It's definitely a real chessboard Wes, plus there's bits for playing draughts too - unfortunately those imaging whacko's cover it all up with their wizz-burr-click-beepbeep gear.

;)

The observing field is huge, we end up using only a smaller portion of it, and so far no one has ever used the East side. Plenty of room mate, would be great to see you there this time!

(Apologies to all Dark Sky Camp enthusiasts for my infrequent, and short lived, visits here to IIS recently. Due to some reorganising of workstations, data routing, etc at work we've had no internet access there for a few weeks - which is where I do most of my forum posting. I've also been busy with other real life stuff, and ramping up for Barambah of course! I should be online here more frequently again now - Fingers crossed! Randall, alias Dr Morbius, has been efficiently handling all the registration paperwork for this camp again to help take the load off me - Bless Him! :thumbsup: )

[Zubenel]

Thanks Steve ,
I think I have the nod from the secretary so will register soon. As far as the motion sensor light is concerned ,Is there a care taker you could talk to ,to maybe isolate that circuit?? I had a look at the previous camp photos ( thanks Ron) ....The field looks FAB...:thumbsup::2thumbs::stargaze: :D
Cheers Wes

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Those motion triggered lights exist on the "verandah" of all 4 dorm buildings as a night time safety feature - they are switch controlled, you can have them on ALL the time, or only for a minute or so when they pic up movement. However they only trigger as far as I know when someone actually walks up the stairs and onto the verandah!

No one mentioned anything about this problem light at the last camp so this is the first I've heard about it. Short of taking the cover off and actually removing the fluoro tube I don't know that we can do anything else about it - they ARE safety lights after all, placed there because without them at night it's SO DAMN DARK !!!!

:P

All I can say is that once we're at Barambah again if someone can show me exactly which light is the problem one I'll chase it up and see what I can do.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

PS: This of course does NOT affect the Observing Field in any way at all, so visual observers please don't be concerned, and I can't see how it could POSSIBLY compete with the light output of the imagers laptops, etc, so it shouldn't be much of a problem to them either, I'm surprised they even noticed......

:whistle:




:D

I'll look into it, I promise!

[AlexN]

it definitely doesn't compete with the laptops, its just so damn annoying because its on/off all the time as people wander past...

Its like having water in your boots... it doesnt hurt but it sure gets annoying :D

[Tandum]

Don't worry steve .. It's an annoyance not a problem .. the alfoil will fix it.

I'm sure we had a hunt around at the time for fuses etc to turn it off ... I remeber that the fluro lamp was in a sealed, vandel proof unit :)

[RobF]

Looking forward to Fri and Sat nights!

Steve (or anyone), is there access to power in the accomodation or elsewhere for charging up batteries/laptop etc during the day?

Regards,
Rob

[astroron]

Rob, nearly every room and the hall and other places have lots of plugs for charging, so you will have no problems with your electrical charging

[RobF]

Yay! Thanks Ron....

[astroron]

I have registered and paid for Friday through Sunday:)
See you all there :astron::stargaze::stargaze::astron :

[jjjnettie]

I've booked in for Friday and Saturday nights.

[Tandum]

I booked for the whole show :) I really hope the weather clears, I haven't had the scope out of the house since December :(

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Hopefully we'll be right by then Robin for nice clear skies! Alex bought his nice new RC scope with enough leadtime before the camp for the Sky Gods to have forgotten by then (I hope anyway!)

Looking forward to seeing it in action Alex, it should be sweet.

With the latest registrations ( :thumbsup: good on ya Ron and Jeanette) there's now 20 people registered for the Saturday night, which as usual will see the biggest crowd - some are coming up Thursday for the full 4 nights, and others for lesser periods, some literally only staying for the single night. I know from emails we've received that there's still other people considering their options that haven't registered yet too, but that still leaves plenty of beds, and plenty of dark sky, to go around so if anyone is still fence sitting make plans to be there for this camp!

Head on over to the website now www.darkskycamp.org.au (http://www.darkskycamp.org.au) and register - the Camp starts just 2 weeks from today.
:D

[Gargoyle_Steve]

5 more people have registered today again - it's going to be a great camp!

:thumbsup:

[Tandum]

Off Topic ...
My pool clorinator says the salt content of the pool is down to 43%.
When will it stop raining ..............

[jjjnettie]

It'll clear for the camp Robin.
Please let it clear up for the camp.:prey:

[Tandum]

I'm still chasing a cover for that trailer I bought. I do the servers for TJM and they said they could get one, of course, while the servers work ok it's hard to find time for me :( Maybe a bit of sabotague :whistle: backed up with blackmail :D

[jjjnettie]

That's a ripper little trailer!

