Where to go in Australia for a holiday?

[MikeMS]

Dear All.

I will be visiting Australia for a four week holiday in July and as this is my first trip south of the equator I would like to take the opportunity to observe from a good site.

A very quick google has shown the Magellen Observatory as a possible site where I could stay with my family for a few days but the link does not work. Please could someone point me in the right dirction or make another suggestion?

We will be visiting the eastern side of Australia.

Kind regards

Mike MS

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Hi Mike,

, & to IIS!

I'm sorry to answer your question with another question, but will you be driving, and will you be bringing any astro gear?

You can also drop a line to the various astro clubs listed here in IIS (I've added a link to the page). They will have dark sites that are regularly visited, some closer to Sydney than others. Some of the more remote sites being about 3 hrs drive from Sydney:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/clublistings.html

If you are feeling adventourous and are driving, and with an asto theme in mind, you might like to visit Parkes Radio Observatory,

http://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/

or the Siding Springs Observatory at Coonabarrabran:

http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/info/sso/

Here are some other astro places of interest:

http://www.quasarastronomy.com.au/places.htm

The Star Parties forum also contains info regarding get togethers across the Country, including those organised by IIS members. The Sydney based ones occurr at "The Pony Club" at Mangrove Mountain (to the north) & "Katoomba Airfield" in the Blue Mountians (to the west).

Mental.

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi Mike

If you will be here for a month why not come to Wiruna on the new moon weekend and meet a few ASNSW members as a visitor. We have plenty of camping room but if you have a family and need some creature comforts we have a house where bunks can be booked. You will need your own food to prepare and some bedding but there is hot water, power, showers, toilets, telescopes and internet.

PM me for more information

Barry

PS If your name is Mike or Mark you will need a secondary initial. These names are very common amonst the astronomers frequenting the house area.

[madwayne (Wayne)]

You could also try Mudgee Observatory. John and his wife Patti are lovely people, aren't all astronomers, and their observatory is on a dark site around a 15 minute drive out of Mudgee which is around a 4 hour drive North West of Sydney over the Blue Mountains. Of course while in Mudgee you can visit vineyards by day and see stars by night.

While at Mudgee you can comfortably drive to Coonabarabrin and back in a day.

I'm not sure about Magellan Observatory. I thought I read or heard something about it not being open to the public any more - I'm happy to stand corrected on that point. So it might pay to send them an email and make an enquiry.

Enjoy your trip it is a beautiful country you are coming to visit, although a bit water logged at the moment it will be dry by Winter (or at least should be).

Wayne

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Queensland Astrofest is on from July 22nd to July 31st.
Listed in Sky at Night magazine as one of the top 10 star parties on the planet!!!
Definitely family friendly too. There is bunk house accommodation and lunch and dinner is catered for.
Stay for a night , stay for the full camp.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

I believe that Magellan Obs has closed down.

[glenc (Glen)]

Mike I also recommend the Qld Astrofest which starts on 22 July 2011.
http://www.qldastrofest.org.au/

[MikeMS]

Thank you for all your responses. I will look at the links and see what can be done.

I will have a vehicle for my visit and will not bring any astro equipment.

I could have given a little background to myself at the start, but will do it now. I have lived in the UK for all my life, apart for the last two years where I have been living in Saudi Arabia (for work). I had a series of telescopes in the UK ending up with a 12" LX 200. Now I have a EQ5 with a dsi and 70mm refractor guiding a Canon 300D and ED80. I also have a 8" dob and just purchased a 12" mirror for building another dob. The skies here are very poor due to light pollution and dust but you do what you can.

Kind regards

Mike MS