IceInSpace Members Invited to Wiruna

[Rodstar (Rod)]

You're invited to Wiruna!!!!

Today I received a very kind invitation from one of the organisers of the South Pacific Star Party, member of the Astronomy Society of NSW, Bintel legend Don Whiteman as follows:

Hi Rod,

It was a good time, really flat out for the organising committee, but we all had a ball.
Of course you know that we have astrocamps every month.
We would like to extend an invitation to the guys from IceInSpace group to join us for a weekend of observing over the June New Moon weekend of 3,4,5 June.
As a normal observing weekend there is nothing special, no speakers, no crowds, just our normal group of members who get together for dark skies and some fun.
We have a user pay system at Wiruna and it costs $7-00 per nght to camp for both members and guests.

Its a great opportunity to come have some fun wth out the crowd and we would be happy to have your group come along.
Let us know and we will organise a Dinner for the saturday night.

regards

Don Whiteman
Bintel

Folks...what a great invitation! On behalf of all IceinSpacers, a big thank-you to Don and the ASNSW gang.

Post on this thread if you think you can make it. That way Don can work out if special catering is needed for Saturday night.

Wiruna is near Mudgee for those who have not been there! Wear your winter woolies!! The viewing of the stars is however spectacular!

Rodstar

[atalas]

Hi Rodstar

If you go up there what would you need to servive for three days ?
apart from your telescope ! where would you sleep ? can you recharge your battery?

Louie

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Louie,

Bring a tent and a sub-zero rated sleeping bag if you want to stay on site. There are some hotels and motels within striking range. The closest I think is at Kandos, about 20 kms away. If the cold is daunting maybe you would be best advised to try the hotel/ motel option.

Battery can be recharged at power points in the hall at the site....everyone is very trustworthy so you can leave the battery to do its thing during the day.

It is a really nice drive from Sydney... about 3.5 hours.

Rodstar

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Louie, re food, you would have to self cater and/or go into town to buy supplies each day. As far as I am aware, there are no facilities available for cooking, so camping style is the order of the day. If you come to the annual SPSP food is catered (see my SPSP report in the Observing Logs section of the Website.

Rodstar

[atalas]

Thanks for the info Rodstar I would realy like to go .I haven't got a tent so I think I'll check on the motel option .
Maybe someone else from the forum who lives in Sydney will want to come with me.

Louie

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks to the Don and the ASNSW for the invite! Highly recommended dark sky viewing if you can make it.. and to look through Mike Kerr's 25" dob... WOW!

Battery can be recharged at power points in the hall at the site

Might need to check this with Don or any other ASNSW representative - they had a portable generator for the SPSP, i'm not sure if the same facilities are available at other times of the year.

But yeh, you'll need a tent (or sleep in your car, or go to a nearby hotel), winter woolies will be a must, it will be COLD in winter gloves, beanies etc for the nightly observing. The nearby hotel is in sofala I think, about 20 minutes drive from the site? Seeker stayed there during the SPSP, he might be able to give more details.

Food, as Rod said, out of normal SPSP time you'll need to take your own food along or go for supplies during the day. As Don said in his email though, if there's enough IceInSpace'rs there, then he could put on a dinner for us!

Allow 3.5 - 4 hours to drive there from sydney, but it's a fairly nice and relaxing drive.. the views over the blue mountains are spectacular. Next time I wouldn't mind stopping for a few happy snaps on the way.

I'm unsure whether I can go at this stage, will have to check with my wife .. "honey, do you mind looking after the 3 kids for another couple of days in June?" ..

Maybe I could take them.. though it could get very boring for 3 young kids.. it's about 45 minutes drive to the next biggest town (Mudgee), and there's not a lot for them to do around the place. and it will be cold!

But the winter milky way under dark skies.. scorpius and sagittarius will be spectacular!

Anyway post your expressions of interest if you'd like to attend, maybe we can get an ASNSW rep to sign up and answer some of our questions..

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Sofala is the best place to stay if you want creature comforts. The drive there in the dark is not too bad .

The drive to Kandos on the other hand is not something that I'd fancy at 1 or 2 in the morning, though Rylstone and Kandos are quite nice places in themselves

At Sofala I stayed at the Old Sofala Gaol. They have a cottage and also rooms above the old Gaol.

In June I would even expect snow at Wiruna so dont forget your winter woolies.....

[scumbag1010]

Hi all.

