IISAC2009 Only a Few Days Away

12th October 2009

IISAC2009 Only a Few Days Away

On Thursday I head to IISAC2009 – the IceInSpace AstroCamp for 2009. I’ve been busy with the final stages of organising the event, and I’ll be glad when it’s over for another year.

IISAC2009

I’ve bought the soft drinks, water, ice blocks and other consumables and cleaning stuff (and 120 rolls of toilet paper). All the shirts have the name tags on them, calendars have name tags on them, the trailer is starting to get packed. The marquee is ready, the AV gear is ready, the Gresford RFB are ready, the lucky door prizes are organised.

The weather is not organised. The forecasts for Thu/Fri/Sat look mixed – unfortunately it looks like we may be in for a cloudy night or two. I just hope we get at least one clear night. After 3 cloudy nights last year, it will be a real letdown if it’s cloudy again this year. It’s just the hobby we choose – we’re reliant on the weather for our entertainment and there’s just nothing we can do about it. It doesn’t matter what time of year you hold it in – it could be cloudy at any time of the year.

I have been thinking about changing it back to January/February though – not necessarily for the weather (we had clear nights in January in 2006/2007) – but because in October, it’s the last major star party of the year, and I don’t think that’s good for attendance. By October, people have already used up their browney points or star party budget going to 1 or 2 other star parties earlier in the year. And when you have some cloudy weather, it makes people even more hesitant to book and pay in advance – I suspect a lot of people are waiting to see the weather forecasts before deciding whether to come.

The terrible weather we’ve been having is certainly putting a dampener on motivation, again. I haven’t had my telescope out for at least a month, and haven’t done any hi-res lunar/planetary imaging for 6 weeks or more. It’s been very slim pickings this year – when the skies have been clear, I’ve had terrible seeing.

I hope I can get one clear night at IISAC to at least get one new image!

I won’t be posting again until after the event, but hopefully when I do it will be with at least a little good news.

Thanks for your patience!

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