Date for IISAC2013 - have your say!

[iceman]

Most know that I'm not going to organise an IISAC event in 2012, due to the Total Solar Eclipse in November.

I doubt many people would go to a star party in October for a few days, and then travel to Cairns in November, a month later. Plus, I'll have my own activities to organise getting my family up to Cairns and our holiday afterwards.

So, for 2013 I'm moving it to March or April. Why?
- A different time of year, a change, a different sky to look at.

Factors to consider:
- I'm assuming SPSP will be in May 2013 as it has been in May the last few years. Some people may want a month between if they attend both, others may not care.
- Easter 2013 is in late March (29th/30th March, 1st April)
- NSW Term 1 School holidays is 13th - 28th April, 2013.
- Daylight savings ends on the 7th April, 2013.

Choices:
- March 2013, either the 7th/8th/9th or 14th/15th/16th. On the first date, the Moon will rise early in the morning. On the second date, the Moon will set on Saturday night at about 9:40pm, but won't be visible for that long because of the mountain.
- April 2013: 11th, 12th and 13th.

The April dates will just be in school holidays, if parents let their kids take the thu/fri off school. The April dates will be outside DST.

Thoughts?

[mozzie]

yep that's great mike !!!! different time of year different skies.....
march any time it means we may still get a swim in.april could cool of a bit,and be a bit close to spsp which may turn off some...

just my thoughts!!!!!

[mental4astro]

School holidays for me. My missus is a teacher too, so really the best chance of the whole family coming. No real chance of my lot making SPSP outside of the school break.

[sheeny]

I have a slight bias towards March... it'll be hotter and better for swimming:). But really, either suits me fine.

Al.

[Greg Bryant]

Mike,

SPSP this year was in April. 2012 is in April. 2006, 2007, and 2008 were also in April. Just a thought.

http://www.asnsw.com/spsp/index.asp

Greg

[iceman]

Thanks Greg. I had recollection of some May years, but obviously wasn't certain.

Do the SPSP crew have a date for 2013 yet?

[Octane]

Mike,

Might want to fix your first sentence and s/2013/2012

H

[iceman]

Fixed.

[acropolite]

I chose March, the weather is likely to be more reliable than April.

[iceman]

For more information, Daylight Savings ends on the 7th April 2013. So the March date will just be in DST, the April event will be out of DST.

Not a big deal though.

Sometimes I think DST is better because it lets you have dinner and get ready before it gets dark. Personal preference though.

[jjjnettie]

ha ha, don't get me started on this DST you speak of. On Astro Camp, all time stops, there is just day light and night time.

[ausastronomer]

Hi all,

I am a bit undecided on this, notwithstanding I voted for April.

The advantages of March are:-

1) Warmer nights.
2) More time after dinner to get set up for the evening.

The advantages of April are:-

1) Less likelihood of rain.
2) "Arguably" better targets to observe
3) Can coincide with school holidays.

Some general comments.

I have been to every ISAAC except last year. The big thing I noticed and it was very dissappointing to me, was the noticeable lack of children and families. I think that happened this year because of when it was held.To me a star party shouldn't be "a boys weekend away", although it can be if you wish. A star party IMO should be aimed and promoted as a family event and should be held at a time conducive to children and families attending. With school having only just gone back this year I think a lot of people were reluctant to pull their kids out of school for a day or two. Because of this and the distance it makes it difficult for people to get there and set up before dark on the Friday and on that basis they figured it was all too hard for 1 or 2 nights and didn't bother going. I think if this is going to be the continued success it has been in prior years, consideration needs to be given to holding it during the school holidays. This is where it started and it was enormously successful. Unfortunately the heat by day in January made it almost unbearable so it had to be shifted. I know my son was exceptionally bored this year as there were ZERO other kids of a similar age, there for him to interact with and he had no interest in the talks by day. In the past at IISAC and at Border Stargaze he has had a great time at these star parties because there are lots of other kids around.

Cheers,
John B

[iceman]

All valid points John.

However even in April 2013, school holidays doesn't start until the Saturday. But being at the end of the school term, most parents probably wouldn't worry too much about taking their kids out of school for 1 or 2 days.

Easter can also fall in inconvenient times in April. If the new Moon falls at Easter, I'm not sure people would spend their easter public holidays at the star party. In 2013, Easter is 2 weeks earlier so it's not a problem in that case.

The other advantages of March:
- Usually 1 or 2 months before SPSP

In April, it will either be 1 month before, or possibly at the same time! Waiting to hear back from the ASNSW president regarding their date for 2013.

