History of the SPSP

21 - 24 May, 1993

Attendance: Over 200 people

Telescopes: More than 100 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 20"

 

Richard Berry: CCD Cameras

Thane Bopp: Boppian Telescopes

Dave Kriege: Obsession Telescopes

 

A successful radio link up with the Texas Star Party was maintained during the Star Party, allowing local amateurs to communicate "live" with other amateurs in Texas, as well as sending and receiving images.

The first annual South Pacific Star Party was developed in conjunction with a visit by a dozen US-based amateur astronomers on an observing trip to Australia called "Operation Pacific Storm". That initial trip became a regular observing event for northern hemisphere observers, known as the "Aussie Sky Safaris" and they were renamed to the "Deepest South Texas Star Safaris" in 2004 following an influx of observers from Texas and surrounds. In 2011 they became known as the "OzSky Star Safaris". The South Pacific Star Party was formed at the same time, focussed more on local attendees, and both events continue to this day, attracting observers from across Australia and the world.

 

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The Second Annual South Pacific Star Party

6 - 9 May, 1994

Attendance: Over 170 people

Telescopes: More than 90 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 20"

 

Steve Lee (AAO): Life at the AAO

Greg Bryant (ASNSW): Expectations for the [then] upcoming comet crash

Graham Loftus (NZ): Large, thin mirrors as well as 129ft focal length solar telescope

 

A successful radio link up with Texas Star Party was established and maintained.

An on-site FM "Radio Wiruna" broadcast had interviews of some of the SPSP Attendees.

The first sacrificial burning of a telescope as an offering to the rain gods - yielded 5 clear nights.

 

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The Third Annual South Pacific Star Party

26 - 29 May, 1995

Attendance: Over 200 people

Telescopes: More than 115 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 20"

 

Jeff Fell (HAA)

David Malin (AAO): AstroPhotography

Mark Suchting (ASNSW & CSIRO)

 

Peter Skye - "Antares" - 13.1" Dobsonian Telescope

Scott Mellish - "The Coffin" - 16" f/4.7 Dobsonian Telescope

 

The first attempt at a launch of an amateur space telescope.

Rocket Exhibition by Mike Smith.

Once again, a sacrificial offering to the rain God was made.

 

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The Fourth Annual South Pacific Star Party

17 - 20 May, 1996

Attendance: Over 190 people

Telescopes: More than 80 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 20"

 

Tracy Getts (AT): Galaxies

Greg Bryant (ASNSW): Comet Hyakutake, Comet Hale-Bopp, etc., ...

Ron Ravneberg (USA): Life, The Universe, and Everything - USA Style

 

Amateur Telescope Makers (ATM) Awards

Collimation and Mirror-Cleaning Demonstrations

Sky Tours with 17.5" and 20" Telescopes

 

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The Fifth Annual South Pacific Star Party

9 - 12 May, 1997

Attendance: Over 265 people

Telescopes: More than 100 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 20"

 

Peter Williams: Variable Stars

Greg Bryant (ASNSW): Tonight's Comets

Bill Bradfield: Noted Comet Hunter, speaking on Comet Searching

Andrew Murrell (ASNSW): Interesting objects to observe at the Star Party

Rev. Robert Evans (ASNSW): Noted Supernova Hunter, speaking on Supernova Searching

 

The McNiven Medal: Bob Evans - For his excellent and successful work in Supernova Hunting

The Southern Cross Award: Greg Bryant - For his work in the Society since the late 1980s

The Crago Award: Lachlan MacDonald - For his work on the Society's Web Site

 

Bob Parsons (ASV) - For His 12" f/5 Dobsonian Telescope

Brett White (WSAAG) - For His Binocular Mount

Ken Charlwood (HAS) - For His Optimised GEM Newtonian

Norm Pappis (SEQAS) - For His 25" f/4 Dob on Poncet Platform

David Hall (ASNSW) - For His Innovations and Construction of his 12.5" Dobsonian Telescope

Chris Ross (ASNSW) - For Extensive Modifications to a commercial telescope (8" Meade SCT)

 

Radio contact and image transfers with the Texas Star Party

Fiery Telescope Sacrifice

Sky Tours with 17.5" and 20" Dobsonian Telescopes

Comet Hale-Bopp visible

Vendor Displays and Swap Meet

Trivia Quiz

The Great Spit Roast

 

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The Sixth Annual South Pacific Star Party

27 - 30 March, 1998

Attendance: Over 280 people

Telescopes: More than 85 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 20"

 

