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sounds of silence Astronomer
Hi all,
has anyone been on the sounds of silence dinner at Ayers Rock (Uluru) in Australia where they have the resident astronomer? If you have what was the experience like? Cheers Andy |
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Re: sounds of silence Astronomer
"Andy G" <astronomer1@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news  T9th.45387$RL5.40804@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...> Hi all, > > has anyone been on the sounds of silence dinner at Ayers Rock (Uluru) in > Australia where they have the resident astronomer? > > If you have what was the experience like? > > Cheers > > Andy > > Hi Andy, I attended one of these in August 2002. I joined a group of people meeting at sunset and we were 'serenaded' by a bloke playing a digeridoo. Uluru was visible in the distance. The meal gave us the opportunity to try crocodile, kangaroo, and emu. There was also lamb on the menu for those that felt less adventurous. By the time the meal was finished the sky was ablaze with light -absolutely stunning. An amatuer astronomer armed with a pointing torch gave us a tour of the night sky and singled out, in particular, scorpius and libra that were overhead. There were a number of small portable telescopes set out where we could view a number of well known objects. I particularly remember 'The Jewel Box'. I asked to be directed towards the Magalenic Clouds which I had trouble seeing ( my laser surgery may have reduced my ability to see objects with particularly low contrast). The sight of an extremely clear 'Milky Way' made the whole experience for me, a most memorable part of my holiday. I would certainly recommend this for anyone with an interest in Astronomy. Bob |
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Re: sounds of silence Astronomer
Thanks for the info Bob that's great news I cant wait!. This is just one of the astro-things on my trip and one of the things I will be doing whilst away. First trip is to the Hong Kong Space Centre en route, then over to Oz where I have arranged with the pro astronomers to visit AAT at Sidings for a behind the scenes tour and then over to meet a contact at Parkes. Sydney Observatory next before heading off to Hawaii for 7 days. Meeting the astronomy team at Imiloa on Big Island before a trip up Mauna Kea. Lastly flying to LA en route back to the UK and a quick trip to Griffith Observatory before home, so should be good! A new societies lecture will be on offer soon! Cheers for your feedback Andy "Bob" <bob.leon@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message news:51n005F1ksiefU1@mid.individual.net... > > "Andy G" <astronomer1@ntlworld.com> wrote in message > news T9th.45387$RL5.40804@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...>> Hi all, >> >> has anyone been on the sounds of silence dinner at Ayers Rock (Uluru) in >> Australia where they have the resident astronomer? >> >> If you have what was the experience like? >> >> Cheers >> >> Andy >> >> > Hi Andy, > > I attended one of these in August 2002. I joined a group of people > meeting at sunset and we were 'serenaded' by a bloke playing a digeridoo. > Uluru was visible in the distance. The meal gave us the opportunity to try > crocodile, kangaroo, and emu. There was also lamb on the menu for those > that felt less adventurous. By the time the meal was finished the sky was > ablaze with light -absolutely stunning. > > An amatuer astronomer armed with a pointing torch gave us a tour of the > night sky and singled out, in particular, scorpius and libra that were > overhead. There were a number of small portable telescopes set out where > we could view a number of well known objects. I particularly remember 'The > Jewel Box'. > > I asked to be directed towards the Magalenic Clouds which I had trouble > seeing ( my laser surgery may have reduced my ability to see objects with > particularly low contrast). The sight of an extremely clear 'Milky Way' > made the whole experience for me, a most memorable part of my holiday. I > would certainly recommend this for anyone with an interest in Astronomy. > > Bob > |
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Re: sounds of silence Astronomer
Bob wrote: > "Andy G" <astronomer1@ntlworld.com> wrote in message > news T9th.45387$RL5.40804@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...> > Hi all, > > > > has anyone been on the sounds of silence dinner at Ayers Rock (Uluru) in > > Australia where they have the resident astronomer? > > > > If you have what was the experience like? > > > > Cheers > > > > Andy > > > > > Hi Andy, > > I attended one of these in August 2002. I joined a group of people > meeting at sunset and we were 'serenaded' by a bloke playing a digeridoo. > Uluru was visible in the distance. The meal gave us the opportunity to try > crocodile, kangaroo, and emu. There was also lamb on the menu for those that > felt less adventurous. By the time the meal was finished the sky was ablaze > with light -absolutely stunning. > If there was an astronomer there he would have pointed out the difference between the color transition at the orbital/solar radiation boundary and how to experience the color change from the point of view of a rotating Earth - http://www.io.com/~iareth/20021117eUluruSunsetWeb.jpg http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ima..._iss002_c1.jpg > An amatuer astronomer armed with a pointing torch gave us a tour of the > night sky and singled out, in particular, scorpius and libra that were > overhead. There were a number of small portable telescopes set out where we > could view a number of well known objects. I particularly remember 'The > Jewel Box'. > Constellation astronomy is beautiful in its own right as a reminder of the ancient ancestors who split the sky into divisions for timekeeping purposes.They had plenty of wisdom to create the daily cycle as a seperate system ,only the silly 17th century guys turned constellation geometry into a calendrically driven system moixed up with crude notions of the daily cycle. In short,the natural views of the color transition and the great cycles which exist as you look into the celestial arena do not match the sub-geocentric views of your guide.The incredible scenery and the natural motions of the Earth which compliment each other dissolve into a celestial sphere spectacle with no pretense to the contrary - http://www.opencourse.info/astronomy...phere_anim.gif > I asked to be directed towards the Magalenic Clouds which I had trouble > seeing ( my laser surgery may have reduced my ability to see objects with > particularly low contrast). The sight of an extremely clear 'Milky Way' made > the whole experience for me, a most memorable part of my holiday. I would > certainly recommend this for anyone with an interest in Astronomy. > > Bob You are in the Milky Way,you particpate in all its cycles but for some reason you are mesmerised by constellational geometry which excludes the appreciation of our galactic orbital motion.Like a creature who has no feel for its surroundings,even though it provides all the clues for what is occuring,the extremely beautiful events wither to nothing more than a consumerist indulgence. |
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Re: sounds of silence Astronomer
Mmm, sounds great. Turning green.
