Look for Carins(QLD) local stargazers for the 2012 November Total Solar Eclipse [Archive]

Elliot1628

29-01-2012, 12:38 AM

We Chinese stargazers will form a team to Carins for the total solar eclipse. It is better to contact local stargathers in Carins, QLD.

Does anyone or local star club wish to oberserve the eclipse with us?

Also, anyone can provide a relatively better network carrier, such as OPTUS USB, Vodafone (3) Broadband, we will use the Internet to provide an online live of this eclipse, which one is more convinient and high speed?

We are from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China.

gary

29-01-2012, 05:05 PM

Hi Bin,

Great to hear that members of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory will be making
the journey to Cairns in November and I know that they will be made to feel
most welcome.

I am aware of a small number of amateur astronomers who live in the Cairns area
and hopefully one or more will see your post and make contact with you.

Alternatively, some of the clubs that exist in town and cities elsewhere
in the county have groups of people going up and it might be worth considering
contracting them as well should you wish to meet them in Cairns.
For example, the Sutherland Astronomical Society here in Sydney are one of
several large, active clubs that have a group going up. Another example is
a smaller group from Townsville that are making their way up there as well.

I would also suggest that someone from the Shanghai Observatory or the
Chinese Academy of Science also consider contacting someone at the James Cook
University which has a campus in Cairns but has a Center For Astronomy as
part of the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences based at their
Townsville campus.
See http://www.jcu.edu.au/eps/disciplines/astronomy/
including contact page here -
http://www.jcu.edu.au/eps/disciplines/astronomy/staff/index.htm

With regards broadband access, a Cairns local may have better anecdotal
experience they I can provide but the answer as to the best choice of carrier
will also largely depend on where you specifically plan on observing the eclipse.

Whilst Cairns itself is relatively well serviced by multiple carriers, one does
not have to go far out of town and it can be harder to get a signal.
As a rule of thumb, Telstra tends to have the best coverage followed by Optus.
Particularly outside of metropolitan areas one has to anticipate that Telstra may
be the only signal available or there may be no signal at all. The other
carriers you mention tend to have poor or non-existent coverage outside of towns.

If observing from Cairns itself, you may wish to explore the latest Telstra 4G
offering, which this Choice magazine review dated 11 Oct 2011 happens
to mention exists in Cairns.
See http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/technology/software-and-online-services/internet/telstra-usb-4g-broadband-modem.aspx

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au