The VicSouth Desert Spring Star Party

[trackerau]

The VicSouth Desert Spring Star Party is to be held on the weekend Friday 6 Nov to Monday 9 Nov, 2015.

VicSouth is an annual weekend of astronomy, held at the Little Desert Nature Lodge about 16km south of the town of Nhill in western Victoria.

VicSouth is jointly hosted by the Astronomical Society of Victoria and the Astronomical Society of South Australia, and offers a great weekend of social and astronomical activity as well as some nice observing targets.

Over the weekend there will be a series of presentations in the afternoon and evening. The principle speaker this year is the renowned comet finder Terry Lovejoy.

We book the entire Lodge for our use during VicSouth and we implement various measures to keep the observing area dark.

Accommodation ranges from on-suite rooms to camping.

Bookings for VicSouth 2015 open on June 1 -- the booking form will be available on the VicSouth web site : http://vicsouth.info/vicsouth.htm

By 9pm on a clear night at this time of year, more than 100 deepsky objects are above the horizon and visible to 7x50 binoculars. The target count is similar at midnight and at 3am. And the naked eye limiting magnitude for stars at zenith can go as faint as 7.0.

The Lodge is bordered to its south by the Little Desert National Park which contains a variety of plants, wildlife, 4WD tracks and walking trails.
Lodge location maps and driving directions are available here.

If the Nation Park is not enough Mt Arapiles (brochure), about ½ hour drive south of the Lodge, offers world-famous rock climbing. Plus some nice bush walks suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

[Jen]

Dam it I'm going to get to this camp one year enjoy guys

[trackerau]

There is always next year - dates on vicsouth site.

Gavan

Originally Posted by Jen

Dam it I'm going to get to this camp one year enjoy guys

[Mckechg (Grant)]

I know a few of us are heading out for this one, A cracker of a camp last year (storm excluded!)

Cant wait!

Grant

[trackerau]

Motel style rooms have sold out (in 3 days).

Bunk room, Caravan and Camping site still available.

Skywatcher is now a sponsor supplying a speak and a raffle prize

[Mckechg (Grant)]

Originally Posted by Jen

Dam it I'm going to get to this camp one year enjoy guys

we will miss you!

have fun at SV Jen

grant

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Mckechg

we will miss you!

have fun at SV Jen

grant

Naww cheers Grant let's hope we both get clear skies all weekend

[Mckechg (Grant)]

I think I am getting excited...

http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...=cursive&swk=1

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Big weekend for Star Parties Nhill Friday 6 Nov to Monday 9 Nov, 2015
SV on @ the same time

Originally Posted by trackerau

The VicSouth Desert Spring Star Party is to be held on the weekend Friday 6 Nov to Monday 9 Nov, 2015.
VicSouth is an annual weekend of astronomy, held at the Little Desert Nature Lodge about 16km south of the town of Nhill in western Victoria.
VicSouth is jointly hosted by the Astronomical Society of Victoria and the Astronomical Society of South Australia, and offers a great weekend of social and astronomical activity as well as some nice observing targets.
Over the weekend there will be a series of presentations in the afternoon and evening. The principle speaker this year is the renowned comet finder Terry Lovejoy.
We book the entire Lodge for our use during VicSouth and we implement various measures to keep the observing area dark.

Accommodation ranges from on-suite rooms to camping.

Bookings for VicSouth 2015 open on June 1 -- the booking form will be available on the VicSouth web site : http://vicsouth.info/vicsouth.htm

By 9pm on a clear night at this time of year, more than 100 deepsky objects are above the horizon and visible to 7x50 binoculars. The target count is similar at midnight and at 3am. And the naked eye limiting magnitude for stars at zenith can go as faint as 7.0.

The Lodge is bordered to its south by the Little Desert National Park which contains a variety of plants, wildlife, 4WD tracks and walking trails.
Lodge location maps and driving directions are available here.

If the Nation Park is not enough Mt Arapiles (brochure), about ½ hour drive south of the Lodge, offers world-famous rock climbing. Plus some nice bush walks suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

[astro_nutt]

Been wanting to go for a few years and now it's happening!

[Mckechg (Grant)]

SO who is arriving when?

A few of us are arriving wednesday leaving monday

G./

[astro_nutt]

I'll be there from Friday to Monday.

[astro_nutt]

Just got confirmation! Not long to go now.

[Mckechg (Grant)]

Great news! I am so ridiculously excited... A week of Astro! Heaven...

[Mckechg (Grant)]

HI all,

I am surprised by the lack of people saying they are going, is it quiet in here or are people actually not heading over this year.

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Mckechg

HI all,

I am surprised by the lack of people saying they are going, is it quiet in here or are people actually not heading over this year.

I'm stealing them all and taking them to snake valley with me hehehehe

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Originally Posted by Mckechg

HI all,
I am surprised by the lack of people saying they are going, is it quiet in here or are people actually not heading over this year.

No need 2 fear
Will be another AMAZING VERY DARK sky astro event
Lots of SA crew 2 catch up with as well

[SimmoW (SIMON)]

Ha, I was going to Nhill but once I found out Jen was going to SV, I changed my booking!

[Jen]

Originally Posted by SimmoW

Ha, I was going to Nhill but once I found out Jen was going to SV, I changed my booking!

good boy Simon now who else can a steal hehehe

[astro_nutt]

Hi all. Got back from Vicsouth on Monday and I have to say my wife and I had an awesome first time experience. The skies gave their best show and the Aurora on Saturday evening was an added bonus, although we did miss the meteors that lit up the sky!
I would like to give a big thank you to the good folk at the Little Desert Lodge, the members of the ASSA and ASV for their efforts in making the event very much worthwhile. Will be back in 2016.
Cheers.