Help me plan astro trip from Spain to Australia

[PeterWar (Pere)]

Greetings from the northern hemisphere Aussies!

I've been in the wonderfull hobby of Astronomy for about 5 years now, for these years I've been enjoying the wonders of the northern hemisphere, I live in northern Catalonia, in a relatively low light poluted area of the skies far away from the lights of Barcelona.

The thing is, ever since I started cultivating my hobby I've always wanted to visit the southern skies.

As it happens, this October I'll be fullfilling my wish, as I have to attend a business meeting in Sydney on October 26th.

I'll be booking the plane trips soon, all I know is that I need to be in Rome attending a symposion on October 15th, in Sydney on the 26th and back to Barcelona on the 28th and that I'm eager to see your beautiful skies.

I've checked the moon calendar for October and while not ideal, I think my best shot at stargazing will be the 23rd and 24th.

Any recommendations about where to go? special destinations? guided tours for experienced astronomers with good astronomy equipment? I obviously won't be carrying the XX14g with me so would be nice to have access to local equipment.

Also, how about local astronomy clubs? and astronomy in the dessert? please let me know what would you do if you where in my shoes!

[gary]

Originally Posted by PeterWar

... please let me know what would you do if you where in my shoes!

Hi Pere,

If possible, I would delay my return flight home and if there were any
spaces available try and attend the OzSky "Southern Spring" Star Safari
which is held October 28th 2016 to November 4th 2016 in the Southern
Highlands, a few hours drive south of Sydney.

This event is designed specifically to allow northern hemisphere observers
such as yourself the opportunity to view from deep southern skies using
large aperture telescopes, including a 30-inch.

See http://ozsky.org/spring/index.asp

[PeterWar (Pere)]

Originally Posted by gary

Hi Pere,

If possible, I would delay my return flight home and if there were any
spaces available try and attend the OzSky "Southern Spring" Star Safari
which is held October 28th 2016 to November 4th 2016 in the Southern
Highlands, a few hours drive south of Sydney.

This event is designed specifically to allow northern hemisphere observers
such as yourself the opportunity to view from deep southern skies using
large aperture telescopes, including a 30-inch.

See http://ozsky.org/spring/index.asp

Hi Gary,

Thank you very much for your input, although it looks like the event is sold out already, can't really commit to the waiting list without knowing if I can take a longer holiday. Looks terrific though!! it would be a perfect fit if it was a week earlier.

[dannat (Daniel)]

ideally you would travel inland of the great dividing range, while the distance from the east cost varies roughly 100-150km inland there are flatter plains, usually less cloud & clearer still nights, light pollution is also much less away rom our large coastal cities
will you have a hire car, or how are you to get around?

[AstralTraveller (David)]

The trouble with Sydney of course is that it is Australia's light pollution capital. The glow can be discerned hundreds of km away. Perhaps it would be better to fly into another city, do your observing from near there, and then only fly to Sydney for your meeting. I'm not sure what options you have but anywhere (except perhaps Melbourne) is better than Sydney.

BTW. As a long time observer of local weather I now know that there will be storms and floods on the 23rd and 24th October.

[clive milne]

I would suggest delaying your flight home and work on the premise that there is guaranteed to be a gathering at more than one dark sky site somewhere in the country on the new moon weekend.
Wait until the weather forecast is available and catch a flight to the best (clear option)
Flights in this country are generally speaking, not that expensive - like around a hundred Euro - and can be booked with short notice.
http://www.webjet.com.au
I am sure you will have no trouble finding someone happy to give you a lift if you keep in contact here on this forum.

Be aware that when you are browsing for flights online, that companies (like webjet) use cookies to track your browsing history. The price will be higher the second time you make an enquiry, and higher again on the third.... if you delete your cookies, the price will come back down. They do it to get you to panic buy.

The skies down here are spectacular and well worth the extra effort.

best
~c

[clive milne]

Pere,

Some other things to consider:
In the rural areas, mobile coverage can be a bit patchy or simply non-existent depending on which carrier you are using. If you are going to use your own phone company here, be SURE that they roam on the Telstra network... outside of the cities, it is the ONLY network you will want to be on. One option to consider is to buy a pre-paid sim to put in your phone.
Whilst Telstra has by far the best Network, they subcontract their customer service out to Hades... and charge you a premium for it. Boost is the only company that uses the full Telstra network, has good customer service and is much cheaper for the same product.

For 25 Euro, you will get unlimited international calls, unlimited texts and as much data as you could conceivably use... this might be better than using your own network here.

fwiw) When I tether my laptop from my (Boost) phone, the data transfer speeds are consistently twice as fast as I ever see on my naked DSL, and more reliable.

Public transport in this country is something you would NOT want to rely on outside of the cities. If you are considering a hire car - read the fine print. The prices they advertise do not include insurance... be prepared for a rude shock if you roll up to the depot without first asking how much that is going to add to the experience. Don't even think about hiring a vehicle from Wicked campers... stay well clear.

Most visitors to this country under estimate just how vast it is.
The two cities which are closest together are Melbourne and Sydney... The road trip is about the same as driving from Barcelona to Granada.

