Blue Mountains, Feb. 25 - Katoomba Airfield

[mental4astro]

Hi all,

Katoomba Airfield is being made available to us on Saturday Feb. 25.

This will be the first session at the Airfield since November last year. Let's hope that the clouds give us photon junkies the fix we so desperately need, :lol: .

If you'd like to join us, and you haven't been to the Airfield before, access to it is via Medlow Bath. At the villiage's only set of lights, turn into Station Street and then left into Rutland Street. The Airfield is 4km from this intersection, with the last 3km an unsealed road.

Note that the National Parks mob haven't graded their section of this unsealed road for some time now, and there is some errosion of the surface. Take it easy.

On entering the Airfield, keep to the left hand track up to the hangers. Go through the "no entry" sign and turn right at the buildings and up the crest to the main runway. We set up on the concrete slab on the left. See the picture below for details.

If the night happens to be a corker, we are welcome to crash out in the office building for some shut eye. There are loos, but that's it. Everything else is BYO. Power, water, everything.

If you don't have a scope, not to worry. We all there like to share our stuff and knowledge.

Also, if you haven't been to a star party before, please note that white light torches are our worst enemy. We advise that you cover your torches with two, three or four layers of red cellophane as red light is the least damaging to our night vision.

As always, I'll be hoping to get there an hour to half and hour before sun set.

Mental.

[AG Hybrid]

See you there. Just one thing. Why is the title for the 12th but you said its for the 25th?
Anyway it will be good to see what my new 102 can do under a dark sky.

[mental4astro]

Title said "Feb. '12", as in February 2012. Changed it to stop any confusion.

Will be good to see you & your dad again, Adrian.

[AG Hybrid]

Yeah I'll be setting up 2 scopes from now on.

[GeoffW1]

Hi Alex,

A bump, and apologies for this time. I will be heading down to Sussex Inlet for the week, taking all my gear, and hoping for clear skies, so the same luck to you guys.

Cheers

[Poita]

If the mallincam arrives in time, I'll try to make this one.

[mental4astro]

Peter, if your Mallincam doesn't arrive in time, I've got a shiny new G-star camera if it tickles your fancy, :thumbsup:.

[Poita]

Excellent, which model did you get?

[mental4astro]

The Gstar-ex clr (http://myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-071B). Offers me what I want. Live video which is good at star parties, particularly in urban areas as it can capture on a screen much more than the eye can through the eyepiece. Used it on your C8 before the New Year from my backyard. Mate, we could see colour in Eta Carina nebula, the Sombrero galaxy was a cinch, and the detail in Saturn & Mars left me gobsmaked!

[hickny]

I'll be there if the weather looks favourable.

[mental4astro]

I spoke with Rod at the Airfield regarding the recent nasty hail storm up at Katoomba. As luck would have it, the worst of the storm missed the Airfield. Man, would have been loud in the hangers! :lol:

[mental4astro]

I've got my fingers crossed for this Saturday. I can really do with a photon fix, :scared2::scared2::scared2: Myyyy nervous tw, tw, twitch is ge, ge, getting nasty.

[eclipse]

Alex, we won't be able to make it this week, but hope you all have a good time and the clouds and rain stays away

Les and Deb.

[Vegeta]

I wont be able to make it either, Iv'e got a lot of homework this week:sadeyes:, hope the sky stays clear for you though:thumbsup:

[lacad01]

Fingers crossed I'll be heading out - haven't had the scope out in nearly a year :eyepop:

[vic4loc]

Almost certain I will be heading to Katoomba tomorrow, will be my first time to Katoomba :) Will try to get there around 6pm.

Is there any locked gate that I have to get through?

Victor.

[mental4astro]

Hi Victor,

Nope, no locked gate. Just follow the path detailed in the first post. You may want to stop by the manager's office to say G'day.

The only other thing is the hat gets passed around to contribute to the case of brew that's the gift we leave Rod to say thanks. More folks that go, the less that needs to be pitched in.

Will be good to see you up there, :)

[mr bruess]

What time will it finish?
I want to see if I can make it.
I get busy on Saturdays
:sadeyes::sadeyes::sadeyes:
my 100th post!

[mental4astro]

Sunrise, I guess.

There isn't a finishing time. It's upto you. We are welcome to stay overnight. Can even sleep in the flying school's office. If the night is particularly good and you stay late, may not be a good idea to drive home fatigued. Good to get some shut eye if it is really late.

[mr bruess]

"We are welcome to stay overnight. Can even sleep in the flying school's office. If the night is particularly good and you stay late, may not be a good idea to drive home fatigued. Good to get some shut eye if it is really late."

I didn't know you can stay over night. Is it free accommodation?
You need to bring your own blankets?(sleeping bag will do)
I could probably get there 11.30pm to 12.00pm.
Would that be worth it?
How many people with telescopes are around at that time?
After all the Blue mountains are far away from Liverpool.

[mental4astro]

Wuss, :lol: , I come from Maroubra, :(

Mate, no money. Just the contribution to the brew and a sense of humour. But remember there is no power up there, and you need to take your own food and drink.

Get here when you can. As long as there are people up there the gate is open. Sleeping bag is fine. There are plenty of sofas to crash on. In winter we use the combution heater that's in there too. NEED to. The heater is a much welcome asset when you can't feel your toes any more.

We've had upto 20 people up there and as many as 12, 15 scopes.

Last note, just check here before heading up in any case. Weather can change so we all try to use IIS as a bulliten board on how conditions are going. There is excellent mobile coverage up there, so we can tap into IIS readily.

[Wavytone]

Looking good so far on the Katoomba webcam.

I'll have a quick fly first then aim to be there about 7pm.

[mental4astro]

So far so good all right.

This is the webcam Wavy's talking about at Scenic World:

http://www.scenicworld.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=44

[Wavytone]

Forget it... it's all overcast and will probably be light drizzle tonight.

Better to stay home and read Cloudynights.

[lacad01]

I think I'll chance the drive up anyway, ever the optimist :)

[vic4loc]

There are lots of cloud around in the western suburb here, what's the verdict? I might just head up to enjoy a drive and a night outdoor :)

Victor

[lacad01]

At Blaxland at mom - patchy blue sky here and there but heavy cloud looking west ...

[Hung]

I'll take my chances with the clouds and hope there is much.

Tt's not forecast to rain so that is a positive!

See you guys there

[Poita]

I just headed home from Lithgow, solid overcast skies from there all the way to Mudgee, hope it's not headed your way.

[lacad01]

All set up, just waitin for the cloud to clear :rolleyes:

[mental4astro]

:sadeyes: not looking good here.

Just enjoying the good company at the airfield.

[dulwich.hill]

Yeah, sorry guys, I threw the towel in when I saw the weather report saying mostly cloudy with drizzle at midnight.

May have been my fault, I am dead keen to try out my new C11!

Sorry!

James

[mr bruess]

I was going to come tonight but the cloudy weather prevented me from going.
I will be going next time if it is a clear dark night.
This is one of my new years resolutions.
I may bring some of my telescopes.

[lacad01]

Was pea soup up there but good company and some sad joke telling :lol: