The 20th* Snake Valley Astro Camp! March 11-15 2016

[Jen]

Ohhh master classes have just got serious Woohooo but I was only sharing John for one session I didn't mention two sessions Hahahaha

Sounds like a great idea but don't forget to hand out the lollies to the good students

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

This sounds great.

Looking forward to it.

Originally Posted by barx1963

Hi all
I have had a few emails back and forth with John Glossop and we have come to a format for a couple of sessions of a workshop. At this stage we propose to run it over 2 sessions on the Saturday and Sunday. This is a rough outline of topics to be covered.

Workshop to be in 2 sessions. Focussing on image acquisition and processing for DSLR users.
1. Acquisition and pre processing (Saturday Afternoon)
a. Setup and image acquisition
i. Setting up mount and scope
ii. Polar aligning and 2/3 star alignments
iii.Attaching cameras, guide scopes and autoguiders
iv.How to focus
v. Attaching Laptops
vi.Image acquisition – Backyard EOS, Images Plus, APT
vii.Darks, flats, dark flats and bias frames
viii.Camera settings to use (Raw vs JPG)
b. Basic Stacking & Calibration
i.DSS
ii.Images Plus
2.Processing Sunday Afternoon
a.Hands on approach
b.What formats to use? (FITS, TIFF Raw vs JPG etc.)
c.What programs to use? (Images Plus? PS? Startools?)
d.Workflow
e.Differences in workflow for different objects (galaxies vs faint neb vs bright neb for example)

As mentioned, this is focusing on the basics. For the processing, if you have a laptop and some images that will help. The outline may be varied, it is really a guideline.

Once again thanks to John for volunteering to do this!!

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Hi Guys

Few things to update you on the upcoming Camp in March

1. As mentioned previously we have John doing in imaging presentation. He is working on collecting some data for those who don’t have any to play with. Paul Fitzgerald has offered to bring a projector and screen which will make some of the parts easier to share. Thanks Paul
2. Patrick will be doing a short presentation on the Magellanic Clouds. Most likely on the Saturday. Outline is below:

The Magellanic Clouds – Beyond the Tarantula
“The Magellanic Clouds contain some of the most beautiful objects in the entire night sky. But beyond the showpiece objects there are many wonderful target little known to visual observers and imagers alike. As well a host of faint objects can test the best equipment and observers to detect their faint glow.
The presentation will highlight some of the more interesting objects and give some hints to finding your way around these Southern treasure houses of the night sky.”

3. We are hopeful that we can have a spit roast organised for the Saturday night. Steve Fleming has a spit available. As it is charcoal fired it can only go ahead if it is not a Total Fire Ban day. Plan is to have some meat cooked on that and some salads to share at a small cost. My idea would be that we look at a local organisation (Snake Valley CFA for example) to donate surplus funds to.
I know a couple of you are vegetarian, I won’t presume to know what you might like as an alternative, if you let me know that would be good.
4. Happy Birthday to Jen for yesterday! Heard she had way too many candles on her cake as Swan Hill hit 45.3 degrees!!
5. We have a few bookings at the moment (I am going to do a collation over the weekend) but quite a few expressions of interest. If you are looking for cabins especially, please try to get your booking in, the cabins have filled up fairly quickly the last 2 camps and I would hate to see people miss out. Don’t forget, in keeping with the policy of the past 2 camps, bookings are only made with a form and payment.

Any that’s is all for now.

Clear skies!

Malcolm

[Jen]

thank you Malcolm xoxoxo

[Greenswale (Wren)]

Mmmmmmmmmm, spit roast!

[kasshall (Kass)]

Malcolm is really tempting me to come along - it's difficult as uni is back by then so I'll be neck deep in reading on thrilling matters such as property law and evidence rules

But hubby and I are thinking of coming for a night or two and during the day I might have to excuse myself and study....we'll see.

Kass

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Just updating this info to you all. Numbers we have so far:

Booked in:
Malcolm (myself)
Darren Quinert
Wren
Jamie Pole
John Glossop
Stefan x 2
Denis Busato x2
Duncan Hamilton
Barry Coverdale

So far we have the following who by posts on IIS or by email have said they are coming but have not formally booked yet

Grant and the NEVAS crew
Paul Byron
Paul Fitzgerald
Jen
Steve Fleming
Paddy
Shazil

Have had a few other queries but not definite yet.