Greg Bryant (ASNSW): Tonight's Comets

John Morieson: The Night Sky of the Boorong

Andrew Murrell (ASNSW): Tonight's Observing Suggestions

Dr. Vince Ford: The History of the Great Melbourne Telescope

Rob McNaught (AAO): The coming of the Leonid Meteor Showers of 1998/1999

 

Ken Charlwood - Innovative Use of Recycled Materials

Greg Nielson - Home-Made Crayford Design focusser

Geoff Zenner - Excellent Construction of his Dobsonian

Jeff Dudley - Exceptional Workmanship of his First Telescope

Kevin Dixon - Exceptional Workmanship of his First Telescope

Ben Coutts & David Hall - Good Construction of their Telescope

George Livanos - For Building a Dobsonian in the "True" Dobsonian Fashion

 

Fiery Telescope Sacrifice

Sky Tours with 17.5" and 20" Dobsonian Telescopes

Vendor Displays and Swap Meet

Trivia Quiz

The Great Spit Roast

Local Winery Tours

Wollemi National Park Tours

 

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The Seventh Annual South Pacific Star Party

19 - 22 March, 1999

Attendance: Over 300 people

Telescopes: More than 100 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 22"

 

Mati Morel: Magellanic Cloud Observing Charts

Ron Ravneberg (USA)

Greg Bryant (ASNSW): Tonight's Comets, and the Solar System

Andrew Murrell (ASNSW): Challenging Deep-Sky Objects to Observe at SPSP

Prof. Jeremy Mould: How fast is the Universe Expanding?

 

Zoran Strugar - For Scientific Detail

Dave Gault - For Workmanship and Creative Design

Michael Davidson - For Best Use of Recycled Components

Jos Roberts - For Workmanship and Detail

Mick McCullagh - For Total Conception and Refinement of Construction

Alan Giles - For Conception and Refinement of Construction

Yasuke Katayama - For Unusual Adaption of a Binocular Finder

 

Fiery Telescope Sacrifice

Sky Tours with 17.5" and 20" Dobsonian Telescopes

Vendor Displays and Swap Meet

Trivia Quiz

The Great Spit Roast

Local Winery Tours

Wollemi National Park Tours

 

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The Eighth Annual South Pacific Star Party

30 March - 2 April, 2000

Attendance: Over 400 people

Telescopes: More than 120 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 20"

 

Jane Houston Jones (ASNSW)

Greg Bryant (ASNSW): Tonight's Comets

George Greaney (USA): Astro Photography

Dr. Vince Ford (AAO)

Morris Jones (ASNSW)

 

Debbie Whitford - Optrex 6" f/8 Telescope, donated by Tasco Sales in Sydney ($1,000)

Catrina England - Scanner 7x50 wide field 8° binoculars, donated by the Binocular and Telescope Service Centre in Melbourne ($350)

Marylou Wright - Skypro 6.0 Astronomical Software ($160)

Karen England - Sky Atlas Field Edition, donated by the Binocular and Telescope Shop in Sydney ($110)

Steven Kind - $100 Shopping Voucher, donated by York Optical in Sydney ($100)

Amanda Nelson - Herald-Bobroff AstroAtlas, donated by Peter Bobroff ($80)

Racquel Graha - Annual subscription to both Sky & Space Magazine and Southern Astrononmy Magazine, donated by Sky & Space Shop in Bondi Junction ($45)

Allesandro Spina - Framed David Malin Colour Photo, donated by Sky & Space Shop in Bondi Jnctn ($40)

Guy Courreges - Scientific American Space Visions Diary, donated by BinTel in Sydney ($20)

 

Fiery Telescope sacrifice

Sky Tours with 17.5" and 20" Dobsonian Telescopes

Astronomy Bazaar: Vendor Displays and Swap Meet

Trivia Quiz

The Great Spit Roast

Local Winery Tours

Wollemi National Park Tours

"Star Stories" for the Junior Astronomers

 

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The Ninth Annual South Pacific Star Party

23 - 26 March, 2001

Attendance: Over 380 people

Telescopes: More than 100 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 20"

 

Dr. Fred Watson (AAO): Cosmic Controversies

Gordon Garradd (ASNSW): Well known Australian amateur astronomer and Berenice Page Medal winner

Dr. Miriam Baltuck (NASA): NASA's plans for Mars Exploration

Richard Jaworski (ASNSW): Double Stars

Ted Dobosz (ASNSW & WSAAG): CCD Astronomy

 

