Re: [APML] Images of the December 4th TSE from Koolymilka, Australia

["Arne Danielsen" <arnedani@online.no>]

Thank you very much Tony!!

Strong winds made camera shake my major concern. Because of this I decided to
change the camera speed from ISO 200 to ISO 800 to keep the exposures as short
as possible. It appears that the Manfrotto (Bogen in the US) 410 head is the
weak link in this setup. I will have to find another solution before the next
big event!

It's called "Prohibited Area" because it is a rocket launching range that are
normally closed to the public! For the eclipse we were not allowed to drive our
own cars, but where instead transported by coaches in and out of the designated
area!

Here's is some information regarding Woomera (the closest town) and WPA that I
received from Frase Farrell and Linda Biddau through the solar eclipse
mailinglist before I went "down under":

---
* Woomera is a town that was built for developing and testing military weapons
and rockets. Up until 1982 the town was closed to the general public in
accordance with the Secrecy Act.

[Nowadays anyone can visit the town.]

Woomera is a township surrounded by the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) declared
by the National Security (Munitions) Regulations.  The WPA is 127,000 square
kilometres making it the largest land-locked weapons testing range in the
Southern Hemisphere.  The WPA also provides the only rocket launching range in
the Southern Hemisphere that allows for the recovery of pay loads over land.

[Several aerospace companies and organisations use the WPA for launches and test
flights.]

[Woomera has] Outstanding facilities and amenities suitable for a much larger
community.

[The population peaked at about 10,000 during the late 1960's-early 1970's.
Since then it has dwindled to a few hundred. However much of the town
infrastructure eg: water tanks, parks/sportsgrounds, hospital, cinema,
supermarket, swimming pool, etc is still there.]


One of the best sites to experience this event is within the Woomera Prohibited
Area (WPA).  As the WPA is still an active testing range access is restricted
and normally prohibited.

To make this event memorable, approval has been sought and permission granted to
allow the many international visitors access to the WPA. Access has been granted
with restrictions to stay within the designated viewing site.
----

Happy new year to you also!!

Arne
--
Arne Danielsen
Langhussenter 15, 1405 Langhus, Norway
mailto:arne.danielsen@oslo.online.no
http://arnedani.home.online.no/
N59°45'14"  E10°50'38" A115m
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Hallas" <tonyhallas@foothill.net>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 6:51 PM
Subject: Re: [APML] Images of the December 4th TSE from Koolymilka, Australia


Arne,

    Very impressive shots... especially considering your "impossible"
conditions... why is it called the "Prohibited Area" ?

    Have a Great New Year,

         Tony


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