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Re: [APML] A Southern Gem
The hotel is not a five star by any means, I would rate it about the
same as a clean Econo Lodge, Comfort Inn, Motel 7 and the like.
I only stayed there two nights, one when I drove up and one when I drove
back. I don't think it had a pool, I believe it had a dinner though (I
can check with some RAAF people to verify). The rooms were very clean,
bed was in good shape, can't remember if it had a bar since I brought my
own cooler with beer and LOTS of water and ice.
There are lights around the hotel/motel itself, but the Ayers rock
resort has plenty of floodlights.
If you were to talk to the people on one of the local farms they would
probably be more than willing to allow you to set up a few miles in on
their property. The highway is not lit so the only problems are local
lighting.
You do not want to drive at night, it is risky to say the least. The
roos love to jump out in front of your car, so do the cattle. Oncomming
traffic can be seen for a good (very long) distance.
There is another hotel/roadhouse that is about halfway between the Sturt
highway and Ayers rock. I'm not sure about the accomodations. A
delicious steak supper with desert (no drinks, I still had to drive)
cost a whole $12Aus so about $8.50US. I tipped $8 and stunned the owner,
he asked why the big tip. I told him it was the best meal I'd had in the
last seven months. He told me "Mate, if you'd said that before I
wouldn'a charged ya". And I think he was only half joking.
The stars were absolutely stunning and I deeply regret not being into
astronomy or astrophotography during my stay down there.
The place at Ayers rock is a full blown resort with everything you could
ask for, including flood lights. But the cost for all of that racks up
really fast.
Easter seemed to be the best time to go there as the temperatures were
quite acceptable, and cloud cover was a non item.
I guess that it depends on budget and whether you are bringing a family
along with you.
I can track down more information, e-mail me off group and I will
contact some friends in Adelaide to do some digging.
George Anderson
Montreal Canada
Still trying to convince my employer that I need to go back, just to
verify that everything is still working.
> > George,
> > How would you rate the Erlduna Hotel compared to the hotels at Ayers Rock?
> > What amenities does it offer?
> > Are the skies as dark there or is a drive to Ayers a given?
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > ================
> > Chris Cook
> > http://www.abmedia.com/astro
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: George Anderson <georgea@CAM.ORG>
> > To: astro-photo@seds.org <astro-photo@seds.org>
> > Date: Sunday, June 18, 2000 7:37 PM
> > Subject: Re: [APML] A Southern Gem
> >
> >
> > >If you go to Oz, don't stay at Ayers Rock (Uluru). The hotel cost there
> > >is a little more than steep. At the junction of the Sturt highway that
> > >runs from Darwin to Port Augusta and the highway that runs to Ayers Rock
> > >is the Erlduna Hotel. When I stayed there in 96 it was $69 a night
> > >versus $350 at the rock resort.
> > >Of course if you are camping, the cost is even lower at the rock.
> > >Time to the rock from Erlduna was abouut 1.5 hours.
> > >
> > >George Anderson
> > >Montreal Canada
> > >
> > >Clear skies and good health
> > >Chris & Jennifer Cook wrote:
> > >>
> > >> John - Thanks for the image info.
> > >>
> > >> As far as Chile vs. Australia, I know there are hotels around Ayers
> Rock
> > to
> > >> stay at but what about in Chile? Michael, I know you and J. Foster
> have
> > >> stayed on the observatory grounds down there... was it at Las Campanas?
> > >> Since I do not know someone down there, where would one stay during a
> > >> astrophoto expedition? The Cerro Paranal region sounds unbelievable
> but
> > I
> > >> cannot believe they would allow amateurs to set up on the mountain. I
> > would
> > >> be grateful for any info people have. I'm thinking of planning a trip
> > down
> > >> south for 2002.
> > >>
> > >> Chris
> > >>
> > >> ===============
> > >> Chris Cook
> > >> http://www.abmedia.com/astro
> > >>
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: John Gleason <dvj@earthlink.net>
> > >> To: astro-photo@seds.org <astro-photo@seds.org>
> > >> Date: Sunday, June 18, 2000 9:49 AM
> > >> Subject: Re: [APML] A Southern Gem
> > >>
> > >> >I know who took that image. Mike Bessell at the AAT. That was a CCD
> > image
> > >> >done with a 2048 x 2048 chip and Hassy lens.