[Tandum]

The 12 inch dob should just fit :)

[jjjnettie]

But you're bringing along your other rig too aren't you?
Or are you just going to hang out with the riff raff down the observing field?

[Tandum]

yep. I have a new camera to try and filters plus wheel are currently winging their way here from the UK.

[astroron]

Or are you just going to hang out with the riff raff down the observing field?
I representthat:D

[jjjnettie]

:rofl:
It's good weather for fishing Ron. I was hoping to get a bite.:lol:

[AlexN]

:D Nice one JJJ :rofl:

[astroron]

I am not adverse to a bit of humour:P

[jjjnettie]

:)

[Nightshift]

Well after much deliberation I have come to the conclusion that I am not going to attend the camp, well not over night anyway. Shaun had me almost sold on staying in the lodgings but I would much rather use my little caravan. The clencher has been the weather though, If, and that's a big IF, the weather improves prior to the weekend then you should have superb skies given the atmosphere should be well cleaned, however, the observing field will most likely be very wet underfoot still.

What I have decided though is to come over on the saturday for a ride on the motorbike, I'll drop in for lunch and stay a few hours and catch up. This of course still relies on decent riding weather.

Hope to catch up with you all then. Cheers, Dennis.

[astroron]

Dennis, things can change dramatically in the next ten days weather wise:D
Are you thinking it is this weekend coming?
But anyway it will be good to catch up whatever you choose to do.:thumbsup:

[007Borg]

Hey Dennis, It'll be good to catch up with you on Saturday, if the weather's good for travelling up. Just in case you have a last minute change of heart, I'll have a tasty red handy :D

Hmm, paddock may be a bit damp ?? I'll bring the floaties for the scope just in case...:lol:

I was thinking of going via Kenilworth/Jimna just to make the drive exciting as well... if it's open that is.

See everyone in just under 10 days.

Shaun

[jjjnettie]

10 sleeps to go:D

[Nightshift]

Hey Shaun, as I will stay for a few hours I can afford to have one red with you over lunch. I will stick to the bituman myself, the bike doesnt handle too well in the dirt.

Ron, I have the weekend right, I'm just a sceptic when it comes to our weather, must be the 5 months of cloud and rain that has me thinking this way...... Isnt it amazing, yesterday we had 250mm of rain in 24 hours, it was so dark at 3pm that the street lights came on, right now there is not a cloud in the sky, the milky way is bright and steady, clear as crystal, how do you reconcile this unpredictability????

Dennis.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

That's 10 sleeps for you maybe Jeanette, but it's only 9 for those coming up on Thursday for the Official 1st day... :thumbsup: and only 8 for me - the advantages of going early to set up!

(Speaking if which an opportunity exists for 1 or perhaps 2 people to come up a day early on the Wednesday and give me a bit of a hand. There isn't a lot to do, and it isn't hard work, but it's stuff that's simply much faster and easier with 2 people and at this stage I'll be there on my own. The advantage is that you get a whole extra night there, and earliest pick of the rooms. If interested pm me and we'll talk.)

We're going to have to close off the registrations at midnight this coming Sunday night, ie the 19th, to allow time to send out the info packs, etc. If anyone has already registered but hasn't had any confirmation back from us yet send me a pm and let me know, or post here.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Dennis mate stuff the weather, it'll be good to see you either way, but I reckon the companionship and hanging out with other Astro enthusiasts is another huge reason to go to gatherings like this, and as you said yourself....



Things can and DO change rapidly sometimes. You've never stayed to see the Dark Sky at Barambah at night, it's amazing * and I'll happily sit in the hall chatting with others and watching DVD's on the big screen there for 4 nights just to get one good night of that sky!!

:stargaze:

* Official definition of "Amazing" : according to Ron's careful and calculating eye on our first "night survey" trip there the sky at Barambah was giving naked eye visibility better (fainter!) than mag 6.5 tending towards 6.7 if I remember rightly. He was judging this by certain reference stars whose mag he knows by heart, and not by any rough guesstimate. That wasn't at new moon either, we had to wait until near 1am for the moon to set, another hour or so for it to take it's glow from the sky. The result was stunning, and well worth the wait.

[jjjnettie]

Much as I would dearly love to come up earlier Steve I have to work Thursday night.
I was lucky to get Friday night off.

[ColinandRos]

Col and Ros will be there.

I just read the directions and it says there is a frog pond and to go right in. :)

[Tandum]

I thought the location was in the gps but it's not :( Can some one give me the E and N ings. I plan to drive to gympie and turn left, no more dirt roads for me after last time :) It looks like the weather is clearing :)

[jjjnettie]

Hubby doesn't want me taking the new car up through the Jimna road.
The woose.
It only take about an hour to get there if I go that way. Via Gympie it's over 2 hours.

