Blue Mountains, September- Katoomba Airfield 11/9/10

[mental4astro]

Hi all,

Katoomba Airfield is available to us for Saturday, 11'th of September.

Believe it or not, I ACTUALLTY GOT THERE BEFORE SUNSET last month!! I managed to take a couple of pics too which I'll post in this thread latter on tonight.

As always everyone is welcome to join us. Telescope or not, it doesn't matter.

Access to the Airfield is via Medlow Bath, the first village west of Katoomba.

For those coming for the first time, it is BYO power. We are welcome to stay overnight in the office building. Thankfully there is a combustion heater there too, which became the central focus last month when the clouds rolled in, :(, after only two, but spectacular, hours of darkness.

I got to see the Ring Nebula for the first time there- thanks Steffan! Wow, it is a big thing. I managed to pin it from Randwick two weeks ago in a couple of scopes, one 13.1" and 17.5". Couldn't quite make it out in an 8", but conditions were very poor.

Hoping for the same seeing conditions as last month, this time without the easterly wind.

[En1gma]

Awww.

Timing does not work well again, unless you wanna set one up for this sat as well *hint hint*

Wife flies off on Friday, so I'll have the little one with me.

[mental4astro]

Hey Rob,

Timing for this Saturday no good for me, :(. Would be good to catch up with you, mate!

Here's a couple of pics taken last month, which also appear in last month's thread. The pic with the scope in it faces East, end of runway > 1km. The other pic faces West, end of runway approx. 500m.

[Steffen]

Weather permitting I shall be there. I've got a new mount for my Mak to put through the paces :)

Cheers
Steffen.

[En1gma]

Acually, i'll get some extra rugs/clothes for my 3yo andl bring him for a drive and leave earlier.

So, I am putting my hand up that I shall be there - weather permitting

Rob

[Sylvain]

Hi Alex, Hi guys,

I'd be interested in coming.
Can you please confirm this is the spot?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Katoomba+Airfield&sll=-33.946123,151.242818&sspn=0.037167,0.077162&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Katoomba+Airfield,+New+South+ Wales,+Australia&ll=-33.679497,150.37056&spn=0.149134,0.308647&t=h&z=12

Cheers!

[Chancellor]

Hi Sylvain
That looks like the right spot.

I'll be away that weekend but wishing you guys clear skies!

[Sylvain]

Thanks for the confirmation :)
The site should be pretty free of light pollution !
If only the night could be clear!
Fingers crossed :)

[AG Hybrid]

I miss the dark sky there at Katoomba. I'd very much like to go, but timing isn't spectacular for me either.

[bathurst77]

Ive never been to a star party or astro club. Might make the trip saturday if its a clear night.. What time is best to turn up? What should i bring?

[Sylvain]

Good question about the timing. I guess around sunset would be a good idea?

Things to bring: I'd say : warm clothes, hot coffee and biscuits if you feel like it, eventually the necessities to spend the night on site (inside) if you plan to.

So who's coming (weather permitting)?

[mental4astro]

Hi all,

What to bring?

* Warm clothing- it gets cold up there. The office has a combustion heater that will be lit for us. Just the walk from where the scopes are set up to the office & back is enough to get the blood moving again after being still at the eyepiece.

* Scope, and/or binos, or just your eyes. No gear is needed if you don't have any. Folks there are only too happy to show stuff through their scopes. Don't underestimate binoculars- I always take & use mine. There are some things in the sky actually better seen with binos. You will also be surprised to actually see galaxies with them. Binoculars make ideal 'rich field telescopes'. If you have a photo tripod, maybe get yourself a binocular-tripod adaptor if you pair has a thread for one. It makes things a little easier.

One reminder, the Airfield is totally BYO power.

* Food, thermos of hot drink, water, what ever to get you through.

Saddly I won't be able to make it this month, and Hickny won't be getting there before 7pm, so no signs this time. I'll try to negotiate some witches hats to guide folks to the set-up area.

If not, no problem- Once you enter the Airfield, turn left at the gate, follow the track to and past the "No Entry" sign. At the intersection with the offices & hangers, turn right & head up to the main runway. As you get past the line of trees & onto the airstrip, immediately to your left there is a concrete slab. This is where we set up (see pictures with the third post).

If seeing is exceptional, and getting too late to drive home safely, we are welcome to stay overnight in the main office building.

The recent rain has again begun to cause the 3km dirt road leading to the Airfield to erode in sections. Ease off the gas to avoid nasty jolts.

I've included a link to the Airfield's website:

http://www.katoombaairfield.com.au/index.html

Best I can manage this month is setting up in the backyard this Saturday night, :sadeyes: . Better than nothing, I guess. Need an observing buddy in Sydney's east this Saturday? Rob?

Next time I'm up there, I might bring an 8" dobbie for those of you who don't have a scope & would like to have a go of one. Anyone interested?

[lacad01]

Providing I can get a leave pass and the weather is fine, I hope to be there :)

[dulwich.hill]

Sorry Mental,

I have a school fundraiser to attend that night - otherwise I was really looking forward to coming. The 6" "canon" refractor will have to wait another month for dark skies!

James

[lacad01]

Hope you guys had a great night, I had another conflicting event so couldn't make it :(

[Sylvain]

Adam,

Only Stephen (and his little one ;)) and I showed up. The night was pretty good though. Pretty clear skies, some humidity and a bit of freezing wind. It is just SO much better than any observation site in Sydney, that I can't complain about a thing.

Stephen and Alex, thanks for coming and letting me see through and use your scopes. It was good to meet you.

Sylvain
:)

[Steffen]

Yes, it was a shame that not more people showed up, it was one of the best nights I had at Katoomba yet. No clouds, no dew, just a bit of wind every now and then.

Cheers
Steffen.

[mental4astro]

Saddly I didn't get to have a session from home either, :sadeyes:.

All I could do was think "Oh, you lucky buggers!"

I'm glad it was a ripper, though.

Let's see what October has to offer.

[Steffen]

You have to count me out for October as I'll be at IISAC :thumbsup:

Cheers
Steffen.

[Sylvain]

Yeah it was absolutely cloud-free =) niceeeeeee !