Anyone in the pilbara?

[tbentley]

I've recently moved to Port Hedland for work and wondered whether there were any other members from this region. With the good weather, dark(er) skies and severe lack of anything much else to do I thought there might be a quite active astronomy community up here but to date I've seen and heard nothing.
Alternately if anyone has ventured this way in their observing adventures and knows of some good locations any advice would be appreciated. My work takes me throughout the Pilbara so it needn't be specifically related to Port Hedland.
I saw Venus in really, really dark skies as I was driving from here to Newman the other morning. It was so different it almost freaked me out! I can understand why people might report it as a UFO if they had very little knowledge.
Would it be mean of me to post each night that I get clear skies, just to inspire some of our members to make the move west? Ok, perhaps not a good idea. Still we could do with a few more workers up here.

Travis

[beren]

Gday mate I'm working out of Newman, the Jupiter/Venus show the last week and early morning night sky has been a treat to see on the way to my worksite. The Pilbara certainly has dynamic weather patterns at this time of the year, extreme heat during the day thunderstorms in the late afternoon and clear mornings Hoping to get some gear up to take advantage of the clear nights and location

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

The Pilbara can have some stunning sky conditions! And you get a fair bit of the northern skies as well as the south due to the latitude. (can't find an envy smilie so this will have to do...)

There used to a be few guys at Tom Price but that's collapsed as far as I know.

You'll have to pave the way for a new group up there. Keep advertising! I'm sure you'll eventually get something going.

[tbentley]

Hi Beren, who do you work for or just as importantly which site? Next time I'm in Newman I'd like to try and take my scope and head a bit out of town. Only problem is that it's not a great look visiting customers with big black rings under my eyes.
Where do you do most of your observing? What is your weapon of choice? When I have some spare cash I'm thinking of adding a small refractor for a bit more portability.
Trav

[beren]

Gday Travis I work for Thiess at the BHP Jimblebar site {45km east of Newman} on a 4 and 1 roster and lodged at the BHP Kurra village in town. So far I haven't really been able to get away from Newman to stargaze, the camp/village is well lit at nights so its not great for it plus the hours worked dull the enthusiasm a bit

[tbentley]

Originally Posted by beren

...plus the hours worked dull the enthusiasm a bit

No doubt a 12hr shift wouldn't help and the village would be so full at the moment it's a wonder you get any peace at all. On the up side the roster you're on would give you a fair bit of time to do some observing, just in the wrong place.
I've visited the OB18/Jimblebar site a few times in the last couple of years. I wouldn't have thought it was as far as 45km from Newman though. Distances just don't seem the same up here do they.
I work for Bradken, supplying wear liners, blocks, etc and so I've done some work out there fairly recently with Brad Smalpage and Gary Bishop of MacMahons helping sort out some troubles they were having with the train loadout hoppers.
Trav

[beren]

Gday Travis I'm working on the new Rom Pad out there, Im really enjoying working out here and the village life although I miss having my gear and having a surf Surprised how many eastern staters work at the site too

[Bobj]

Very interesting...I was in Port Hedland before the iron ore thingy. It was a "2 pub" town, then....er.. 1964. The pubs were the Pier and the Esplanade. The town was about 1 kilometre long and, I seem to remember, about 200 people.
Last time I was there, in 1970 there was a new sub-division being built, called, I believe,"The 12 Mile" and had roughly 10,000 people..

[tbentley]

I guess that "new" subdivision would now be South Hedland. As far as Port Hedland itself goes it sounds like not a great deal has changed. Ok, that may be a little harsh.
The Pier and Esplanade are still there though and neither look like they've had much done to them in forty odd years. I've had to spend a few nights in both when I was just travelling up here for work and let's just say that they don't like spending money on the facilities unless they really have to.
Beren, if I'm ever coming down and decide to bring the scope I'll PM you and see if you'll be in town. How long will you be working out there anyway? Or will they just move you to the hub when you're finished there?
Travis

[beren]

No worries Travis, the project is budgeted for 6 months hopefully I can move onto another up there