Would it worry people if the two star parties were in consecutive months, or would people prefer a month gap in-between?

I don't know how many go to both, but I would imagine it's a reasonable percentage.

[kinetic]

That won't happen Mike. Easter is usually the first Sunday after the
first full moon nearest the vernal Equinox I think :)

[DavidTrap]

It's something like that Steve - i just remember that you don't get a new moon at Easter.

DT

[Greg Priestley]

Out of March and April I'm going for March.

Main reason is that it avoids any potential conflict with SPSP - I want to do both, not have to choose between them.

But ...

It's logical to skip the year with the eclipse, but if so, why not keep it in this latter time slot later in 2013 (eg Oct/Nov). That gives us a nice 6 month gap between the two star parties and makes it a lot easier for people who want to do both.

Just my $0.02 worth

[jamespierce]

Put in another April vote for us - We can't come until it's Vic school hols (which that would be at the end of for us).

[skyoyster]

As jamespierce said - Vic school holidays finish on April 14, so this way we could trek up, and then careen home all tired and stuff on the Sunday before I start teaching again on the Monday!!

[norm]

Hi Mike,

I've put it down for April. Mainly as it cooincides with School holidays and pulling the kids out for 1 day on Friday (last day of term) is generally not a big deal.

The other fact is that many parents have kids doing extra-curricula activities such as sports, hobbies, tutoring etc which are pre-paid in advance and generally not privvy to credit. Generally these are concluded at the end of school term and start of school holidays.

I would do March if it was the majority vote, but April is my preference.

John's certainly made some valid points in trying to entice families and school holiday fits in quite nicely.

Good luck mate in deciding! :P

Norm

[spacezebra]

:thumbsup:
Cheers Petra d.

[Omaroo]

Yep... there are two time periods to consider: the sleepy bit and the wakey bit.

[mental4astro]

I should add that if IISAC13 happens outside of the school holidays, this will also prevent my family from coming.

From what I'm reading so far:

* you want families to come, needs to be during school holidays to accomodate them (IISAC10)

* you want the convenience of lone adults (read 'no kids'), March is the go (IISAC11).

The only other option, if you feel you'd be encrouching too much on SPSP with an April date, is to again hold it during September/October. SPSP will also be having the same problem of lack of families if they hold their event in May.

So, a vote is fine, but you, Mike, have the deciding vote. You have a distinct market available to you with an April date. March will give you the market you experienced this year.

This was a theme that was touched on during the early discussions in the thread for IISAC11. The choice of holding the event outside of school holidays had some folks interpert the date selection as being a slight on kids attending.

Not an easy decision, and one that could get quite heated with opinions. You have the experience of several IISAC events now. You would also have the registration stats that would give a break-down on the number of kids that each event had to cater for. Place some faith in what those statistics you hold too.

Alex.

[iceman]

I've already clarified that holding it outside of school holidays isn't in any way an attempt to REDUCE the number of kids or families.

I don't know why some people interpreted the date as having anything to do with that, but hopefully I've clarified my thoughts there.

I love having kids and families there. Including my own. But it isn't the only deciding factor.

[spacezebra]

Excellent Chris!

Cheers Petra d.

[Satchmo]

I haven't voted because I don't know when SPSP 2013 is on - I wouldn't go to two star parties in one month and I have never missed an SPSP ;)

[jjjnettie]

Having kids at camp is great. And it has nothing to do with the fab toys their parents bring along for them to play with. :D

[jjjnettie]

:lol:

[iceman]

I've sent the president and secretary of ASNSW an email to find out their date for 2013, but I haven't heard back yet.

[Steffen]

But is it reasonable to assume it won't have exactly that effect?

Cheers
Steffen.

[iceman]

Of course it may. But it's not an attempt to intentionally reduce children - which is what you suggested in the previous thread.

There's a difference.

[Steffen]

Which was my impression from the discussion that preceded the choice of date. On consideration I removed my remark.

And yes, I fully appreciate that it isn't in your power to make the New Moon fall inside school holidays.

Cheers
Steffen.

[mental4astro]

Hi Mike,

So, finalised the date?

The poll is close, and the number who have voted is small.

I still prefer April for my family to attend.

But I need a date finalised so I can get things sorted, & March ain't too far away.

Mental.

[iceman]

This thread shouldn't have been bumped by whoever voted in the poll.

The date is finalised already :)

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/iisac

More details soon - it's on my TO DO list to get the organisation more underway :)

[iceman]

In fact I'll lock this thread now to avoid confusion.

Dates are: April 11th-13th 2013.