Gemini G42

Funny how La Palma just got mentioned here regarding trips abroad... the IMC is planning La Palma in 2010. It will have funding to help people from abroad get accommodation and all... Too long to wait? Lets find out!

Interesting that the Canaries has raised its head again, what was the price per room per night at this hotel ?
Its a trip we're definitely going to do sometime, although I'm thinking sometime in the winter would be better to make the most of the longer nights then, preferably off season so it would be cheaper ?

AFAIK it gets very cold and is often covered in snow at the top of the mountain. About September would be good as you would get the summer and winter deep sky targets. Also, remmember that it is at a lower latitude to us so the summer/autumn nights will always be longer than here.

Michael.

I'd have to agree.
Winter there can bring bad conditions on the
mountain.

hi guys,

it would be worth looking at an early April or early May trip. That time of year is when you get the Summer groups nicely placed early morning but the real reason for going then is to catch Vela and Centaurus -- some fine objects to sweep up in that stretch of the Milky Way.

Unfortunately, New Moon doesn't fall too kindly next year -- it's on April 3rd and May 3rd which is a little awkward. The reason is that even a fortnight either way would allow for keeping the Summer groups in a darker sky pre-dawn for a little longer as well as ensuring you snare all the Messier objects at Marathon time. Mid-April would have been better. Well, we can't change the cosmos :laugh:

Another option might be to take in one of the big star parties in the US some time. I've been to the RTMC Astro-Expo ( www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org/general.html ) in Riverside, California twice. It's held on the last weekend of May every year regardless of the Moon phase. Over 2,000 attendees and observing 'til the small hours at a very dark site nearly 7,000 feet up in the San Bernardino mountains 120 miles east of Los Angeles. Did I mention the goodies on sale? Nope? Well, it's an Aladdin's cave of dealers and deals.

John