[Tandum]

I blew a tyre coming up the Jimna road last time.
This time I'm pulling that trailer and happy enough to drive to gympie first rather than fill the trailer with dust.
It all tar that way :)

[Tandum]

What are the E & N for the site ?

[astroron]

what is E and N:shrug:

[Tandum]

Decimal: 152° 19.779' East 26° 20.506' South
DMS: 152° 19' 46.74" East 26° 20' 30.36" South

forget it .. found it.

[Tandum]

Eastings and Northings would be the obvious :rolleyes:
I'm an ex marine navigator, so I often take shortcuts ....

[astroron]

never heard the term:shrug:
If you had asked for the co-ords, would have known what you where talking about.;)
Most people ask for southern co-ordinates:)

[jjjnettie]

Did Randall put the co ords on the website?
Otherwise you could, if you're keen, track them down using Google Earth.

[astroron]

jjj I have them in my ARGO NAVIS was just putting batteries in to retrieve them when Rob answered back.
They are also in the directions in the pack sent with your receipt for your registration.

[Tandum]

The co-ords are in the email pack. I dunno what southern co-ords are. Eastings and Northings for us navigators sorry. Northings may be negative.

[astroron]

Rob What ever co-ordinates we go by I hope we can navigate our way to meeting in a weeks time at Barambah:D

[Tandum]

Weather is clearing by the looks, yippeeee .... I need to run my gear with my laptop before I get there .. my son has been using my laptop at school. He's prolly stuffed it ... :(

[astroron]

THE JOYS OF ASTROIMAGING:rolleyes:
Get A Dob:rofl::rofl:

[Tandum]

Check the sig ... I now own a 12" dob :)

[astroron]

will you be bringing it to Barambah?
I hope you have a lot of fun with it:thumbsup:

[Tandum]

I've been hanging on to it just to bring it. To be blunt the only reason I started with astro photos was to see what was overhead. It was the only way to see what was up there. Even with a 12" mirror in the dob I'm better off with the camera in an 8"scope :(

[jjjnettie]

That's why I sold my 10".
I was getting better views through the 80mm using the Gstar.
But I do miss the Annie Jump Cannon. There are times when wish I could just drag her out and go exploring the galaxy.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Yep, midnight has been and gone now so registrations are closed.

IF there is still anyone who does want to attend you are more than welcome, but you'll have to ring me on 0405 and 264 the 694 between now and approx 3:45 pm Monday, and you will either have to pay by direct deposit to our Bank of Queensland account FAST, or bring correct cash with you to the Camp. Refer to the website for costs and bank account details.

After that time I won't be reachable again until around 4pm Tuesday (due to work / sleeping), and I'll be leaving for Barambah as of Wednesday morning.

Looking forward to seeing a bunch of you guys and girls there!

:thumbsup:

[astroron]

IF i have to watch things on a computer or video monitor I will buy a Hubble dvd and save my money;)

[Tandum]

I think your missing out to be honest. If the technology is available and affordable, use it. Seeing what jeannies GStar can do is simply astounding. I'm pretty sure the keck scope has no eyepiece either.

Don't pay for old hubble photos, they are on line. I saw a news item the other day that the new scope is in orbit and operational. Kepler (http://kepler.nasa.gov/)? I believe it's looking for planets in other solar systems so the FL must be huge. It definately uses a camera :)

The weather forecast looks great for the week-end :thumbsup:

[RobF]

I thought there was no reception up there?
Any news from Barambah?

[pmrid]

Hope all the citizens of Barambah have a great weekend. I don't get back to Oz 'till Saturday morning and just won't have any sensible chance of getting up there. But I hope you are reminded of me whenever someone trips over a cable in the dark, drops an eyepiece on the concrete, trips up the steps to the dormitory because it's so %$#^ dark you can't see your nose or has any other kind of computer/camera/scope malfunction. Ahh, nostaglia. Next time!!!
Peter

[Davros]

Hope you all have a wonderful time, sky looks good tonight. Obviously i am not there but i am deeply jealous with fond memories of my one and only trip up there. Family event is keeping me away this weekend. :sadeyes::sadeyes::sadeyes::sadeyes ::sadeyes:

[jjjnettie]

Sorry we won't see you there Mick.
I've got everything packed and ready for tomorrow morning.
The weather is looking fantastic!
There's supposed to be a cold front coming through for Saturday night, so don't forget your winter woolies everyone.

[RobF]

Good advice Jeanette! Cold is ok, as long as no clouds too....

[jjjnettie]

I'm excited!
One sleep to go.

[Davros]

Howd it go all, hope there's some photos for vicarious enjoyment.