ASNSW South Pacific Star Party 14-17 May 2015

[stefang (Stefan)]

The EngineRoom.io boys would like to thank the organizers for a fantastic event. As our first dark sky experience, we were blown away by the viewing, the comraderie, and the 1939 Para port.

For those that we met, thank you for making us feel welcome.

We will be back next year.

Stefan

[stevous67 (Steve M)]

I did miss out on the 1939 port, being stuck at night in the yonder field, but had a great time with old and newly made friends. Appreciate the effort of Trevor to keep the yonder field apprised of donuts, and the great company of those around us [including Mark "the Froginator", Guy and Sam]. I enjoyed the enthusiasm of Stefan [Stefang?] and Nigel [?? - the guy with neat dreadlocks] with their motor home, comfy surrounds and Celestron armament - thanks for visiting us out in the yonder guys.

I emphasize the "yonder" because it definitely was right out the back. A quiet location with interesting number of high intensity white lights and cars driving around at all hours, but what heck.

The weather was quite acceptable, having a good spell of imaging time spread over the three nights [Mark, the Saturday night was about 45% clear, 35% cloudy, 20% full of sucker holes - so you were mostly right about that Easterly wind!]

Thanks to the organisers for their efforts, the scouts, and to Mike Sidonio for lots for help and advice for helping me ignore the noise in my images - cheers Mikie.

Made it home safely by Sunday night, 8:20pm, after a casual 10hour 30min drive. Thanks everyone!

Steve

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Thank you ASNSW for hosting this great event!

I came away meeting some extraordinary people, learnt so much, and got to share my passion for things astro.

I got a wonderful email this morning too from a participant who sat in on my sketching workshop. I managed to inspire Graeme so much that this morning he emailed photos of his first three sketches that he did! Such a wonderful compliment for me.

I also got a lot of wonderful feedback to on the instruments I build as Gondwana Telescopes. Kulali tickled a lot of people's fancy too, It was good to see people responding well to my asking them to actually take hold of the scopes and move them. Looking AT a scope is fine, but you only come to understand them fully if you are able to get a feel of their action. It is the quality of the action that takes up so much of the creative process in designing an instrument, and it is only by moving them that this is understood.

I have spoken to a few people about a sketching competition. With Trevor and Allan, we are thinking of not a competition for now, but a 'Gallery' of pieces. Comp's by their nature are aggressive, and we want to get people enthused with sketching, and illustration really, in its many forms. It is not only about photo-realism, but an impression too. If you are happy to lay down some graphic in what ever media takes your fancy, we would love to see it, and no judgements are made.

Rules? We are considering only two conditions: 1, max size A4, and 2, has to be an original piece not a copy of a photo. Nothing else.

We would love any feedback on this idea. I am not a member of the ASNSW committee, I am just helping out. Feedback can be sent to me, Allan or Trevor as he is the one who has access to the ear of the committee, We really just want to see participation in this. The 'Spider on the Camera' photo in the imaging comp served to inspire a wider view on what illustration really has to offer astro,

Many thanks again ASNSW for such an event. I very much hope to be there next year.

Alex, aka Mental.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

1

Originally Posted by stevous67

Thanks to the organisers for their efforts, the scouts, and to Mike Sidonio for lots for help and advice for helping me ignore the noise in my images - cheers Mikie.

Yar welcome Victorian was great to finally meet you and have that promised hug

Hearty congrats again on getting second place in the astro imaging awards too!

Made it home safely by Sunday night, 8:20pm, after a casual 10hour 30min drive. Thanks everyone!

Great to hear...but hey, I drove 4hrs back to Canberra and after spraining my bloody ankle unloading my gear into the observatory (had Monday off icing and elevating it ), I imaged until 6am (so I win )...my ankle still hurts though

Another well run SPSP (my 12th now) by the tireless and efficient ASNSW guys

Mike

[stevous67 (Steve M)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

1

Great to hear...but hey, I drove 4hrs back to Canberra and after spraining my bloody ankle unloading my gear into the observatory (had Monday off icing and elevating it ), I imaged until 6am (so I win )...my ankle still hurts though

Mike

Now that is dedication! And yes...you win.

Bye!

Steve

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by stevous67

Now that is dedication! And yes...you win.

Bye!

Steve

ah crazy astroimagers, a special breed....