Sky Tours with 17.5" and 20" Dobsonian Telescopes

Astronomy Bazaar - Vendor Displays and Swap Meet

Trivia Quiz

The Great Spit Roast

Local Winery Tours

Wollemi National Park Tours

"Star Stories" for the Junior Astronomers

 

MEADE 8" LX90 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope ($5000)

 

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The Tenth Annual South Pacific Star Party

15 - 17 March, 2002

Attendance: Over 400 people

Telescopes: More than 130 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 36"

 

Peter Bobroff (CAS): Herald-Bobroff Astro-Atlas

Les Dalrymple (SASI): Astronomical highlights visible at the Star Party

Rick Twardy (Parkes Radio Telescope): A Quirky View of the Parkes Radio Telescope

David Reneke (Port Macquarie Observatory): Introductory Astronomy - for juniors

 

Sky Tours with 17.5" and 20" Dobsonian Telescopes

Astronomy Bazaar - Vendor Displays and Swap Meet

Trivia Quiz

The Great Spit Roast

Local Winery Tours

Wollemi National Park Tours

"Star Stories" for the Junior Astronomers

 

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The Eleventh Annual South Pacific Star Party

28 - 30 March, 2003

Attendance: Over 400 people

Telescopes: More than 130 Telescopes ranging in size from 60mm up to 25"

 

Gary Kopff (Wildcard Innovations & ASNSW): The Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer

Richard Heggie (ASNSW): Digital Cameras Are Cool (But Not Cooled!)

Andrew Murrell (ASNSW): Deep Sky Observing at SPSP

Monte Wilson (ASNSW): Wide-Field Astro Photography Using Conventional Film

David Reneke (Pt Macquarie Obs): Come With Us On An Exciting Visual Tour Of The Universe

 

Sky Tours with 17.5" and 20" Dobsonian Telescopes

Astronomy Bazaar: Vendor Displays and Swap Meet

Trivia Quiz

The Great Spit Roast

Local Winery Tours

Wollemi National Park Tours

Astrophotography Gallery & Competition

"Star Stories" for the Junior Astronomers

 

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The Twelfth Annual South Pacific Star Party

19 - 21 March, 2004

Attendance: 305 people (316 Registered)

Telescopes: 60mm Refractors - 36" Dobsonian

Temperature Range: 11°C - 26°C

 

Dr Wayne Orchiston – ATNF, AAO: Sentinels Of Our Southern Skies

Les Dalrymple - SASI, Editor Sky & Space Magazine: Showpiece Objects for the Star Party

Dr. John O’Byrne - University Of Sydney , ASA: Adaptive Optics (Finally) Coming Of Age

 

Sky Tours with 10", 17.5" and 20" Dobsonian Telescopes

Astronomy Bazaar - Vendor Displays and Swap Meet

The Great Spit Roast

Astrophotography Gallery & Competition

"Star Stories" for the Junior Astronomers

 

8" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope (Meade Instrument Corporation)

8" 202SE Dobsonian Telescope (Binocular and Telescope Shop)

Celestron 20x80 Binoculars (York Optical)

Celestron 10x50 Binoculars (York Optical)

6" Bushnell Dobsonian Telescope (Astronomy Online)

Celestron 25mm SMA Eyepiece (Astronomy Online)

Book (Astronomy Online)

2" Light Pollution Filter (Binocular and Telescope Service Centre)

Tasco 35mm Eyepiece (Tasco)

Tasco 28mm Eyepiece (Tasco)

Tasco 15mm Eyepiece (Tasco)

Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer (Wildcard Innovations)

Book (Allen & Unwin)

SkyMap Pro Software (The Thompson Partnership)

SkyMap Lite Software (The Thompson Partnership)

Soft case (JMI)

Star Party pack (Sydney Observatory)

Astronomy T-shirt (Sky Global)

Gift certificate (Bob's Knobs)

Family Pass (Canberra Space Dome)

 

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The Thirteenth Annual South Pacific Star Party

11 - 13 March, 2005

Attendance: 317 people (325 Registered)

Telescopes: 115 in total ranging in size from 2.3"(60mm) refractors up to 32"(812mm) Dobsonians

Temperature Range: 7°C - 28°C

 

Alan Dyer - Contributing Editor, Sky & Telescope Magazine: Northern Sky Sights: Stars Of The Northern Hemisphere

Chris Venter - Astronomical Society of Victoria: Astrophotography and Digital Astroimaging in The ASV

 

Sky Tours with 10", 17.5" and 20" Dobsonian Telescopes

Astronomy Bazaar - Vendor Displays and Swap Meet

The Great Spit Roast

Astrophotography Gallery & Competition

 

