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

"Andy G" wrote in message
news
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

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" wrote in message
...

"Andy G" wrote in message
news
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

Bob wrote:
"Andy G" wrote in message
news
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.

Mmm, sounds great. Turning green.

Hope its over a new moon! The southern skies are magic!!!

Bon voyage!
Paul
"Andy G" wrote in message
...

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

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" wrote in message
...
Mmm, sounds great. Turning green.

Hope its over a new moon! The southern skies are magic!!!

Bon voyage!
Paul
"Andy G" wrote in message
...

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

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

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" wrote in message
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