Border Stargaze 2008 - 28-31 August

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Petra:
I cant remember from last year-will mobile phones work at the resort?

Narayan

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi Narayan

Yes, I have next G and it works a treat!

See you there.

Cheers Petra d.

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Thanks Al

Its looking good.

Cheers Petra d.

[anthony2302749]

Hi Petra

Roger and I are setting sail this morning should be in Albury mid afternoon, thats if the wheels do not fall off with all the stock we are taking.

Anthony

[xstream (John)]

Latest BOM update for Albury/Wodonga.

• Thu. Sunny Max 19° Min 4° /Humidity 48% /Rain 0%
• Fri Sunny Max 20° Min 2° /Humidity 48% /Rain 0%
• Sat PM Showers Max 17° Min 6° /Humidity 67% /Rain 60%
• Sun Showers Max 18° Min 9° /Humidity 79% /Rain 60%

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

Geez John

not worth me coming down now

it's not gunna be ********dy COLD enough

i liked the reports earlier in the week when it said 1 degree


(hopefully i will be there sometime to-morrow arvo)

geoff

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi Geoff

Its cold! We have been out observing and yes its cold.

Rob McNaught has arrived and the bintel boys are swapping stories.

Everyone seems to think that the showers will not get this far.

Still some good nights ahead!

Cheers Petra d.

[helioz (Erwin)]

BSG 2008 is now in full swing, tonight is cold but seeing is OK.
Great venue, great people.

There is a rumour going 'round that "spacezebra" has changed her name to "Free Breakfast" .

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Yes, the rumor is true - Im now known as "free breakfast".....

BSG is full on! Rob NcNaught is a hit with the school kids. I have lost count as to how many Saturns and Sun Dials have been made.

Rob McNaught has renamed Saturn to "McSaturn" the weather has been extremely kind and the red is flowing!

and its only Thursday oooppps Friday! Wish you were all here!

Cheers Petra d.

[leon]

So do we Petra, glad it is all coming together.


Leon

[helioz (Erwin)]

The 'Gaze 2008 was great. Many Thanks and Congratulations to "Free Breakfast" (formerly "Spacezebra") and all the organizers of this fantastic event. Although Saturday was a bit wet for observing, the speakers were excellent. We learned heaps and were well entertained.
The Space Trivia night kept everyone thinking (?drinking?) after dinner.

Looking forward to BSG09.

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi all

Its been a huge success! Pics shortly. More things to do better next time - however overall feedback has been extremely positive. I am exhausted and need a sleep before posting more shortly. A big thanks to a great team that put it all together. You are stella in my books! well done.

Signed "free breakfast (aka Petra d.)

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

just back from BZ and wanted to say how great it was.well organised and had two clear nights out of three. Enjoyed catching up with John and Anna and Petra and David and others again and am very grateful to John and Doug for the time they invested in helping me with my DSLR Focus problems.
hope to be back next year
Narayan

[JohnG (John)]

Want to say thanks to Petra and Dave and all the members of the ASAW for putting on another great Border StarGaze, was great to meet up with everyone again, had a ball.

If you didn't get there, try for next year, you will really enjoy yourself.

Cheers

JohnG

[allan gould]

Originally Posted by JohnG

Want to say thanks to Petra and Dave and all the members of the ASAW for putting on another great Border StarGaze, was great to meet up with everyone again, had a ball.

If you didn't get there, try for next year, you will really enjoy yourself.

Cheers

JohnG

Glad you had a good time - I may try and make it next year.

[leon]

Good to hear that all went well, hope everyone has a safe trip home, looking forward to the pic's

Leon

[Rob_K]

I'd like to add my thanks to the organising committee and all the hard working volunteers for putting on another 'stellar' Border Stargaze! I had a fantastic time, as did my wife and cousin who came along too!

It's a wonderful event, with great location, events, facilities and entertainment, and it was good to catch up with a lot of people I knew and to meet so many new ones. And the public outreach program you ran is a credit to you, an amazing success!

I've attached a couple of shots of the observing field that I took when I arrived on the Friday - this only shows a very small part of the observing field (it's huge!). Glad I took these ones, as despite the best of intentions I completely forgot to take more later!

Cheers -

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

the old owl made it home safe and sound
feathers didn't get too wet in the rain, and the trip took about 6 an 3/4 hours, with two petrol stops.

my thanks go to David and Petra (free breakfast, Geoff, Emma - whatever you think your name is) and that well drilled ASAW crew who made the weekend so enjoyable.

pity it rained on sat nite, but as someone said - the word 'Party' in Star Party should not be ignored

there are sure to be many stories come from the weekends activities and endeavours to keep you readers amused (well i hope so anyway)

the fireplace in the community hall was witness to tales of woe from the tennis courts - leads being tripped over and power being disconnected, gear not working as it should in the nite when it tested ok in the daylight, horrible noises coming from the throat of mounts, outside lights from bungalow's being left on
but then there were the good stories about advise and time taken by the imaging lot out there to the newcomers and interested public visitors on friday nite - that fireplace, i'm sure, has many more stories that others might tell

the Bintell boys decided to have an eyepiece throwing competition when their sales slackened off at one stage - so out came a new ETHOS and (they thought that would be heavy enough) they lined up on the boardwalk to see who could throw it the furthest - the boys from YORK were very keen to have the opportunity to throw one of Bintells premium eyepieces around - i didn't hear who ended up being the winner, but after a quick run under the tap and a wipe off, it was put away for next years event.

there are tales of the DOME, kids being tortured in there, made to laugh and scream in excitement at what they were forced to see.
there are law suits pending because Miles ran out of breath and the dome colapsed on people. Pink Floyd has been banned from any more events at the park for being TOO loud
OH! - thanks for a hilarious trivia nite Miles (and sidekick David)

if there is one highlight from the weekend that sticks out, it is sitting with John (xstream) and Anna and listening to the enthusiasm and joy in the voices of some of the kids and parents as they looked through Anna's scope on frid nite

ASAW
i will be back next year for sure

geoff

[alan meehan (Alan)]

looks like everyone had a good time and the weather was kind
cant wait to see some photos , be there next year for sure

[Hagar (Doug)]

Thanks Petra, David and all your hard working volunteers. A great weekend. The weather was great for a couple of nights and the Sat night trivia session was not to be missed. Great to catch up with lots of old friend and a few new ones. The speakers were again fantastic. Phil Hart definitely got me thinking of a few things to do with my camera for the future.

As for the eyepiece chuck the winner was Dave (Mr Petra) Champion Tosser for the weekend. The Bintel bargan box now has a well field tested EP in it at a reasonable price. I think it should be mounted and become an annual event.

All in all a credit to you all. Well done. Book me in for next year please.