Re: Australia Octobert 2009

When I went to Australia (in October, BTW) I had to go first to AAA here
and get an International driver's license, I don't remember if there was
a cost or not.
 
Also, you need to go on-line and get a $20 Australian visa, go here;
 
http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/index.html
 
The skies in Coonabarabran were tremendous and the town itself is
delightful, as are the residents.
 
\Paul A

________________________________

From: tac-bounces@No-Spam
[mailto:tac-bounces@No-Spam] On Behalf Of Dennis Beckley
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:41 AM
To: TAC mailing list
Subject: Re: [TAC] Australia Octobert 2009

  Thanks Shneor.

  Will check and see if Magellean Observatory is available at that
time.

  Were your there in October? What was the weather like?

  Did you need to get a special international driver's license or is a
California license good enough?

  Thanks again and good to hear from you.

  Dennis

--- On Tue, 6/30/09, Shneor Sherman <szsherm@No-Spam> wrote:

        From: Shneor Sherman <szsherm@No-Spam>
        Subject: Re: [TAC] Australia Octobert 2009
        To: dbeckley94510@No-Spam, "TAC mailing list"
<tac@No-Spam>
        Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 11:19 AM
        
        
Hi Dennis,
Google Magellan Observatory and call or email the owner; see if his
servo-catted 24" in a dome is available when you want to rent it. You
only pay for decent observing nights, but you'll have to pay for every
night at the guest house (which has a well-equipped kitchen).
I rented a car in Sydney and drive south, about 2/3 of the way to
Canberra. You can also take a train to the nearest town and will be
picked up. (There are a couple of supermarkets in the town, and you can
stock up on provisions there). Driving, BTW, is on the "wrong" side of
the road...That's as far as memory goes, though I may be able to find
more detail in old email.
Clears,
Shneor

--- On Mon, 6/29/09, dbeckley94510@No-Spam <dbeckley94510@No-Spam>
wrote:

        From: dbeckley94510@No-Spam <dbeckley94510@No-Spam>
        Subject: [TAC] Australia Octobert 2009
        To: tac@No-Spam
        Date: Monday, June 29, 2009, 8:05 PM
        
        
Hi Fellow Tacites,

I need some group input on an observing trip to Australia that I'm
planning on doing over the new moon period in October 2009. The round
trip non-stop airfare from SFO to Sidney is as low as $588 on expedia or
$689 on Quantas. If you have MegaStar or some similar planetarium
software program input Sidney for your location and October 19th as the
date and print out two charts - one at 10:00 pm and one at 3:00 am and
you'll see why I'm so excited!

The Large and Small Magellanic Cloud regiions are very high and up all
night. The eta Carinae regions arise very early in the morning. Just
about every cool Souther Sky Object is there for the viewing! Hard to
imagine a better time to be there!

Normally the Obsession Group has a party going over and has big scopes
set by the local Australian observers at Coonabrabran. However this year
their big party was in March.

I know many TACO's have done the trip (Steve Gottlieb, Albert Highe, Bob
Jardine, Shnear Sherman, Darrell Lee and others) and I'd like to know
how they handled trips to Coonabrabran or the Magellan Observatory.
Like to know things about renting scopes over there, travel, lodging,
the weather in October, all the little details so I can start making
plans.

Although this may be a little off-topic observing in Australia and how
to do it may be of general interest to the group. I can also be reached
privately at dbeckley94510@No-Spam The airfare to Australia has
always been the limiting factor for two people but now, thanks to the
economic downturn, Australia is much more affordable so no more excuses
for me.

Thanks for all your input.

Dennis Beckley

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