In a previous post, you asked about camping. Campers use the shared dormitory shower / toilet facilities. Most campers set up at the edge of the main observing paddock and you should be able to pick a prime spot if you arrive on Monday. The camp Managers, Ian and Susan, prepare burgers and chips (French Fries) around noon each day if you are not into cooking. The kitchen is available to prepare your food and meals all day long except for Saturday night when it is commandeered by Ian and Susan for the lavish Astro-Feast. You do not need any plates, cups, knife/fork/spoon as these are all available in the kitchen. However, you will need to bring cooking pots, fry pans, etc as these are not available. There is a constant hot water zip boiler.
For the hardy souls, there is canoeing in the (cold) Brisbane River. I believe permission is required to use the site's (old) orange tube C14 in the observatory, but this is normally given when you demonstrate competence of telescopes, i.e. know which end to look through!
Would it be possible to set up a "stand alone" Ice In Space" web server (a good place would be in the Great Hall) so that people could use the stand alone website over the full week to post message, photos, etc,. We could then burn the transactions to CD or DVD and then get Mike to upload them to the real on-line site after astrofest?
The above post probably displays my full ignorance of how these things work!
That's not possible, but if someone has a dialup or wireless internet connection, you just need a computer connected to the internet in the main hall and people can come and check out the site/forums, sign up, post messages etc. They just need to remember to log out when they leave, otherwise the next person will be signed on as them
When is it? I'll try and get some new IceInSpace stickers printed (hi silvie ) before the event and send them up to one of you guys to take along and hand out, leave at the sign in desk etc.
The pamphlets will be a good thing to have too..
and the next edition of AS&T (released in July) will have Ken's StarCamp article, so maybe a few more people will have read about IceInSpace by the time AstroFest comes along.
Here is a photo of Rob McNaught from 1999 participating in the counter weight tossing competition at the Qld Astrofest. This event occurs on the Saturday afternoon - let's see some muscle from you guys visiting from down south as each year, a Queenslander ALWAYS wins!
Second piccie is of the rocket launching activities which are of course now banned due to the fire risk.
In a previous post, you asked about camping. Campers use the shared dormitory shower / toilet facilities. Most campers set up at the edge of the main observing paddock and you should be able to pick a prime spot if you arrive on Monday. The camp Managers, Ian and Susan, prepare burgers and chips (French Fries) around noon each day if you are not into cooking. The kitchen is available to prepare your food and meals all day long except for Saturday night when it is commandeered by Ian and Susan for the lavish Astro-Feast. You do not need any plates, cups, knife/fork/spoon as these are all available in the kitchen. However, you will need to bring cooking pots, fry pans, etc as these are not available. There is a constant hot water zip boiler.
For the hardy souls, there is canoeing in the (cold) Brisbane River. I believe permission is required to use the site's (old) orange tube C14 in the observatory, but this is normally given when you demonstrate competence of telescopes, i.e. know which end to look through!
Cheers
Dennis
Sounds great Dennis. Thanks for the extra info. When you say prime spot where exactly do you mean. I would like to get 240v power to the scope if that is available.
Yes - I'm booked for the full week Monday through Sunday morning. Prime spot depends on your tastes and style. Nearest the dorms for loos and showers; most isolated to avoid snorers; not too near the entrance gateway to avoid being too close to vehicle movements; away from the dob’s; near the GoTo’s; adjacent ccd alley, etc.
For anyone who requires it, power is available from all dorms via long, very long extension leads. Generally, I bring a 30m and 20m extension with 5 way power boards for accessories such as notebook, ccd camera, psu for Pentax *istDS, dew heaters, red light, GoTo unit, etc.
This year, the organisers have mentioned something about trying to regulate (manage) the cables by the use of ELCBs and 8 way powerboards from strategic power points.
Anyhow, arriving on Monday should give you the best choice of any of the available options. Historically, Monday sees between 20 and 30 people for the night, gradually building up over the week to 100+ on Saturday.
Queensland Astrofest is always one of the most enjoyable events on the
Australian astronomical calendar. The beauty of the surrounding district,
the ammenity of Camp Duckadang itself, the relaxed and friendly
atmosphere and the excellent dark skies always make for a great time.
Mai and I will be there again this year on Fri, Sat, Sun. and we are looking
forward to catching up with our many friends.
As Major Spoonsors of the event, we will be there wearing our Wildcard
caps during the day and our enthusiats caps during the night as we
get some observing in.
We wish the organizers every success and we look forward to seeing you
all there.
I could be keen, but not sure that the budget (or the other half!) would tolerate a 2nd astro-trip to Aus this year... We may have to work on Kath and give her an excuse to come too...! What's the temperature like up there at the time of the aforementioned 'fest?
Just a few comments from a "kiwi" on some of the language of the brochure that I find amusing...
1. Camp Duckadang... Where the hell did that name come from?!! It's a shocka..
2. I couldn't stop laughing after reading rule 5... "Avoid shouting loudly at every meteor you see. It only startles half asleep astrophotographers, who invariably bump the scope and ruin another shot"
And finally what's the social aspect like of the 'fest . As I probably won't bring much telescope gear, this could be a deciding factor.
That is after some hard yards with Kath...
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We've had to face the music, why shouldn't you 
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) before the event and send them up to one of you guys to take along and hand out, leave at the sign in desk etc. 
. As I probably won't bring much telescope gear, this could be a deciding factor.
