Alternative observation area on the Central Coast

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Originally Posted by Satchmo

Yes , coordinate with me a night and I will show you where I think the best spots are and we'll see how we can sort power etc. If you have been given aproval of a trial `pathfinding' visit then all we need to do is pencil in a few good potential nights moon-wise and we'll meet up there on the first available good weather. I can open up the club-house if Kurt isn't there, but we need to let them know at least on the day if we are meeting.

Mark

How About ...
This Saturday???
Moon up probably wont be until about 2:30 am (guessing)
That sounds like plenty of time to assess.

If not I will be suggesting a Pony Club night anyway.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

I had a phone call today from one of the Committee mambers who said my written request via formal letter will be duscissed at this weeks meeting.
It was mentioned that there should be no problem with our plans.
The club just needs to sort out a few details to formalise and finalise the matter.
Here is a copy of the letter I sent them recently for their attention.

___________________________________

Date: 11/01/2010



Central Coast Soaring Club
PO Box 1323
Gosford NSW 2250


Dear Committee members,
As you are no doubt aware, there are a few Amateur Astronomers from the Central Coast and surrounding areas, that are keen to try our New Moon observing sessions at your club grounds on Bloodtree Rd Mangrove Mountain.
Your club seems to offer better / darker skies and better horizons than our current observing site at the Pony Club on Wisemans Ferry Rd.
After some discussion with the interested people, we are happy to pay your club $5.00 per person for using your facilities each night we attend the club grounds.

If possible, we would hope a committee member could attend our first night to show us “ the ropes” and to inform us of the do’s and don’ts associated with your club house and grounds.
It would also be good for us to meet with your caretaker and get a contact phone number or email address, so we can inform you or him / her of our intended visits in advance.
We usually meet once a month near the new Moon which gives us the darkest skies on which to observe.

We would also like extend an invitation to any and all of your club members who may be interested in looking through Telescopes at the night sky. We have some of the most advanced telescopes and equipment available to amateurs, and we would be more than happy to make it available if you wish to do so.

Thanks you for this opportunity to use you facilities, and I will await your reply before I fix a date in February for our possible first visit.


Best Regards

___________________________________ ___________________________________ _


Its looking good for a Feb. or March get together at the new spot.

Keep your eyes here for more updates.

Thanks to everyone for your patience in this matter, its been a bit of a while since I first mentioned over a year ago, but hopefull it'll be worthwhile.

Geoffro.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Well done, Geoff!

H

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Update 22/1/10

dear All.

We have the go ahead for our first night observing.

Here is a copy of the letter I received from the President of the central Coast Soaring Club.

Hello Geoff
Thanks you for your recent letter enquiring about use of our clubhouse/grounds in Bloodtree Road for New Moon observation sessions.
As promised I took your request to our committee meeting this week and all were happy to have your "team" utilise our facillities as required. As discussed a fee of $5 per person would be payable to cover incidental costs (tea/coffe/lighting etc etc).
It would be best that each date be arranged through me and then I would advise Kurt (live-in caretaker) of the intended date(s). We would like him or some other member to be in attendance on each occassion (initially particularly). We have members that may well delight in perhaps taking you up on your invitation to "have a look."
I would point out that we only have tank water on site which should not be consumed unboiled. Also, we would request that toilet flushing be restricted to No 2's (?) only, except at end of evening of course. Most of what you would need to operate reasonably comfortably is available for use.
Give me a call if you want to organise a February visit - I note you/we have a new moon on Sat 14 Feb '10.

Kind Regards
Wayne Page
President



Thanks to everyone for your patience with this, its taken a while from the initial idea to this point where we can try it out.


I guess the first thing to do is pick a date or two for February, so we can have our first visit.
I need only to advise the President and / or the Caretaker af the dates.
So lets go, lets get a date happening on perhaps even a new thread so I can advise them of our intentions.

rgds.

geoffro

[Satchmo]

Originally Posted by Inmykombie

So lets go everyone, lets get a date happening on perhaps even a new thread so I can advise them of our intentions.

Geoff , I thought you were going to arrange a night for a small group to determine suitability of the site before inviting the public via this forum.

[Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin)]

Thanks Geoff, i will keep an eye on the thread for further developments.

Also thankyou for doing the ground work with the committee

[Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin)]

ps Geoff i think i have solved the Schmidt newtonian/ binoviewer issue with the purchase of an OSA

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Satchmo

Geoff , I thought you were going to arrange a night for a small group to determine suitability of the site before inviting the public via this forum.

Mark, Thanks for bringing forward your comments about me inviting the Public to the new site.
Maybe I worded my reply wrongly to use the word "everyone". Now its been removed....
I will make sure that I word my replies a little better next time.

If you count the replies to this thread, there are only the regulars and 2-3 newcomers to the PC that have indicated an intention to try this new spot.
As an active observer and a regular to the PC, I dont want to just resrtict this new site to a closed Group. Restricting it this way would be a move that may seem unsociable to those who may be looking for a regular observing site on the Coast here.
This group of regulars who have indicated they may attend, is only a small group of observers who want to try a new location. We have discussed it many times at our regular observing sessions at the Pony Club.

I cant speak for all the regulars to the PC, as some have a passion for imaging and others just like to observe.
My feelings are that a broad spectrum of opinions on this site would be better than a " select few" in making a decision to change our observing location.

It sems there is a lot of interest in changing to a better spot, and I am myself hoping that it will be better than the PC.

But hey, if it isnt any better, we still have the PC to fall back on.
And I have never seen great numbers of the public at the PC in the past, just the regulars with a few welcomed newcomers from time to time.

Geoff

[Satchmo]

Originally Posted by Inmykombie

My feelings are that a broad spectrum of opinions on this site would be better than a " select few" in making a decision to change our observing location.

Sounds like a plan.

If someone can PM me when the night is decided I'll try and be there if I am not flying that day. I have a good knowledge of the site. I would recommend bringing some super long extension cords for photographers power if the area between the hanger and clubhouse is not dark enough due to streetlight.

Mark

[Rhino1980 (Ryan)]

Good work big fella. Looking forward to a gathering there if it turns out to be suitable.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Hi again, See the other thread re: a roll call for the night of the 13th at the new site please.

Thx

Geoffro.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

See discussion abouth the new site on the "Central Coast February Observing" thread.

Cheers

Geoffro.