This deep sky viewing weekend will be at Undara in tropical north Queensland, 275km SW of Cairns.
The northern Milky Way will be visible and M31 will be 30 degrees above the horizon. (Undara's latitude is 18.2 degrees south)
Weather prospects are excellent from this dark elevated site. (6 clear days per week, elevation is 800m)
There are a variety of accommodation options available. (starting at $16 per night for a tent site for 2)
You can book here: http://undara.com.au/accommodation/
Information about the national park is here: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/p...k=1&parkid=133
Weather details for the nearby town of Mt Surprise are here: (it is 29km from Undara to Mt Surprise) http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averag...w_030036.shtml
A Google map of the area is here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...wloc=addr&om=1
To find the distance from your place to Undara use: http://www.nowwhere.com.au/caltex/au...ipplanner.aspx
You can stay longer if you wish, the new moon is on 31/8/08.
Please send me a private message if you are planning to be at Undara Aug 29-30.
These images from SkyMapPro show the northern sky from Undara at 3 different times 8pm, midnight and 5am on 29/8/08.
The curve near the top of each map is elevation 45 degrees, north is in the middle of each map.
The Double Cluster will be 15 degrees above the horizon at 4am.
There's a couple or three of us interested at this stage, maybe more over the next month or so, who is doing the liasing, and can we have more info on the actual event...
Shawn
Good to hear some of you are coming.
You can book accommodation here: http://undara.com.au/
I have booked an un-powered camping site. Look for an A'Van and a 10" Dob.
We can observe Friday and Saturday night from a large cleared area on the west side of Kalkani Crater.
See: http://www.maps-for-free.com/?val=-1...656,7,landmark
National Parks have given us permission to observe. During the day we can relax, talk and sleep.
Glen
Unpowered campsite is fime by me, Look for a 3 tonne Canter tipper, Im bringing the 14er.... Just kidding, Ill bring my wide setup, Its at least portable, We will talk closer to the day hey, ?
I plan to check out a couple of spots for viewing the 14/11/2012 total solar eclipse on the way to Undara.
1. S side of Oak Beach (-16.6087 S, 145.530 E)
2. 6km S of Whites Ck Rd (-16.2714 S, 144.715 E)
See: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogl...13Tgoogle.html
anyone from South East Queensland or New South Wales going to Undarra at the end of the month?
