Hi icytailmark,
to IIS.
Adding to what Blue Skies said about dark skies (hi Blue!), if you can make it saturday week, the 22'nd, a few of us IIS's will be at the Katoomba Airfield. You'ld be welcome to join us with your new puppy to give it a thrash & chew the fat.
Having said that, check the 'star parties' forum to see where else IIS'ers get together. The Pony Club is a fav.