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Friday night we all got some really good observing in.
Unfortunately on the Saturday night, though the day time looked promising,
cloud came in with a moist easterly wind early in the night and persisted
to at least 1am. Some reported getting some observing in around 4am.
Nevertheless, the social atmosphere was fabulous and everyone was relaxed
and happy.
Plus the views through the Coronado solar scope that Micheal from Bintel had
kindly set up outside the vendors hall helped compensate somewhat for
some of the lost observing opportunity on the Saturday night. Those prominences
really were something else!
A big thank you to the ASNSW and the team of volunteers who work hard
to make the event the success it was.
Special thanks to Rodstar for sharing the views through Mary Rose and for
his most enjoyable company. The two sets of galaxy clusters we observed
late on Friday night were absolute crackers!
Also special thanks to our customers for their support and it is always great to
meet you.
congratulations to the premier astro club of NSW for putting on this wonderfull event,the facilities were terrific especially the new Marque tent and new shower facilities for all (no more queing up) .The guest speakers were fantastic providing all with the latest information from their research. As Gary says it was great to see so many familiar faces,Wiruna is a show case location for amateur astronomers and deserves greater support outside the SPSP so that the facility can continue to grow and develop,if you have never been there try and get their this year and book early for SPSP next year it will be 20 years old.i also want to remind all that the sponsors were generous with their gifts and the vendors allways ready and on hand to help attendees with their knowledge.Once again Congratulations Paul well done ASNSW
see you all again in 2012
Quote:
Originally Posted by gary
It was great to catch up with everyone at SPSP.
Friday night we all got some really good observing in.
Unfortunately on the Saturday night, though the day time looked promising,
cloud came in with a moist easterly wind early in the night and persisted
to at least 1am. Some reported getting some observing in around 4am.
Nevertheless, the social atmosphere was fabulous and everyone was relaxed
and happy.
Plus the views through the Coronado solar scope that Micheal from Bintel had
kindly set up outside the vendors hall helped compensate somewhat for
some of the lost observing opportunity on the Saturday night. Those prominences
really were something else!
A big thank you to the ASNSW and the team of volunteers who work hard
to make the event the success it was.
Special thanks to Rodstar for sharing the views through Mary Rose and for
his most enjoyable company. The two sets of galaxy clusters we observed
late on Friday night were absolute crackers!
Also special thanks to our customers for their support and it is always great to
meet you.
I would also like to thank the ASNSW for a wonderful weekend. It was my first visit to Wiruna and it will definitely not be my last.
I would especially like to thank all the volunteers that gave up their time to make our time at the SPSP an enjoyable one, you are all worth your weight in hypothetical gold.
Incidentally, I never had less than full bars of reception on my Optus iPhone.
Thank you all.. and I will be very early on the enroll list for next time, thats for sure.
Great weekend. I will definitely be going again. Many thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors and of course ASNSW for such a wonderful event. Cannot wait until next year.
It was a great year for SPSP. We had one good night of observing, and the administration of the event seemed as good as it has ever been. Thanks to everyone at the ASNSW for their great efforts.
One thing which particularly stood out to me was how many little kids there were around. Two of mine came, and they had a wonderful time, mixing with other children (and friendly adults), and will definitely be coming next year.
We have discovered the public swimming pool at Kandos, which is heated, and a fantastic place for the kids to go during the day to have some time off from the Astronomical Outpost which is Wiruna.
I had a great time mixing with many other IIS folk, especially many faces from the Pony Club. Gary and Mai made wonderful companions on both nights, they are a joy to chat and observe with.
I know when I have had a good astro-weekend when I come back motivated to observe. I have come back this time with some new ideas about what I might observe in the next few months, and in love again with Mary (Rose). She showed me some awesome views of the heavens this time, especially in terms of galactic clusters in the Centaurus region.
so i take it that this years SPSP was the most BORING EVER
am i right ?
geoff
Without your razor sharp wit and charm , it was bearable.
Seriously, ditto to the posts below. Had a good time.
Nice to see more families with plenty of kids running around, even bought Elara along. I hope she was taking note on how great Rods kids, Noah and Evie, are. We could be so lucky.
The Pony Club contingency was a healthy one, occupying a entire end of the observing field.
No, seriously Mr Owl, your absence was sorely noted, you would certainly have had a roaring trade of freezer suits had you opened for business, it was pretty dang cold!
I am happy to provide a bit more detail....
My important piece of information is that the donuts produced by the Kandos Scout Troop have significantly improved in quality, as have their coffees. I was able, this year, to order a double shot latte. Not quite up to the standard of the Society Cafe in Phillip Street, but far and a way better than in previous years!
The vendor's market is much smaller with the absence of the York Optical Crowd. No doubt that is not being complained about by Bintel, who once again succeeded in causing me to part with some cash in exchange for a 16T5 for my finderscope.
There were some spiders out and about this year. One, living in a hole immediately next to the door of our tent caused some consternation. It was perhaps 5-6cm in length, a grey-brown colour. Not a funnel-web, possibly some sort of trap-door spider.
In terms of gastronomy, the Saturday night roast beast was up to it usual standard, the meat was tender and juicy, and gravy abounded. Off-site, I can advise that there have been some positive developments in terms of local meal options. In particular, Rylston (sp??) now has four cafes, the one I would recommend is called Cafe Loulu (or something similar), at the southern end of the main street. To my children's satisfaction, there is a lolly shop there now too!
In terms of matters mundane, there continues to be a problem with people forgetting to shut the lid on the drop toilets after they have finished (phewy), and the place is still rather dust-ridden. The Mary Rose will be having a shower this weekend.
I can report that the Milky Way remains distinctly milky, and Eta Carinae is yet to blow.
Hope to see you at the PC sometime soon, Young Geoffrey!
this is the premier event in Amateur Astronomy in the South Pacific ,its run by amateur Astronomers for All Astronomers and the proceeds go back into the hobby for all to enjoy and every month the party resumes at the premier site Wiruna,,,,,if never never go you will never never know Gary's support annually is testomy to the quality of this event
congratulations to the premier astro club of NSW for putting on this wonderfull event,the facilities were terrific especially the new Marque tent and new shower facilities for all (no more queing up) .The guest speakers were fantastic providing all with the latest information from their research. As Gary says it was great to see so many familiar faces,Wiruna is a show case location for amateur astronomers and deserves greater support outside the SPSP so that the facility can continue to grow and develop,if you have never been there try and get their this year and book early for SPSP next year it will be 20 years old.i also want to remind all that the sponsors were generous with their gifts and the vendors allways ready and on hand to help attendees with their knowledge.Once again Congratulations Paul well done ASNSW
, it was bearable.
