IceInSpace Astrofest 2006! 26-29th Jan at Lostock ** New Prizes Announced **

[iceman]

Guys,

Please use the poll above to indicate whether you think you'll be coming to the IceInSpace Astrofest 2006, at Lostock in the Hunter Valley of NSW.

Dates: 26th-29th January 2006 (3 nights, Australia day long weekend)
Location: Lostock Scout Camp, Lostock (near Dungog/Gresford). It is about 3-4 hours drive, north of Sydney.


Prizes:
- Orion 80mm ED OTA (valued at $699)
- Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer from Wildcard-Innovations (http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au) (valued at $599)


Features:
- Exclusive use!
- Very dark skies
- 2 farmhouses with up to 30 bunkbeds each (bring own linen)
- Loads of room for camping
- Huge observing fields with good open viewing (no trees etc)
- Can park car near scope/tent
- Power available on-site for recharging batteries, etc.
- Undercover area for meetings/presentations/wet weather etc
- The houses have full kitchens (stoves, cutlery, glasses, hotwater)
- Each house has 5 showers and 5 toilets
- Swimming hole for cooling off during a hot summer day
- Off-site caravan park at Lostock Dam, about 6km's away

The cost will be worked out once we know (roughly) how many people are coming, but it won't be expensive - at this stage hopefully between $10-$20 per night. Obviously you don't have to stay for the 3 nights, you can stay for 1 or 2 if you wish, so the cost structure will be based on a cost per night to give you flexibility.

Please use this thread to start discussing the logistics of the star party, questions you have, events, activities, food, catering, etc. The organising committee will also be discussing these things and will make any announcements as they come to hand.

Please use the poll to indicate whether you're likely to attend. If you know of more people who are likely to come, reply here with numbers as well.

Thanks!

[Orion]

I'll bring it up at the next NAS committee meeting. :thumbsup:

[iceman]

Thanks Ed, would appreciate it very much.

[Rodstar]

Yeah, I am a starter for at least 2 nights!!! I think I have a pretty chance of talking Shane into coming too. One bunkbed for me please!

[iceman]

C'mon guys more votes please! I need to know roughly how many might be attending.

More info about the place (Lostock Scount Camp):
- Bunkbeds (some double, some single) in each farmhouse
- Each farmhouse has several (up to 5 in each) toilets and showers.
- Hotwater!
- Fridges and freezers in each house
- 240v Power
- The Lostock Caravan Park (6 km's away) is good for off-site accomodation if you don't want to camp or use a bunkbed, they have on-site vans available.

- If you're coming from a long way away and want to stay extra nights to make it worthwhile, you can come 1-3 days early if you like, no problem at all!

Please vote!

[Striker]

Mike...I voted as unsure but this one considering its a lot closer is a fairly high chance of me attending.

Can I just sleep in my car.????????????

[iceman]

Sure you can, if that's what you want to do.

[33South]

Mike, I just voted that I will likely be attending but not sure how many days/nights yet.
Thats because the Friday is a working day and Im trying to negotiate a days leave, but so is everyone else.

[ving]

gawd... I voted ages ago. unsure... I wonder if cheryl would want to come...

i am here (turn thumb upside down) :thumbsup:

[[1ponders]]

If I'm able to attend then Lostock would be the one for me. Maybe Striker and I could drive down together :scared: :scared: :scared: :drink: :drink: :drink: ;)

[h0ughy]

it would be great if you did come, I will have the 12" available for visual use and the EQ6 mount for photography and such. Your quite welcome to use the 12 if you don't wish to lug the scope all that way Paul :D

[Itchy]

Although i am very likely to attend, I may have to work on the Friday. Although it is close enough for me to work and get there for that evening.

Cheers

[cahullian]

you can count me in mate.
I'm not sure if I will camp out there or use the bunks but I am leaning towards camping atm

[iceman]

Announcement

There will be a lucky door prize for those attending the IISA. To be in the draw, you need to stay at least one night.

The prize is an Orion 80mm ED OTA, valued at $699.

I hope that encourages some more people to attend! :)

[Astroman]

I would love to go, still have to work out how I would get there though. So at this stage, it's a no from me :(

[astroron]

Maybe a group of us Queenslander could get together and share the petrol,even if we don't take a scope it would be a great weekend,any offers?.astroron :thumbsup:

[Brendan]

Im in not sure how many nights, have to see with the new job and such.

[ballaratdragons]

I sure would like to get up there. Meet all the Northern members and learn even more! Drop in on my folks at Toukley in the same trip.

But alas, I can't answer yet either same as Brenden coz of the possible new job!

How far is Lostock from Toukley?

[h0ughy]

mike can almost answer that

[cahullian]

About an hour less than Sydney Ken

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Gazz!

[iceman]

yeh about 2.5 hours Ken, would love it if you could come up.

And Ron, I think it's a great idea to pool the QLD resources together and get down here!

[Hitchhiker]

I'll turn up for two nights, probably the 27th and 28th - maybe more.

I will probably just pitch a tent, or sleep in the car. :zzz2:

Funny, I live just down the road, but I haven't been camping up there for years! :o

One thing I do remember though is the clear, dark sky. I can't wait!

