Hi all,
As an eternal optimist, I'm happy to say that the Katoomba Airfield is being made available to us for Saturday 17th of November.
This is the first Saturday after the total Solar eclipse that is being so eagerly awaited. From Sydney the eclipse will be a partial one, but memorable all the same.
I'm hoping for a change in fortunes on the 17th. I'm hoping to also hear a few stories from any eclipse chasers who might join us too.
Access to the Airfield is via Medlow Bath, the first village after Katoomba heading west. A google search will find it easily. One note, the road leading to the Airfield is 4km, of which the last 3km is unsealed and can have some erosion damage due to rain - take it easy.
On entering the Airfield's gate, turn LEFT and go past the "no entry" sign, and then turn right up past the various buildings to the main runway and the concrete slab we set up on. The picture below will give you some guidance. The second photo shows the view looking west from where we set up, and the third shows the set up slab and the view east. The last photo shows the attendees of one of the previous sessions at the Airfield.
The Airfield is completely a BYO place - your own power, food, etc. There are loos, and we are welcome to stay overnight and sleep in the office building. One particularly cold nights we fire up the combustion heater, which then becomes the most frequented meeting spot during the night
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I'm disappointed I didn't get to fulfil my autumn and winter sketching lists. Hopefully the spring list will see a good dent made in it, and last summer's unfinished lot seen to as well.
If you have any questions, please ask. If you don't have a scope that is not a problem as there are plenty of folks only too happy to share the views through their instruments. Your enthusiasm is enough to bring.
Hope to see you there,
Mental.