(Shneor Sherman) wrote in message . com...

I went south a couple of years ago, to the twon of Alexandra on New
Zealand's Southj Island, at latitude 45° south. It's an excellent
observing location, skies around mag 6.5 (sometimes better, sometimes
a bit worse) and there are local astronomers as well as a 21" newt.

Interesting! The only other time I was in the southern hemisphere,
I spent most of my time in New Zealand. Unfortunately, I was
astronomically unconscious at that point in my life, for reasons
that are a total mystery to me now.

Anyway, much as I enjoyed my stay in N.Z. (about a month), I had
written it off for astronomy because I remember it as having very
fickle and rather stormy weather. But I had forgotten about the
area in the lee of the New Zealand Alps, which does indeed tend to
be pretty clear. I gather from your reports that you had an anxious
time with the weather, but lucked out for the most part.

Being at lat 45S instead of 30S would obviously be a big boon, and
a resident 21-inch Newt is an added attraction. But the near-
guarantee of clear weather in Chile (or Namibia, or to a lesser
extent Australia) are mighty attractive for what might be a
once-in-a-lifetime trip.

- Tony Flanders