:D

[ving]

hmm... if i go it looks to be by myself. a nice comfy bed looks good :D
i prefer my creature comforts :P

[ausastronomer]

Hi Tony,

You might like to let Ken Charlwood know about this as well, maybe you can also con him into joining IIS and posting some of his images in the monthly challenges ;)

Clear Skies
John Bambury

PS: Really impressed with the images your coming up with, great stuff.

[ausastronomer]

Mike,

Count me in as a definate. I will attend with my wife Sue and 9yr old son Jake and we will all require accomodation in one of the farmhouses

CS-John B

[ausastronomer]

Ken,

I only live about 5 -10 mins drive from Toukley and my guess is that it would be about a 2 hour to 2.5 hour drive to Lostok camping ground.

It would be great if you could get up here

CS-John B

[33South]

Mike I'll be at Lostock 27th-29th.

I dont want to camp but have a camp bed I can use if there's somewhere (indoors) I can park it.

Otherwise can I book a bunkbed.

Ive never been to a star party/astrofest before so Im sure there will be other questions. Such as is there such a thing as a FAQ sheet ?:help2: (http://misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=16#)


Thanks
Chris

[iceman]

FAQ, good idea Chris I'll start making one up.

Bunkbed is fine!

[iceman]

C'mon guys let's see some more interest!

It's going to be a blast of a time!

[ballaratdragons]

I'll do my best! I wanna come up, I've just got to wait and see what's happening with this job. :confused:

[[1ponders]]

Can I change my vote from "unsure" to "I'll be there come Hell or High Water"

[Striker]

95.76% sure I will be their....Paul (1Ponders) and I are going down together.

How long you staying for Paul.....Friday and Saturday night should be fine for me.

Leave early Sunday morning to come back.

PS.. I bags the room with the spa.

[ballaratdragons]

Are any Sydney-siders driving past Ballarat on the way. I could jump in :P

[iceman]

Great news Paul and Tony!

Ken, get a plane to Sydney, get a train to Gosford, and I'll take you up there :)

You'll have to ride in the boot though :)

[iceman]

Oh and don't worry about changing your vote. When I get back from holidays I'll be creatnig a booking form so you can BOOK and confirm your spot!

[ballaratdragons]

Only if you take out the smelly Bait prawns! :P

Hey, where's my scope gonna fit?

[[1ponders]]

Tony, I'll work it so that I can be there the week before hand and the week after if I have to. You work you're timetable and I'll work around it.

I'd love to be there Thursday night before the rest of the crowd turns up though. Just so I can say "Wow!!! You shoulda been here last night. The seeing and transparency was absolutely awesome. And the Boloids. I've never seen so many meteors. And so big and bright!!!!" when everyone turns up the next day. :lol:

:D

[Striker]

I will see what I can swing with work.....

But I will only be able to stay 2 nights either way.....so if its Thursday and Friday night or Friday and Saturday night...hope thats ok.

[[1ponders]]

Friday/Saturday sounds fine :thumbsup:

[atalas]

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[h0ughy]

excellent, i missed meeting you in Qld ;)

[Moonman]

Looks like a nice situation. At this stage Bass Strait and work commitments say no.

[iceman]

I am very pleased to announce that Wildcard Innovations (http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au) are the first sponsors for the event, with the donation of the fantastic Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer, valued at AU$599, as a prize.

It will either form part of a lucky door prize or raffle, to be determined.

Many thanks to Gary and Mai from Wildcard for their generous sponsorship of the IceInSpace Astrofest 2006 at Lostock.

I'm also pleased to announce that Gary and Mai will be presenters on one of the days (agenda to be determined), to give a talk about the history of Wildcard, the development of Argo Navis etc. They will also be in attendance as vendors, for the vendor stalls/swap meet.

And last but not least, they'll be there as amateur astronomers, hoping for some clear skies to get some observing in!

Thanks once again to Wildcard-Innovations (http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au).

[iceman]

Another update: I'm working on a booking page for the Astrofest this week, so that you can book your spot at the star party!

More details when they come to hand.

[Rodstar]

That is fantastic news about the Argonavis lucky door prize! Gary and Mai deserve a very big pat on the back (or bottle of Moet!). I keep hearing how great the Argonavis is.

[bird]

I'll be coming, the whole time (is that 3 nights?). I'll need a bed to sleep in during the daytime :-)

If I can squeeze it into the car I'll bring the new 13", otherwise I'll bring the good ole 10".

And...err.. the other bits and pieces as well :-)

Bird

[h0ughy]

that's fantastic! :P

[iceman]

Great to hear, Anthony! And yes, 3 nights.

I'm hoping to have an info page + booking page up on the site by the end of the week. I'll just have to tell my boss there's more important things to do than.. say.. work!

[Rodstar]

Speaking as a boss, wash your mouth out, Mike. :evil2:

[Sausageman]

Iceman,

The Argo Navis should be raffled, you can make more money to offset the cost of the weekend, and pay the bills.

Mike

[Rodstar]

Maybe next year, but we can't change the rules for this year, now that people have paid up to come with the understanding it is a lucky door prize!

[iceman]

Thanks for the thought Mike, but as Rod says it's a great gesture on behalf of Wildcard Innovations to donate an AN as a door prize!

Now i'm going to lock this thread because it's the old one! Reply to the sticky one!