Hope its over a new moon! The southern skies are magic!!! Bon voyage! Paul "Andy G" <astronomer1@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:IJtth.75652$z01.28219@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net... > > Thanks for the info Bob that's great news I cant wait!. > > This is just one of the astro-things on my trip and one of the things I > will be doing whilst away. > > First trip is to the Hong Kong Space Centre en route, then over to Oz > where I have arranged with the pro astronomers to visit AAT at Sidings for > a behind the scenes tour and then over to meet a contact at Parkes. > > Sydney Observatory next before heading off to Hawaii for 7 days. Meeting > the astronomy team at Imiloa on Big Island before a trip up Mauna Kea. > Lastly flying to LA en route back to the UK and a quick trip to Griffith > Observatory before home, so should be good! > > A new societies lecture will be on offer soon! > > Cheers for your feedback > > Andy > |
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Re: sounds of silence Astronomer
Should be great, and wont be long now.
I remember the Skies when I was in Kenya being awesome too so should be good down under and in Hawaii. All the best Andy "Paul Clark" <dr.clark@dial.pipex.com> wrote in message news:E_ydnRFxXuz49yvYRVnytgA@pipex.net... > Mmm, sounds great. Turning green. > > Hope its over a new moon! The southern skies are magic!!! > > Bon voyage! > Paul > "Andy G" <astronomer1@ntlworld.com> wrote in message > news:IJtth.75652$z01.28219@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net... >> >> Thanks for the info Bob that's great news I cant wait!. >> >> This is just one of the astro-things on my trip and one of the things I >> will be doing whilst away. >> >> First trip is to the Hong Kong Space Centre en route, then over to Oz >> where I have arranged with the pro astronomers to visit AAT at Sidings >> for a behind the scenes tour and then over to meet a contact at Parkes. >> >> Sydney Observatory next before heading off to Hawaii for 7 days. Meeting >> the astronomy team at Imiloa on Big Island before a trip up Mauna Kea. >> Lastly flying to LA en route back to the UK and a quick trip to Griffith >> Observatory before home, so should be good! >> >> A new societies lecture will be on offer soon! >> >> Cheers for your feedback >> >> Andy >> > |
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Re: sounds of silence Astronomer
Andy G wrote: > Hi all, > > has anyone been on the sounds of silence dinner at Ayers Rock (Uluru) in > Australia where they have the resident astronomer? I didn't do that deal. But did do sunset and sunrise at the rock to watch the colours change - some of the obvious venues are *very* touristy with many coach loads of onlookers BBQ & boozing, but the place is big so you don't have to go far to be well off the beaten track. Carry plenty of water if you are out walking round it in the daytime. When I visited there was a chance to go to a dark site with a 10" LX200 and some other misc kit to look at the obvious deep sky objects. I was unlucky and got the one night in 100 with major thunderstorms passing through, but after discovering that I was a keen amateur the guy took me out anyway despite the limited chance to see things. Most of the larger hotels have flyers for things ranging from helicopter flights to ballooning and even amateur astronomy. Show that you know something about using the kit and you may find yourself in charge of a scope. > > If you have what was the experience like? The sky is dazzlingly bright with unfamiliar stars, and Orion is doing a handstand. Well worth taking a decent sized pair of binoculars or spotting scope with you for the stars and the wildlife. Ditto a camera - you would not believe how red the soil is!!! Eating five breakfasts in a row on the way out to Oz can be a bit tedious. Hope you have a great time. Regards, Martin Brown |
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Re: sounds of silence Astronomer
I am looking forward to the flights out there as going Business Class so
should at least get some sleep to ward of some lag as we have the lay flat beds and were upstairs where hopefully it will be a bit quieter. Were flying with BA & Qantas. "Martin Brown" <|||newspam|||@nezumi.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:1169586672.462569.144110@m58g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com... > > Andy G wrote: > >> Hi all, >> >> has anyone been on the sounds of silence dinner at Ayers Rock (Uluru) in >> Australia where they have the resident astronomer? > > I didn't do that deal. But did do sunset and sunrise at the rock to > watch the colours change - some of the obvious venues are *very* > touristy with many coach loads of onlookers BBQ & boozing, but the > place is big so you don't have to go far to be well off the beaten > track. Carry plenty of water if you are out walking round it in the > daytime. > > When I visited there was a chance to go to a dark site with a 10" LX200 > and some other misc kit to look at the obvious deep sky objects. I was > unlucky and got the one night in 100 with major thunderstorms passing > through, but after discovering that I was a keen amateur the guy took > me out anyway despite the limited chance to see things. Most of the > larger hotels have flyers for things ranging from helicopter flights to > ballooning and even amateur astronomy. Show that you know something > about using the kit and you may find yourself in charge of a scope. >> >> If you have what was the experience like? > > The sky is dazzlingly bright with unfamiliar stars, and Orion is doing > a handstand. Well worth taking a decent sized pair of binoculars or > spotting scope with you for the stars and the wildlife. Ditto a camera > - you would not believe how red the soil is!!! > > Eating five breakfasts in a row on the way out to Oz can be a bit > tedious. Hope you have a great time. > > Regards, > Martin Brown > |
