New club

Hi

I have recently joined the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society, about an hours drive from the centre of Melbourne. The have an observing site at a place called "The Briars" where they hold public talks/outreach and hold the club observing sessions. Although it is not a true dark sky site, it only 50 minutes drive away and is about as good as the SAC's Boher site.
Boy do the Aussies like their comfort.The site has concrete platforms for observing/ imaging complete with individual power points for plugging in laptops etc for about 10 scopes. The main building (below) has all the facilities one could think of. TV and DVD with projector screen, full library,24 hour hot water for tea/ coffee , electric heaters for when you get a bit cold and tables for setting up computers for processing on the site while your scope outside does all the work. Full running water and toilet. The only thing it doesn't have is a bar:P
I have to admit I was impressed. Once a month they hold public lectures and observing sessions for the public at the site. It an imagers heaven. Pity the weather has been lousy: angry:

www.flickr.com/photos/7703127@N07/4759883048/
Main building

www.flickr.com/photos/7703127@N07/4759882942/in/photostream/
"imagers platform" complete with power points

all i can say is yuppie . you're turning soft down there. their some facilities it must have cost them a few quid. enjoy it and think of us "real astronomer's" doing it the old fashioned way. it is great what people can do when they put their mind's to it.

Very nice setup John.

I'll be down in Melbourne in December so you might get a call for a guided tour:laugh: .

My usual observing site down there (a farm) has it's own poisonious snake so if you drop something it stays dropped!!!

Michael.

michael_murphy wrote:

My usual observing site down there (a farm) has it's own poisonious snake so if you drop something it stays dropped!!

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Wow John, sure make the most of it, it' looks like a great set up!

Keith.

Seanie_Morris wrote:

michael_murphy wrote:

My usual observing site down there (a farm) has it's own poisonious snake so if you drop something it stays dropped!!

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

i.e bricks :laugh: