Your feedback on the IceInSpace StarParty

[iceman]

Hi guys.

The IceInSpace StarParty committee have narrowed down the choices of where to hold the Star Party, in January next year (Thursday 26th - Sunday 29th January 2006).

The following posts will show the 4 locations with pictures, and the pros and cons of each.

I'm after the feedback of the people who are most likely to attend - but if you have no intention on attending but you've still got something constructive to say, by all means chip in.

Your feedback might bring up something we haven't thought of yet, so let us know what you think and whether you're likely to be attending.

Ignore cost for now - the registration fees will be worked out later. Just know that all sites are similarly priced.

The poll is multiple choice - please indicate both your preference of location, and also whether you're likely to attend

Thanks!

[iceman]

So, the 2 choices:

Ferndale at Dungog - http://www.barringtons.com.au/ferndale/

See pics below

Pros
- Dark sky location
- Good facilities and amenities, including Meeting Room/Hall (for guest speakers/ cloudy/rainy nights), 4 flush toilets, 4 showers, power.
- Right on the river, good for swimming and daytime activities during summer
- Can park right next to scope and/or tent
- Public campground, can go for extra nights if you wish
- Big fields, can spread out or be separate from other (non-starparty) campers
- Lots of off-site accomodation, including Barrington's Retreat, B&B's, etc
- Day trips to Hunter Valley, etc.
- Caravan/Cottage accomodation on-site if you wish
- Right near chichester Dam

Cons
- Public campground, will have other campers there to worry about.
- Some hills will reduce horizon viewing in some directions (will also block out skyglow, though)
- Probably about 3.5-4 hours drive from Sydney

[iceman]

Option 2

Lake St Clair at Singleton - website (http://www.visitnsw.com.au/scripts/runisa.dll?VISITNSWLIVE:MOPERATOR:1 586391437:pp=MAttProd,pc=MAttAbout, ProductID=7453,FromTemplate=MLOCPRO D,Frompp=NLOCATTSC,Frompc=NLOCATTSC 2)

See pics below

Pros
- Dark sky location
- Good facilities and amenities, including Kiosk (bread/drinks/ice), flush toilets, showers, some powered sites.
- Right on glenbawn dam, good for swimming and daytime activities during summer
- Can park right next to scope and/or tent.
- Public campground, can go for extra nights if you wish
- Great horizon to horizon viewing. Lots of open space.
- Lots of off-site accomodation in Singleton
- Day trips to Hunter Valley, etc.
- Free electric BBQ's
- Singleton council controls the site - perhaps we can arrange discounts/sponsorship with them?

Cons
- Public campground, will have other campers there to worry about. Will be busy over the Australia Day long weekend with the water sport fraternity.
- Probably about 3.5 hours drive from Sydney
- No meeting hall on-site, but one is possibly available up the road (not far)
- Only 8 powered sites now, apparently they'll have more by xmas
- Open fires permitted (by other campers)
- May have to hire a marquee if the meeting hall is too far away

[iceman]

Option 3:

Lostock Scout Camp - near Dungog/Gresford

Pros
- Exclusive use
- Very dark skies
- 2 farmhouses with bunkbeds
- Loads of room for camping
- Huge observing fields with good open viewing (no trees etc)
- Can park near scope/tent
- Undercover area for meetings/presentations etc
- The houses have stoves, cutlery, glasses, hotwater, showers and toilets
- Swimming hole
- Off-site caravan park at Lostock Dam, about 6km's away

Cons
- 3.5 to 4 hours from Sydney
- Windey narrow country road for the last 30-40 minutes
- 40 minute drive to the nearest town (Gresford) for supplies
- Further away from stuff for daytrips etc.

Some pics (forgive the quality, I don't know what brendan did to butcher them so badly ;))

[iceman]

Option 4

Tara at Silverdale - website (http://www.guidesnsw.org.au/properties/tara/index.htm)

It's a guide camp at Silverdale, near Warrangamba.

Pros
- 1.5 hrs from Sydney
- Big property, very clear no big trees etc.
- Has camping and bunkhouse accomodation.
- Has toilets, showers, halls, meeting places, kitchen, power, etc.
- Can leave your car where you camp/observe
- Exclusive use!
- Has loads of activities during the day, and not far from other activities (blue mountains, warragamba dam, etc)

Cons
- Nowhere near as dark as the other 3


No pictures yet, sorry.

[iceman]

To summarise:

- All similarly priced
- All have basic amenities (toilets and shower, and limited power)
- Some have extra amenities (kitchen, bunkhouses, meeting halls, etc)
- 2 of them are exclusive use (lostock and silverdale), 2 of them we'd have to share with the general public (ferndale and Lake St Clair)

The last real deciding factor is distance vs dark skies.

- 3 of them are much darker skies, 3.5 to 4 hours from Sydney
- 1 of them is only 1.5 hours from Sydney, but will get light pollution from Penrith.

Remember, it's for 3 nights. It will become an annual event, and so room to grow is important, but there's nothing stopping us from changing location in 2007 if there's a need.

Let us know your opinion and whether you're planning on coming, how far you'd be willing to travel for dark skies and whether a windey country road bothers you.

Thanks for your time, and remember it's multiple choice!

[iceman]

We had some other sites as potentials, including Koolang Observatory which had some good "pros", including:
- Proximity to Central Coast/Sydney/Newcastle
- Display centre/hall for public talks, etc.
- Toilets, Power
- Exclusive use (don't have to worry about other campers)

But we ruled it out for the following reasons:
1) Lack of space for observing fields. It would just be too cramped.
2) Lack of camping ground - there's ok space but it would be pretty tight and lots of ants around
3) Lack of showers - it is cost prohibitive to hire some.
4) Can't park near tent or scope (parking area is separate)

So it was ruled out, unfortunately.

But please, have a look at the pictures and pros/cons of the sites above, and reply with your feedback and use the poll so we can gauge preference and interest.

If you've got some other ideas or somethign we've forgotten, please let us know!

[ballaratdragons]

Mike, I left a web address and phone number about camps for you in the other thread.

[atalas]

Mike I like the sound of Lake St Clair ! cons other campers , hey sounds like more members for IIS to me !

Louie

[wavelandscott]

I voted for proximity to Sydney...while the others sound "darker"...I am much more likely to attend if I can get there in 1.5 hours...

[33South]

This seems to conflict with the other thread re a Blue Mntns venue.

myself and others have left suggestions.

:confuse2: (http://misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=4#)

[iceman]

Sorry for the confusion Chris, there's been several weeks of discussion about possible location in the private forum for the organising committee and posting about possible blue mountains locations was a last minute decision by me to see if there were any other alternatives to throw into the hat.

I'm still taking your suggestions into consideration and thanks for posting them, if a last minute better option comes out, then it will be chosen!

The location of the astrofest needs to be decided this week, so that's why I'm after some feedback from forum members.

So c'mon guys, please vote and/or comment! Isn't anyone wanting to come?

[gaa_ian]

Hi Mike
Although I doubt that I could come.
The Scout camp (Option 3) sounds the best to me for observing.
Our recent astrocamp was 20km from town & it was disapointing to still have a light dome to contend with.
Having to share with non- astronomers will really ruin you experience I think.
IMHO :whistle:

[33South]

Im easily confused, thanks for clearing that up Mike.

If the BMC council gives the ok for camping and without actually seeing it the Blackheath site seems to meet all the requirements and some, except maybe the distance - out of peak hour easy 2hrs from Sydney CBD.
:driving: (http://misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=4#)
I reckon the trip alone is worth the effort but then Im biased.


Chris.

[xstream]

Don't know if we can make it or not at this stage Mike.
But the scout camp seems the best so far.

[ving]

I am sorry but my desicion was completely selfish....
silverdale is more or less down the road :ashamed:
while I'd be willing to travel, arranging things like time away from home... permission from the boss etc... yeah I am bad but what can ya do?
where did you come up with these sites mike?

[davidpretorius]

is this meant to be a national thing, will there be a national get together?

[davidpretorius]

what is astrofest, is this different or the same thing as the IIS starparty?

[iceman]

It's for anyone (from anywhere) who wants to come. So I guess you can call it International! :)

[iceman]

It's the same thing, "IceInSpace Astrofest" is just what it's being called.

IISA, or pronounced, "eye-sa".

[ving]

re tara:
actually the IISA ties in with taras "stardude" thingy... funny that. Wouldnt it be great to get it to coincide with one of their kiddies programs...

ISS and stardude present...... (insert some reat name) for kids!

[davidpretorius]

will it do a tour of the country every say 2nd year? Tassie, Qld, WA, Port Lincoln

January is too close to November's snake valley for me, but I would be interested further out to organise a family trip. As you know balancing family and hobby is hard.