Sydney to Perth via Cairns and Darwin is eleven times further... about the same as Barcelona to Mumbai, India by road.

ergo: air travel between cities is the best option.

Ohh... and one other thing. whilst you are out in the country... watch out for the drop bears, and don't go swimming if there are Bunyips in the water.

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by clive milne

Pere,

Sydney to Perth via Cairns and Darwin is eleven times further... about the same as Barcelona to Mumbai, India by road.

ergo: air travel between cities is the best option.

It is in Spain too. Madrid-Toledo via Vladivostok isn't exactly a day trip on the ground either
Interesting bit re web jet, didn't know that...probably best to go to the cheapest airline page directly.

[clive milne]

Originally Posted by N1

It is in Spain too. Madrid-Toledo via Vladivostok isn't exactly a day trip on the ground either
Interesting bit re web jet, didn't know that...probably best to go to the cheapest airline page directly.

Yeah, well... we did have a gentleman from Texas here last year who figured he could do an even longer journey by hire car.. . it was a good idea right up until it was pointed out to him that what he was planning was a road trip in excess of 12,000km.... and a week to do it in, including sight seeing.

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by clive milne

Yeah, well... we did have a gentleman from Texas here last year who figured he could do an even longer journey by hire car.. basically a round trip ... giving himself a week to do it in so he could have enough time for sight seeing... it was a good idea right up until it was pointed out to him that what he was planning was in excess of 12,000km.

I'd love to do that one day, but with a bit more time than a week . Most of it would happen under pristine skies
I did fly into Darwin once on my way back from EU, drove a rental to Tenant Ck, watched an Annular Solar Eclipse, drove on to Alice, caught a plane to Sydney, all within a day and a half.

[clive milne]

Originally Posted by N1

I'd love to do that one day, but with a bit more time than a week . Most of it would happen under pristine skies
I did fly into Darwin once on my way back from EU, drove a rental to Tenant Ck, watched an Annular Solar Eclipse, drove on to Alice, caught a plane to Sydney, all within a day and a half.

That's a genuinely impressive effort!

I used to live in the north west... it is an inconceivably brutal country in the summer months.

[N1 (Mirko)]

Actually I just remembered I did stay the night in Alice, so make that 2 days and a bit. Still...a lot of driving but what a great journey and one heck of an astro trip!

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by clive milne

Pere,


Public transport in this country is something you would NOT want to rely on outside of the cities.

Clive , I take issue with this comment. Trains and buses can be used very successfully with a bit of planning. Recently we had a visitor form the Faroe Islands ( Andrias - or Am on this forum) who successfully travelled from Sydney, to Southern Highlands, then to Yass and Canberra where I picked him up to take him to Cooma. Later he returned from Cooma to Canberra and Lithgow all by public transport. and attended the SPSP.

We need more people to use the public transport system in this country.

[N1 (Mirko)]

[QUOTE=The Mekon;1265100]

We need more people to use the public transport system in this country.

+1

[AstralTraveller (David)]

[QUOTE=The Mekon;1265100]

We need more people to use the public transport system in this country.

And as our local ABC radio host says: ABAB - always bring a book.

[Pinwheel (Doug)]

Another trap with hire cars here is in the fine print your NOT covered for road care or insurance if you drive off the bitumen. A mate of mine found this out the hard way when he turned on to a dirt road & hit a small rock putting a hole in the oil sump. They had to push the car back to the road before they could get help.

[clive milne]

Another tip:
With respect to changing money.. don't do it at the exchange kiosk in the airport when you get here... their rates would make Shylock blush with embarrassment.

[OzEclipse (Joe Cali)]

Pere,

Canberra is a major airport hub, has rental cars available from the airport and you can stay in the city in reasonably priced accommodation or even youth hostals and then drive out to the edge of the city to reasonably dark skies if you look away from the city in < 30 mins, and very dark skies in 1 hr (80km). Traffic is light and navigation is easy compared to Sydney or Melbourne so you can concentrate on keeping your car to the left

October is the worst time of year for observing the famous southern hemisphere objects that you are probably hoping to see. The rich Crux Carina region is at it's worst position between sunset and midnight. Eta Carina just reaches 35 degrees altitude before twilight. The magellenic clouds are well placed at this time.

There are also farm stays available in dark skies 1-2 hrs drive from Canberra. No telescopes at these places, just dark skies.

http://www.grovecreekobservatory.org/ has telescopes. They don't give many details about their access terms for visitors. Contact them and ask.

Best of luck

Joe

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Yep, Canberra is a good option, though there is a major source of hot air just south of the lake .

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

Yep, Canberra is a good option, though there is a major source of hot air just south of the lake .

Yes Canberra Area is rather handy to reasonably dark skies.
( The hot air sources south of the lake are not native to Canberra, they invade from areas all round Australia much to the locals' chagrin)

October 23/24 is not the best time for many of the southern gems but a great time for 47Tuc, Tarantula, SMC, LMC and a few Messiers....

Pere, feel free to contact me if you end up staying somewhere near Canberra,
I am happy to take my 18" scope out if the skies are clear......