Blue Mountains - Katoomba Airfield 21st July- CHANGE OF DATE
Hi all,
We can only try, can't we?
The Airfield's being made available for us for Saturday 21'st of July.
At 1000m, it is one of the highest places close to Sydney for observing. At this elevation too, the effects of Sydney's glow are surprisingly reduced.
If you haven't been to the Airfield before and would like to come along, access to the Airfield is via Medlow Bath, turning into Railway Parade at the Villiage's only set of lights, and then left into Rutland (also known as Grand Canyon Dr). The Airfield is some 4km from this intersection, with the last 3km being an unsealed road that can have some damage from erosion.
We are welcome to stay overnight in the office building - just take your own blankets or sleeping bag.
The Airfield is purely a BYO situation - your own power, food. Tank water is available. There's loos for the kids and ladies.
Once at the Airfield, take the LEFT hand track and follow it past the "No Entry" sign. Turn right up the hill past the various buildings to the main runway. We set up on the concrete slab just to the left of the access track. The picture below may help out.
It will be a cold one and the combustion heater in the office is very much welcome!
Hope to see you there,
Mental.
Last edited by mental4astro; 17-07-2012 at 11:16 AM.
Second I dont usually pull all nighters so leave earliesh
Will this cause offense? I mean in terms of headlights and so on?
I have a perfectly good dark sky location at Linden but would like to check katoomba out as an alternative/back up but only if things are reasonably relaxed over there
I try to get there before sunset. Rod the Airfield manager lives on site, so someone will be there.
Not everyone does all-nighters. If you've got to go that's fine! Packing up you'll need to do with a red light, or let folks know you're gonna use a white light. Last fellow who didn't warn us is lying quietly somewhere beside a taxi-way - such a shame, seemed like a nice fellow too,
Many folks who come with their kids leave early too, so it's never a problem. Come and stay as long as you like.
If you can't make it before sunset it's not a problem either. Get here when you can too. I TRY to get there before sunset. Life gets in the way sometimes.
So James as right last month and it *is* the eastern slab. I was sure and insisted that we more often set up on the bigger western slab. Apologies to James…
