Anyone Going to Vic South Star Party on 4 Nov

[cventer]

I kow most of you are going to Ballarat Star Camp, but any of you going to Vic South on Nov 4 - 7 ?

Regards
Chris

[xstream]

Sorry not this time round Chris. Probably next year.

[Dave47tuc]

No Chris.
Two Star Party's in a matter of a week is a bit much.
But I would like to go one year to catch up with old friends from the ASV.

Cheers.

[castor]

Nup. I went last year, and though it was mostly clouded out, I did enjoy the few hours for which viable observing was available. Pity I didn't have my Orion 80ED then...



This year I've got exams in the last week of November. And I am going to feel like being on a neutron star. (Or black hole, if I don't get my act together by then.)

[Stu]

I had planned to go until the IIS one came up, two in a week was a bit much. The ballarat party was closer and at least I have made contact with the people. I'm not a member of ASV yet and don't really know anyone.

I plan to join at least one society once I get a good scope. Either MPAS or ASV to start with, probably the Mornington one cause the dark sky site is only a few mimutes from my house.

[janoskiss]

Can you post more details/links about it, Chris?

[cventer]

Here you go follow this link for more info: http://www.asv.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=94&Itemid=67

[janoskiss]

Looks allright, but I'm not sure about following instructions from Darth Vader. :P

But if StarCamp is a success, I'll probably be pumped for more, and more than happy to join the dark side a week later. :D

[ballaratdragons]

I hope the guys at VicSouth have battened down the hatches.
Tonights forecast: Severe Thunderstorm warning and floods!!!! :eyepop:

[GrampianStars]

Sensational viewing 9/10 out west friday night 4th. Nov.
NO wind all night heavy frost about 4.00am Sat.5th. at 6c degrees.
Sat night same conditions early spotted at least 5 large fireballs during the night probably the Taurid meteor shower ?
the viewing field had 2 x 12" LX200 - 2 x GP1100 - Tak FS102 - 18" dob with stunning moonlite focuser + 15 " dobs - 8" LX200 - 6" refractor - 4" dobs - bino's etc.
had a great time lots of galaxy's, planetry nebs, etc. thanks to all who attended from SA / VIC and let me view through their wonderfull scopes. :prey2:
a breeze came up 2.30am Sun 6th so no dew at 11c degrees, viewing dipped to 6.8/10.
was good to catch up with fellow astro connoisseur's some who I've not seen for many years!!
drove back to the Grampians (2 hours) got home 5.00 am

[janoskiss]

Sounds like you all had a fantastic time. Thanks for filling us in, Robert. I was too late booking for this one, but I'll have to make a note of the event for next year.

Ken, can you make sure that next year's camp does not clash with this star party?

[jdb]

I agree GS - the seeing Friday night was stunning!

Good attendance too - over 90 registered attendees and I counted at least 100 locals, not including the bus load of kids for the public viewing session.

Did you (GS) get a chance to look through those huge Vixen binos? AWESOME views...

You missed a few scopes too...there was also a 14" LX200 and my favourite for the weekend was the 6" f/15 homemade folded refractor...fantastic design.

How did you score on the triva?

[jdb]

lol, 3 out of 4 nights with fabulous seeing....fireballs every minute...BOM got it wrong again...

[cventer]

We had an excellent time. Hopefully next year parties can be coordinated so calendars dont clash and we can see more Ice in space locals in Attendance. There will be a full report in next Sky and Space from Jason

Regards
Chris

[ballaratdragons]

They won't clash. Maybe some would like to make an extended trip out of it and attend both! That would be awesome!!

[janoskiss]

I was thinking the same thing, Ken. :party: :party: :party:

[iceman]

Even 1 week apart again, though not a clash, is too much for most people (especially those that need a leave pass from SWMBO).

Sounds like a great event at VicSouth, look forward to seeing the writeup in the next S&S.

[jdb]

Just to qualify Chris's comments - probably wont be in the very next (forthcoming) issue (Nov/Dec - which is in the final stages of production), but should be in the Jan/Feb issue.

I like BD's idea of making an extended trip out of it.

[xstream]

The only problem with it is, the old eyeballs will need a holiday after. :lol:

[ballaratdragons]

There is a 2 day gap between both events, and I'm not wanting to change The Snake Valley dates. No Moon!!

[Dave47tuc]

Great to see all had a good time at the VicSouth Star Party. :2thumbs:

[cventer]

I am pleased Snake Valley is on again, but did you notice that VicSouth 2006 is and has been booked for 10 - 13th November for some time now.

This means once again you will limit the number of attendees who would go to both.

With so few star parties happening in Australia I dont undrstand why it seems so hard to co ordinate times that they dont clash with eachother. This same clash has happened with ASV Star party and South pacific Star party more than once.

Come on guys talk to eachother and give us all the best opportunity to go to as many of these as possible.....

Perhaps a state wide calendar lisitng of all parties is in order so gaps in this can be used for any new ones...

How about changing the date to October some time so more of us can attend ????

Best Regards
Chris

[janoskiss]

So who's going to change their star party dates to better suit the other party?

[[1ponders]]

It would be a nice idea. Unfortunately there are only 13 new moons a year and not all of them fall on a weekend or a holiday period. Maybe the needs to be a few amalgamations as was done with the Qld Astrofest. There are 6? societies I believe associated with that. Do many of the other AA societies do a similar thing? I've not been to any others so I don't know. SPSP does, doesn't it?

Just throwing round some ideas.

[cventer]

Vic South is an amalgamation of ASV and ASSA and has been running for 3 years now so it being the one with larger roots should not have to change dates. They have had the Date for 2006 on the Vicsouth website for over 2 months allready....

I think Snake Valley Stary Party sounds great and would love to attend but some serious thought needs to be given to moving the dates before it becomes an established party with established clashing dates.....

Why not pick a dark weekend in September or October. Its a quiet month for most and has no parties clashing....

Regards
Chris

[janoskiss]

Might be too cold, and chance of clear skies is less closer to winter. If it was to change, I'd say make it a summer party, say in January or February. And that would mean that we'd have to have the 2006 camp a few months from now. :D

[jdb]

winter = longer time under the night sky
winter = better seeing
winter = hot chocolate
winter = winter constellations

now, waiting for the 'winter =' retorts...

[iceman]

winter generally has less rainfall than summer.. especially up this way.

The winter milky way is a spectacular thing. I reckon it's the best time for a star party, apart from the cold!

[Starkler]

winter in Ballarat = fog .
Ken will correct me if Im wrong.

I like Steves idea and make it a summer or autumn event.