Most of those who have booked are in cabins so cabins may be in short supply again, so if you are after one, early booking is the best way!!
I anyone has any queries I can be contacted by phone on 52313048 (ah) or on mobile 0448 567 187 (just be aware I don’t carry my mobile with me a lot so you may have to leave a message!)

Cheers

Malcolm

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Confirmed a leave pass and sent my form through today, EFT to follow very shortly.

[Greenswale (Wren)]

Good stuff Paul. Now we can set up SCTA alley to pave the way to dob corner.

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Greenswale

Good stuff Paul. Now we can set up SCTA alley to pave the way to dob corner.

Sounds good, though it can lead to feelings of inadequacy when surrounded by all those fantastic big dobs. Even if it does make for a shorter walk to get great bright, detailed views of things.

Edit, oh and my job has changed within my group, now those nice image stabilised binos are legitimately in my kit instead of borrowed and will make a return visit.

[roddz (Rodd)]

Hi Malcolm
Count me in for Friday, Saturday, Sunday night.
I'll be staying in my van.

Thanks Rodd

[Greenswale (Wren)]

[QUOTE=The_bluester

Edit, oh and my job has changed within my group, now those nice image stabilised binos are legitimately in my kit instead of borrowed and will make a return visit.[/QUOTE]

Hmmmm. So now we have Dob Corner, SCT Lane (yep, small change there!), Bino Boulevard, and Imagers' Sanctum. Map available on request!

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Can't wait!!!

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by Greenswale

Hmmmm. So now we have Dob Corner, SCT Lane (yep, small change there!), Bino Boulevard, and Imagers' Sanctum. Map available on request!

I will have to get signs made to avoid confusion!!

Malcolm

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Dobsons Corner, SCT street, Bino Bay and Imagers Inlet?

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by The_bluester

Dobsons Corner, SCT street, Bino Bay and Imagers Inlet?

Or:

"Dobsons Hole, SCT street, Bino Bay and Imagers Inlet"

Seeing as there is such a thing as Dobsons hole!!

Malcolm

[Jen]

It's February already 😜😜😜 just saying..... 🔭🔭🔭🔭🍾🍾🍾

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Yep, one month closer to March!

[xstream (John)]

I have to come over to pick up Edwin for Coonabarabran the following month so put me down for Friday and Saturday night camping please.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Snake Valley Camp Update

Hi guys
Sorry if I haven’t been as prolific as normal in sending updates, but we have had a simply amazing run of clear nights here in Colac over the past 2 weeks so have been out each night actually doing astronomy!!

Anyway here is the list of bookings as it is today
Darren Quinert
Wren Brown
Malcolm Barker
John Glossop
Jamie Pole
Stefan Del Pra x 2
Denis Busato x 2
Duncan Hamilton
Barry Coverdale
Julian O Donnell
Paul Milvain
Mai Go x 2
Nick
Shazil Shah
Amir Mirza
Paul Byron
Steve Flemming
Paul Fitzgerald

We have bookings from the following that are not finalised.
Tom Szafanski
John Gurkin
Jen
Rodd Westwood
Grant McKechnie and the NEVAS crew

The second group simply means we haven’t received payment yet. Obviously there are a few regulars who have not yet booked in, so if you are coming please let me know as we are in the last few weeks now!

In other news, John Glossop has confirmed he has full sets of data for the workshops. Lights, Barks, Flats and Bias frames, all tested and ready to go. Also Paddy has been putting together his Magellanic Clouds presentation and is putting the final touches to it as we speak. Paddy has suggested that if anyone is interested in observing some of the objects he will discuss, he has charts on his website. The key chart is here: http://cloudsofmagellan.net.au/page-17.htm and the relevant charts are in labelled ones 5,6,8 and 10 and inset A.
Even if using Go To these would be helpful to work out what you are looking at or imaging.

It was good to see Paul Fitzgerald make a contribution with a very early prediscovery image of Supernova 2016adj in NGC5128 recently. Well done Paul on a great pickup.

I was looking through my ASV 2016 Handbook on the weekend and noticed that Jupiter will be only 3 days past opposition on the Friday night of the camp. Well placed for anyone keen on planetary work.

Anyway that’s all for now.

Cheers

Malcolm