Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Hatchman
On occasion, members have taken simultaneous sky quality meter readings at both Wiruna and Coonabarabran and obtained almost identical results. Quite simply, Wiruna can and does deliver the goods, which is why so many people make the long trek month after month.
Paul Hatchman
Vice President
ASNSW
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Paul,
This is fairly disingenuous. Wiruna place is well documented as an observing site. I.e. Read Bart Bok's historical paper written in 1960.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1960JRASC..54..257B
Also to back this up is;
Measuring seeing for site testing appears in a note also by Bart Bok in 1959. See.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1959Obs....79..219B
AAO, you can read about the "Early History of the AAO", which has some information on site selection. See
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1985QJRAS..26..393L
Russell Cannon "
Some comments on large telescope astronomy in Britain and Australia" See
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1989Ap%26SS.160..275C
Sorry. The real available site testing data simply doesn't scientifically back up your statement.
ASNSWI promotion and support for the Wiruna is necessarily needed, but the total spin about getting people there perhaps needs to change it primary focus. SPSP is about people getting together and not really about observing the sky (though it is a certain bonus.) Other times during the year are certainly better, as there are less people and more chance of getting some useful observing done without interference.
(Note: Like Wavytone, Andrew James was a former President of this Society and know and acted upon what went on in the somewhat careless site selection process.)