[cahullian]

All the sites look good to me Mike and I will be attending no matter where it will be held. Which one would cope with a growing attendance? and will we be wanting to keep the same site year in, year out? :scared2:
Site 3 even with the winding roads looks like it might be suitable for years. Being exclusive sounds good but will the general public want to join in on all the fun??? :shrug:
There seems to be more to think about as time goes by. Maybe tossing a coin will help :poke:

Gazz

[ballaratdragons]

Isn't there already an Astronomy event called Astrofest? Bit rude if you pinch it off them.

[davidpretorius]

thats octoberfest doofus and its held in snake valley, lots of beer drinking!

[ving]

actually davo, its astrofest, but it seems everyone uses the name. just google it and find out. :)

[davidpretorius]

and novemberfest is also held in snakevalley - when mars is big!!!

[iceman]

Ken, the term "astrofest" is used globally, as Ving pointed out. It's just a generic term like "star party".

It's the IIS part in front that makes it unique.

[Brendan]

Only voted for what i did as i had to haul my sorry carcas out there for the photos :P, realy im with gazz any where is good.

[Orion]

Hi all, I've been reading this thread with interest and I spoke to George (whom some of you will know) and he told me that Lostock Scout Camp is a good choice. He has been there before. Quite a few years ago his astronomical society held viewing nights for the scouts, but he said that all you have to look out for is not to step in cow dung! :doh:

The swimming hole sounds good on a hot afternoon. :thumbsup:

George and I are interested in going for a few days and if the Scout Camp is chosen I am sure there will be a few more people that I know that would like to come along.

Is there 240 power there that anyone can use to charge a battery? :confused:

[Brendan]

ed,
all options presented will allow the 'buzz click' brigade to run their babies :D or those that want to image the night away.

[seeker372011]

I would usually attend no matter where but this year I cant ..I think

[Rodstar]

I have voted for Lostock, and I will definitely be at the event for some of the long weekend, wherever it its, but maybe not the whole long weekend because of some family commitments.

To my mind, for the event to have that special annual Supernovafest feel (is that a less controversial name?), we do need to get away from city lights and city fools.

If the general public have access to the site, not only are interruptions from car headlights and yobbos likely to be a major headache, but there may be problems with security. If I am staying several days, I will want to do what we do at SPSP, and that is keep the scope set up outside under a tarpaulin, rather than baking in my car during the day. I would not feel comfortable doing that if we are in a site easily accessed by non-IISers.

Being a little bit further away than some sites will no doubt turn some people off. It may also, however, cause those who come to commit to more of the weekend, if they know they cannot just drop in and out. In other words, the remoteness may actually create a stronger sense of community amongst those that go, even if there are a few less.

One benefit of having the event at Dungog is that it is likely to draw people from Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle areas. This seems worthwhile to me in providing a difference to existing stroparties which are set up by particular astronomy clubs which are far more geographically bound to one location.

One downside of being remote is getting some catering in for the weekend. Not sure what the solution to that is. Lots of BBQs???

I am looking forward to it, wherever we end up. Even if only a dozen people come, we are going to have an absolute hoot! :cool:

[iceman]

Ed, that's great the you and George will be there. I'll speak to Ghul and see if we can't get some more NAS'ers to make it for the weekend.

And yes, there will be power to charge your batteries. At lostock there's no power on the field, but there's power at the farmhouses.

Rod makes a good point too, and one we've tossed around in the private forum. While we're trying to please everyone and have it at a convenient location for everyone, dark skies are what star parties are all about and if you have to drive 3-4 hours, it's worth it for pitch black skies - something different than what you get at home (ving! :P). Plus, it's for 3 nights - so a 3-4 hour drive when you're staying for 3 nights isn't really that big a deal.

[ving]

why do i get the feeling that at least part of you message was targeted at me mike? :rolleyes:
:P

[iceman]

hehe, probably because of this :)

[iceman]

Ok i've deleted the poll, as the committee has decided that Lostock Scout Camp will be the location of the IceInSpace Astrofest, 26th-29th January 2006.

I'll start another thread with a new poll to gauge how many people might come, and we can start discussing logistics etc.

[ving]

but thats the middle of nowhere! :eek:

wht if there boogey mens? :scared2:

[h0ughy]

Astrobelle will be right at home Ving :rofl:

there's cows there too, and lots of moo poo :whistle:

[ving]

http://www.mindspring.com/~boycekb/images/Smilies/Cow.gif-- who me?

[iceman]

Please use this thread to discuss the star party, and please vote!

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=4572