BBC Television Crew & Blue Mountains

solissydney (Ken) · #1 12-10-2012, 10:04 AM

A BBC television crew is looking for a location or an observatory in the Blue Mountains with view to, in part, using a serious telescope as part of a television series called 'Star Gazing Live' some time in November.
I intend recommending to the researcher who contacted me Crago Observatory unless anyone can suggest a better one ?.
The researcher is also looking for any possible daily cloud cover charts of the Blue Mountains area.
I have fired off an e-mail to The Astro. Soc. of NSW hoping they will respond asap
Ken

lacad01 (Adam) · #2 12-10-2012, 10:24 AM

How about Linden? http://wsaag.org/index.php?/Linden-Observatory.html

solissydney (Ken) · #3 12-10-2012, 10:44 AM

Thank you Adam
I have just been in touch with Gerry Aarts.
Linden I have found out appears to be a much more suitable location then Crago Obs.

Poita (Peter) · #4 12-10-2012, 12:35 PM

Or come out to the Mudgee obs. Not much more travel and far better wine

solissydney (Ken) · #5 12-10-2012, 12:53 PM

Mudgee, hmm,
I believe their schedule might be too tight. But I do have the time.
Can In bring my scope and sleep over-night some time during the week perhaps?

iceman (Mike) · #6 12-10-2012, 12:59 PM

I received the email too.

Quote:

Hello

My name is Charlotte Keyte and I am a researcher at the BBC in London. I am currently working on a television series called Stargazing Live, which celebrates the wonders of the night sky and how our understanding of the universe has changed over the years.

As part of the series we are filming pre-recorded scenes in and around Sydney and I was wondering whether a location and/or an observatory in the Blue Mountains which has little light pollution, a fantastic view of the night sky and especially the Milky Way. Is there anywhere where you would recommend as a good location to use?

We would be really interested in using one of their telescopes as part of filming. So it would be great to hear of any observatories with particularly good kit etc.

We would be looking to filming in November so I was wondering whether there were any daily cloud cover charts of the Blue Mountains area so we know the likelihood of there being cloud etc.

Because of time restrictions we can only look at areas about 3 hours away from Sydney so I know that limits our options.

It would be great to have a chat about any recommendations you can make so is there a particular time that it is best to call you? Sydney is 10hrs ahead so I could either call you at about 6-8pm which will be about 8-10am here or I could call you at 9am which will be 11pm for me. Any help you can give me I would really appreciate it.

Thank you very much for all your help and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best
Charlotte Keyte

Hopefully one of the groups out that way can help her.

Poita (Peter) · #7 12-10-2012, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solissydney

Mudgee, hmm,
I believe their schedule might be too tight. But I do have the time.
Can In bring my scope and sleep over-night some time during the week perhaps?

Sure thing, we have a spare tent

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #8 12-10-2012, 06:31 PM

Hmmm, PBC is coming to Oz in November. I wonder if this has anything to do with him?

JB80 (Jarrod) · #9 12-10-2012, 07:01 PM

Does the actual show make it to air over in Oz?
It really should do and on as prominent channel as possibe although I'd imagine it'd be ABC.
It's quite a good show and they have quite a lot of events in association with it, even if the weather has been rubbish. It's a very good show for kicking up interest in stargazing.

I would say it would have something to do with him as he is one of the hosts of the show. They'll probably just plonk him on Uluru or Wolf Creek somewhere looking about a bit or he'll be at Parkes maybe.

Peter Ward · #10 12-10-2012, 08:33 PM

Mudgee for sure.

Blue mountain weather is way to uncertain...(orographic-uplift anyone ?? )

.....clearer skies plus an excellent observatory already in Mudgee come to mind.

http://www.mudgeeobservatory.com.au/

Poita (Peter) · #11 12-10-2012, 09:48 PM

My suggestion exactly.

Liz · #12 13-10-2012, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB80

Does the actual show make it to air over in Oz?
It really should do and on as prominent channel as possibe although I'd imagine it'd be ABC.
It's quite a good show and they have quite a lot of events in association with it, even if the weather has been rubbish. It's a very good show for kicking up interest in stargazing.

I would say it would have something to do with him as he is one of the hosts of the show. They'll probably just plonk him on Uluru or Wolf Creek somewhere looking about a bit or he'll be at Parkes maybe.

No, it hasnt for the last 2 series. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/..../shrugging.gif Have to try and get access some other way, but maybe this time, if Brian is here ..... anything magical could happen.

Wavytone · #13 13-10-2012, 09:49 PM

I don't think Crago is suitable - too light polluted to show the Milky Way well, and I suspect they are looking for access to a large scope on an equatorial mount in a permanent and secure building which can accommodate cameras attached. Mudgee or Grove Creek perhaps ?

For cloud cover in the blue mountains:

a) check what you can see on the webcam at Katoomba Scenic World, prior to 5pm.

b) call someone you know in the blue mountains who can stick their head out a window to have a look.

c) the BOM, which issues forecasts for Katoomba and also has hourly satellite photos:

http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/satellite/index.shtml

The live AWS data from the BOM Mt Boyce weather station may also be useful.

JB80 (Jarrod) · #14 14-10-2012, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz

No, it hasnt for the last 2 series. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/..../shrugging.gif Have to try and get access some other way, but maybe this time, if Brian is here ..... anything magical could happen.

That's a bit of a shame really, I can kind of understand as it is a live show and it has some interactive elements to it as well but it would be good if the sister networks could of shared it.
As you say, maybe if there is an Aussie connection anything might happen.
I wonder if you could petition the ABC to show it?
Not long after it aired in the UK the astro retailers couldn't keep up with the demand.
I wonder what impact a show like that would have back home, it could only be positive.

f.robert (Robert) · #15 14-10-2012, 09:54 AM

Hi all
They had the first season on over here on the foxtel BBC channel 612 back in 2010. They showed it over 4 weeks along with the sky at night.

solissydney (Ken) · #16 14-10-2012, 04:50 PM

Thank you all for your contributions.
The matter is now in the hands of The Western Sydney Amateur Astro Group

JB80 (Jarrod) · #17 16-10-2012, 06:48 PM

The BBC have confirmed that the show will air on the 8th, 9th and 10th of Janurary if anyone is interested.

Quote:

Hi all
They had the first season on over here on the foxtel BBC channel 612 back in 2010. They showed it over 4 weeks along with the sky at night.

I guess that's something, maybe it'll be different next year and make it on to ABC or something.
I wish there were shows like that when I was growing up, especially S@N. I think all we had was The Curiosity Show and Beyond 2000, both great shows but I can't recall any astronomy specific ones.

fauxpas (Tony) · #18 16-10-2012, 09:26 PM

Nice... We'll have Liz down under...

She was in Hawai'i in 2011 and South Africa this year...