8" LXD75 Schmidt-Newtonian telescope (Meade Instruments Corporation)

2 x Deep Sky Imager (Meade Instruments Corporation)

Orion 80mm ED refractor OTA (The Binocular and Telescope Shop)

Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer (Wildcard Innovations)

Argo Navis 50% discount voucher (Wildcard Innovations)

Celestron 76mm Tabletop reflector (York Optical)

3 x Celestron 10x50 binoculars (York Optical)

Celestron Eyepiece Kit (York Optical)

2 x AS&T subscription, shirt, Starwheel (Australian Sky & Telescope)

9 x Leatherman Multi-tool (Australian Sky & Telescope)

2-day Holiday Package (Chillagoe Observatory and Eco Lodge)

NGC Pictorial Guide (Karl Kirk)

2" Light Pollution Filter (Binocular and Telescope Service Centre)

SAC IVB webcam kit (Binocular and Telescope Service Centre)

Rigel Quickfinder (Binocular and Telescope Service Centre)

STAR Atlas:Pro Advanced Software (SKY:Lab Astronomy Software)

Bushnell 114mm Voyager reflector (Tasco)

2 x Tasco 10x50 binoculars (Tasco)

3 x Astronomy T-shirt (Sky Global)

2 x Optex photographic tripod (Astronomy Online)

3 x Windcheater (Astronomy Online)

Red light torch (Astronomy Online)

US$25 discount voucher (JMI)

2 x Family Pass & Book(Sydney Observatory)

Book, Hat (Sydney Observatory)

Hand-painted T-shirt (Rebecca Defina)

$200 Bintel gift voucher (Quasar Publishing)

 

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The 26th Annual South Pacific Star Party

May 10 - 13, 2018
Attendance: 255 people (334 registered)

This was an event to remember! Preparations began well in advance and, after having some 60 on-site registrations in 2016, it was decided to impose a numbers limit and require advance registrations from 2017. At the 25th Annual SPSP in 2017, the final count was 301 participants.

In 2018, the 300 online bookings limit was reached just six weeks after registrations opened in mid-February. Between the end of March and the end of April, there were very few cancellations and the tally at the end of April was up to 334 participants (with the sponsors, neighbours and guest speakers). With time running out before preparation of badges and lists (to be finalised before 9th May), the waiting list was closed. Surprisingly, another 16 cancellations trickled in during the first week of May. Nevertheless, it was shaping up to be a packed event, although the weather forecast was for:

"Partly cloudy. Medium (60%) chance of showers. Snow possible above 900 metres. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h increasing to 25 to 40 km/h during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between zero and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 7 and 13."

I arrived on Wednesday afternoon (9th May) to start getting organised, unload boxes of badges, lists and volunteer instructions, as well as refreshing my campsite. I arrived in time to see the installation of the floor for the pavilion. This strategy was trialled following on from experiences in previous years when the interior accumulated a LOT of condensation and we ended up with "rain" on the tables every morning. This year's weather had many tricks up the sleeve, however, and condensation was minimal. The set-up of the Pavilion, Check-In Tent and Image Processing Pit (new for 2018) was completed by around 5.30pm in basking sunshine. It wasn't until the team from JD Events was getting ready to leave that we realised that a small generator had been forgotten. This was promptly brought in the next morning. The evening was clear and the earlybird astroimagers managed to get a bit of a head-start. That night was cold, but only about regular Wiruna cold for that time of year. 

Thursday morning (10th May) started out fine and sunny for the set-up of the power, tables, desks, signs and the 101 other little jobs that were needed to prepare the site.  It was late Thursday afternoon that the cloud moved in and the temperature really started to dive. Sunset Thursday had a sky half-cloudy, but I did manage to see Venus. I'm not sure how the keen observers and astroimagers fared that night. I don't recall the sky being brilliant. I think it came and went. All I know is that it was cold enough to tuck the sleeping bag inside the rest of the bedding for extra warmth when I retired that night.

Something happened on Friday morning (11th May) that I had never experienced before - gently falling snow. At first, there were just a few large icy flakes that smashed when they landed. But then, as I was eating breakfast outside my tent, the snow became more regular, occasionally wafting around on bursts of wind, and sometimes just falling quietly. Not knowing how long it would last, I hastily snapped some photos. But, later, after walking up to the amenities, I also managed to capture the scene on video. I was pretty excited and felt like a kid, just watching in awe. The wind built up during the day and the SkyWatcher gazebo was beginning to look like a really bad idea. The SkyWatcher display was moved into the corner of the Pavilion as the Scouts were beginning to serve lunches. 