On behalf of the ASNSW, I would like to extend an invitation to members to come along to our June Astrocamp at the Society's property "Wiruna" at Ilford NSW.
Accommodation at Wiruna is mostly camping, although we do have a two bedroom house and a four bedroom bunkhose if needed. A warm sleeping bag is a necessity.
You would need to bring food and an Esky as we do have very good cooking facilities in the communal kitchen. There are hot showers and a septic toile system so there are some creature comforts.
Warm clothes would be required as the temperature will drop below zero overnight, however, if the sky is clear the Milky Way will cast a shadow if you hold your arms outstretched.
Normally there are between 25- and 30 members at our monthly astrocamps and we usually invite other clubs to join us duriong the year to observe under very nice dark skies.

If any IceInSPace members would like to join us, please email me at don@bintel.com.au
We will cook a dinner on Saturday night for all. Hope to see you there.

regards

Don Whiteman
VP ASNSW

[hector (Andrew)]

Hi all
As a long term user of the site at Ilford I can say that the sky at this time of year is VERY rewarding there.
the 10 Best things to take with you to Ilford at this time of year is
1) WARM clothing. if you have a snow suite or a freezer suite take it as you will need it. The secret of staying warm is head and feet. Good boots and socks that are comfortable NO GYM SHOES you will freeze. a good beenie for your head. Wear a few layers that have good air spaces as that will warm you better an lots of heavy bulky layers.
2) take regular breaks and walk around to get the blood flowing. standing around will also make you cold.
3)A good but not to bright RED light. try and avoid a dolphin tourch with some red celophane on it as it is is to bright one of the best i have found for walking around and genral use is a mini maglight with the halogen bulb removed and a red LED placed in the same spot. these LED's are available from Tandy and Dick smith for about $2 and give enough light to do anything you require.
4) a very warm sleeping bag
5) a good tent as there is very limited accomidation at Ilford.
6) a towel (you just never know when you may need one to hitch a ride.)
7)good warm day cloths as it can snow at Ilford during June and did last year during the new moon weekend.
8) food as there is no shop close at hand anymore. the site does have a cooking area but no refirgeration so bring
9) an eskie for your perishables.
10) and a good sence of humour as it may get cloudy and you will need it to keep yourself from screaming at the sky in frustration.
Enjoy Ilford it is great FUN and everyone is friendly and dont bite much.
Clear Skies
Andrew

[hector (Andrew)]

Hi all
Friendly hint the road to the local hotel in sofala is call roo ally as it is VERY bad for them at odd hours when you are tired after a nights observing. use a tent if you can.
Clear Skies
Andrew

[binofied]

I was sad that I couldn't make it to this years SPSP as I had been for the previous two years and had a blast.

Last I heard the committee that runs the society was a bit split between the Wairuna must stay like it was fifty years ago when I went there every weekend on horseback and observed with my trusty hand made 3" F20 refractor using an army surplus eyepiece on a mount strung between two trees, brigade

and the lets build a 5,000 room luxury resort with water slides and a nuclear power plant onsite for our remote telescope online array.

Actually I think the middle line has won, but I didn't think they had power onsite last I knew which I feel is a real pity as it would make a huge difference to the functionality of the site. Imagine a SPSP without a noisy generator!

It's a fantastic site and facitity you guys have there that the rest of us are envious of, have fun next month.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

For your info I have sent the following email to Don Whiteman from Bintel, just to let him know what is happening re the invite to Wiruna in June. Can you please email Don this week if you are intending to go, so that he can make the appropriate plans?

Thanks.

------------------
Hi Don,

Just to let you know that it doesn't look like there is likely to be many (if any) takers from the IceinSpace contingent for the New Moon weekend at Wiruna in June.

You will see from the thread on the website that Louie (Atalas) from Bankstown has expressed an interest, but not sure if he will go alone.

I suspect it is the time of year that is the major factor. Also, having taken a whole weekend from the family in March for the SPSP, I suspect some (like me) can't justify another period away from wife and kids so soon. I have kids aged 6, 4 and 2, and it would simply be too cold for them to come, and it is hard on Nina for me to be away for long periods.

My strategy is to bring the entire family to SPSP in 2006. I am planning to rent a campervan so that the family can come in comfort. Maybe then my dear wife will catch the astro-bug when she is surrounded by a forest of Dobsonian monoliths!!!

Thanks again for the very kind invitation. The gesture is warmly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Rod Berry

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[iceman (Mike)]

I'm in the same boat as you Rod, my wife would be less than pleased if I were to jet off for a weekend again and leave her at home with the

I would've loved to go, but maybe in spring. And will definitely be going to SPSP next year.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

The kids won't be kids forever

Maybe one day I can take my wife to Wiruna for a dirty weekend?

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Originally posted by Rodstar
The kids won't be kids forever

Maybe one day I can take my wife to Wiruna for a dirty weekend?

you dont think they'd have the showers fixed by then?

[Rodstar (Rod)]

You crack me up, Seeker!