Time to start getting your registrations in for the SPSP. We had a busy weekend preparing the site for the our big annual event. Mowed all the grass, chopped and stacked the wood, cleaned and fixed up bits and pieces around the property. The Western Imaging Field is ready to welcome all.
Remember, there are 2 fields on the Wiruna property. There is the main observing field at the front of the property and the Western Imaging Field.
There is a strict light use policy for main field and a "not so strict" policy for the imaging field. Details of these policies can be found on the ASNSW website.
There are camping, kitchen, toilets and shower facilities on or near both fields of the property. There is also limited (approx 10 beds) internal "share" accommodation inside the house on the imaging field, if you wish to use the accommodation within the house please contact the ASNSW.
If you are visiting for the SPSP, make sure you visit both ends of the property.
Speakers for this year's event include Francis Bennet (ANU) who is working on adaptive optics for the Giant Magellan Telescope, Penny King (ANU) who specialises in planetary geology and Greg Priestley (ASNSW) who will present a selection of beauties from the Astroimaging Group. More information will be posted here as it comes to hand.
For those who haven't been before, in general it is BYO food and drink.
There are facilities to cook your own if you don't want to bring cooking equipment, including wood BBQs scattered around the property and a communal kitchens.
There is also on-site catering (for a nominal fee) over the 4 days provided by the Kandos-Rylstone Scout Group.
As well, we have our famous Saturday night roast dinner, for modest $12.50 per person.
Other selections of restaurants are available in the area including my favourite at The Shed (part of the Globe Hotel Rystone, about 30mins drive) where $20 will get you a fantastic serve of Fish and Chips.
On the request of others, I have posted to maps of the site to give some reference to where things are on the property. It is about a 10min walk between the 2 fields. The two areas are joined by a dirt road that is easily navigable in 2 wheel drive cars (I regularly take my Honda Jazz along it, even in the wet)
I have a quick question though, do you know if there is a camping area anywhere near the imaging field?
Looks like a fair way to have to drag all my gear!
Also am I correct in assuming that there's mains power available on the imaging field?
I have a quick question though, do you know if there is a camping area anywhere near the imaging field?
Looks like a fair way to have to drag all my gear!
Also am I correct in assuming that there's mains power available on the imaging field?
Hi Hugh,
There is camping ON the imaging field, we don't seperate you from your gear up there .
Yes, there is 240v available from the house, just bring a long extension cord (20m) and a power board.
Remember though it is all run from a solar battery bank on the property, we can support about 10-12 imaging rigs each night without too much problem. We also have a generator which we run into the early evening to charge the battery bank. Some bring their own generators as well, again if so, bring a long extension cord for it so you can run it away from everyone to minimize noise disturbance.
I'm the onsite marshal for the imaging field so don't get on my wrong side or i'll cut your power . I'll be up there from Thursday afternoon.
There is camping ON the imaging field, we don't seperate you from your gear up there .
Yes, there is 240v available from the house, just bring a long extension cord (20m) and a power board.
Remember though it is all run from a solar battery bank on the property, we can support about 10-12 imaging rigs each night without too much problem. We also have a generator which we run into the early evening to charge the battery bank. Some bring their own generators as well, again if so, bring a long extension cord for it so you can run it away from everyone to minimize noise disturbance.
I'm the onsite marshal for the imaging field so don't get on my wrong side or i'll cut your power . I'll be up there from Thursday afternoon.
Trev.
Great, thanks Trev, don't worry I'll be good
I'll run my dew heaters and mount from battery to minimise my load but I will need 240v for my camera and lappy.
Great, thanks Trev, don't worry I'll be good
I'll run my dew heaters and mount from battery to minimise my load but I will need 240v for my camera and lappy.
You can charge your batteries during the day from the house as well, that's why we have the generator.
was looking forward to attending this year, but my son has been booked in for an operation on the 21st May so i have buckleys chance of attending now. i wish you well for clear skies for the event
On the request of others, I have posted to maps of the site to give some reference to where things are on the property. It is about a 10min walk between the 2 fields. The two areas are joined by a dirt road that is easily navigable in 2 wheel drive cars (I regularly take my Honda Jazz along it, even in the wet)
Trevor,
Thanks for the info.
I have been to Wiruna 3 times but never realised there was a western field!
was looking forward to attending this year, but my son has been booked in for an operation on the 21st May so i have buckleys chance of attending now. i wish you well for clear skies for the event
No excuse David, I'm flying in from New Zealand on the night of the 21st to drive up on the Thursday .
Anyway the 21st is a good day (my birthday), so I am sure all will go well.
From Google maps it looks like the easiest way is to take the Castlereagh Highway up to Ilford, then the Goulburn-Ilford Road and then the Tara Loop Road?
. 
. I'll be up there from Thursday afternoon.