Some participants struggled to put up tents in the wind and decided to leave. By this time, it was also clear that a number who'd booked would probably not bother coming. The volunteers on the gate took shelter in their vehicles as it became more unpleasant out in the open.

On Friday afternoon, in the shelter of the Meeting Hall where the fires were providing some warmth, we heard a very interesting talk by Trent McDougall. Trent had been recognised in the Astronomy Innovations/Telescope Makers' Competition some ten years earlier. He has gone on to develop hardware/software solutions for operating all sorts of equipment and his systems are now used on telescopes all around the world. He cited the Global Jet Watch project among his credits (a collection of Oxford University telescope in schools on four continents, including the telescope at Tara Anglican School for Girls at North Parramatta), for which he designed the system to remotely open the flaps of the Ritchey–Chrétien telescopes.

As a substitute for observing on Friday evening, which was now dampened by occasional showers and persistent wind, I presented a talk about my experience at Mauna Kea in 2006. Although I knew that many members and some other participants may have already seen it, it seemed particularly relevant in the context of the snowy morning that we'd had at Wiruna. Later in the evening, the DVD player saw some use as well. After watching part of the movie and listening to the increasingly steady rain, I made my way back to my camp in Bon Glen. The night was a challenge. Luckily, I stayed dry, though sleep was delayed somewhat by drips and concerns about equipment outside getting wet. I think I was one of the lucky ones. Someone got up to dry sheets by the fire in the Meeting Hall. Someone else ended up sleeping on the front seats of a camper van when the mattress became wet. Fair dinkum, it rained!  

All was not lost. On Saturday morning (12th May), by the time I surfaced, the rain had stopped and the site appeared to be in pretty good shape. The recently-installed gravel around the Meeting Hall/Pavilion area was doing its job and there were no puddles to avoid. Now, all we needed, was some wind to blow away the clouds! What's that saying? "Be careful what you wish for." During the morning, the wind forecast was upgraded to "damaging westerly winds". Thankfully, I don't think we had any 90 kph gusts. Husband, who was working at Scone Racetrack, reported fierce winds there, where it was much more exposed. I think that Wiruna was partly protected by the large tract of bushland to our west. Some of us went back to camp to pack away bits and pieces into vehicles so as not to have flying card tables blowing about the site. Things settled down after lunch, in time for everyone to enjoy the afternoon's presentations. Paul Hatchman, Don Whiteman and I mucked in for the Opening Address. Next was a delightful presentation by Melissa Hulbert, who shared her total solar eclipse experiences. The presentations for the Astronomy Innovations Showcase (two entries) and the Astroimaging Competition proceeded in the usual fashion. The Lucky Prize Draw took on a new format with improved displays of the prizes on offer. Every winner came forward without delay and there was no need for the 30-second countdown. It is wonderful to have our sponsors, Bintel, SkyWatcher, Celestron, Televue, Quasar Publishing, and Australian Sky & Telescope, continuing to support our event every year. We also had generous donations of prizes from a couple of ASNSW members.

Dinner on Saturday evening was ready early! I congratulated the chefs on "the best ever roast dinner at a star party". But the quandary remained - would the cloud, which had persisted all day, clear in time for sky tours? I delayed the decision, thinking that if we were to offer a trivia quiz, this would probably not begin till 7pm after dinner was cleared. The twilight sky tour was scheduled for 6-7pm. At 6pm, it was still looking ambiguous. However, at 6.20pm, the skies opened up and the announcement was made. I headed down to the observing field and managed to point out Jupiter, the Southern Cross and Pointers, Sirius, and the entire ancient ship, Argo Navis. I explained how to find south and discussed the Ecliptic. Some of the participants spotted satellites, though I don't think we were anywhere near the record! A few recalcitrant clouds bothered various corners, mainly to the north and west. However, by the end of the twilight tour, it was full-on clear and dark.  After a quite break, I joined in the telescope tour, and participants soaked up photons into the night. 

The Sunday pack-up (13th May) was made easier for me with Husband, now finished at Scone, arriving to pull down our tent. I had time to reflect on the weekend, the fact that almost nothing broke and hardly anyone noticed the things that did, the weather that insisted on making itself the most prominent aspect of the weekend, the invincible spirit of the volunteers who make it all happen, and the perfect Saturday night that rewarded the stayers. I had an awesome time and am looking forward to next year's event!

The final participant count, to the best of my ability to determine, was 255 on site for at least some part of the weekend. 

By Lesa Moore, 15th May 2018.

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