호주의 3RF 스타파티를 매년 주관하는 Lachlan McDonald에게서 아래와 같은 이메일이 왔습니다. 매년 3~4월에 주최하는 정기관측회 말고 호주의 봄, 그러니까 우리 10~11월에 소규모의 스타파티를 시도해 본다고 합니다. 저는 올해 후반부에 학회 일정이 이미 정해져서 아쉽게도 참가를 못 합니다. 그냥 보내기에는 아까워서 우리 야간비행 식구들에게 알려 드리니 이메일을 보시고 관심이 있으시면 목요일까지 저에게 알려주시면 Lachlan에게 전해드리겠습니다. 소규모이기 때문에 30"를 비롯한 대형망원경을 비교적 자유롭게 쓸 수 있을 것으로 생각됩니다.

G'Day Kee-Yang,

I trust you're well?  It's been quite a while since we last spoke.

Over the past few months since I sent out a call for expressions of interest in an OzSky "Southern Spring" Star Safari, I have researched and site-tested a number of possible venues for such an event.  Most of those options turned out to be unsuitable due to accommodation issues, or more importantly, sky darkness issues.

Last weekend, however, I did a site test of another venue which seems to hold some great potential for an OzSky event.

I know you didn't put in an EOI as such, but I do recall you telling me previously that you were interested in maybe doing another "Southern Spring" OzSky event at some stage in the future.  If you are still interested (and willing and able) to make a trip to Oz in southern spring this year, and if even just a few others can make it, I am offering to run a very limited (invitation only) OzSky "Southern Spring" Star Safari this year which I anticipate running as a trial for future years.  For this trial event, I plan on limiting invitations to no more than about 12 or so.

The majority of EOI responses for 2015 suggested a preference for October so I've nominally set aside the week of October 9-16, however if October is not suitable for you but November is possible, please also let me know ASAP.

If you can't make it at all in 2015, that's fine too, but please do let me know so I can open up your invitation to others who have also expressed interest.

This new site is located about 3½ hour's drive south west of Sydney and has enough accommodation for up to 24 people including 5 couples or up to 18 individuals.  There are three separate cottages for accommodation and we can take any or all of them depending on how many we need/want.

Darkness was very good, and the southern horizon in particular is very low and clear, and most of the other horizons are also very good with some trees to the east and north east, but not too bad.

Anyway, let me know if you're interested and I'll send you a link to the Registration Form so we can all start planning the trip.

Cheers,

Lachlan.