> > >> >That particular region of the sky is amazing when it is at the zenith.
> > >> I'll
> > >> >post you an image.
> > >> >
> > >> >http://www.celestialimage.com/page3.html
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >John Gleason,
> > >> >dvj@earthlink.net
> > >> >
> > >> >Celestial Images Web Site:
> > >> >http://www.celestialimage.com
> > >> >----- Original Message -----
> > >> >From: "Chris & Jennifer Cook" <ccjd@ix.netcom.com>
> > >> >To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
> > >> >Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2000 10:46 PM
> > >> >Subject: Re: [APML] A Southern Gem
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >> I think however that you
> > >> >> >would be able to do much better in the southern hemisphere. With
> IC
> > >> 4628
> > >> >> >near the zenith you would be able to expose much deeper. That
> entire
> > >> >field
> > >> >> >is loaded with nebulosity and dark stuff.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Indeed it is. I saw a shot of the whole southern Scorpius region
> in a
> > ad
> > >> >> for a product. I think part of the name was Swinbourne? It was in
> > S&T a
> > >> >> few months back. The photo should nebulosity extending countless
> > degrees
> > >> >> around IC4628. Don't know who took it? An great image though.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Chris
> > >> >>
> > >> >> ================
> > >> >> Chris Cook
> > >> >> http://www.abmedia.com/astro
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >John Gleason,
> > >> >> >dvj@earthlink.net
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >Celestial Images Web Site:
> > >> >> >http://www.celestialimage.com
> > >> >> >----- Original Message -----
> > >> >> >From: "Michael Stecker" <mstecker@earthlink.net>
> > >> >> >To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
> > >> >> >Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2000 8:07 AM
> > >> >> >Subject: Re: [APML] A Southern Gem
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >> Chris Cook wrote:
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >> > > Hi all,
> > >> >> >> > > I've posted the first image from the June outing on Mt.
> Laguna.
> > >> >> >> > > The image is of the region surrounding the emission nebula
> > IC4628
> > >> >in
> > >> >> >> > > southern Scorpius at -41dec.
> > >> >> >> > > Even from Mt. Laguna at 33deg N, this area does not get that
> > high
> > >> >> >above
> > >> >> >> > the
> > >> >> >> > > southern horizon. I needed a transparent night and some
> > elevation
> > >> >to
> > >> >> >get
> > >> >> >> > > this sucker. The first weekend in June provided the
> > transparency
> > >> >and
> > >> >> >Mt.
> > >> >> >> > > Laguna provided the 5600ft of altitude.
> > >> >> >> > > I'm pretty pleased with the result considering its very low
> > >> >elevation
> > >> >> >and
> > >> >> >> > > the so so seeing that night. A light to moderate wind was
> also
> > >> >> >present
> > >> >> >> > > during the evening.
> > >> >> >> > >
> > >> >> >> > > URL of image:
> http://www.abmedia.com/astro/current/ic4628.html
> > >> >> >> > >
> > >> >> >> > > .......I think I need to make a trip down to Australia.
> Then I
> > >> can
> > >> >> >shoot
> > >> >> >> > > this overhead...<g>
> > >> >> >> > >
> > >> >> >> > >
> > >> >> >> > > Chris
> > >> >> >> > >
> > >> >> >> > > =================
> > >> >> >> > > Chris Cook
> > >> >> >> > > http://www.abmedia.com/astro
> > >> >> >> >
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >> Hello Chris:
> > >> >> >> Excellent photo! I do not think you would do much better in
> > the
> > >> >> >southern
> > >> >> >> hemisphere. Tony Hallas shot the same area from southern
> > California a
> > >> >> few
> > >> >> >years
> > >> >> >> ago and also got very good results.
> > >> >> >> You actually would get better weather if you went to
> northern
> > >> >Chile
> > >> >> >than
> > >> >> >> Australia. I have been to Siding Springs Observatory, Alice
> > Springs
> > >> >and
> > >> >> >Ayers
> > >> >> >> Rock in Australia as well as Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.
> > Chile
> > >> >> was
> > >> >> >far
> > >> >> >> superior. When there we had 10 out of 10 clear nights. Also,
> the
> > >> >seeing
> > >> >> >was
> > >> >> >> the best I have ever encountered. That's why Chile is where the
> > >> >> >professionals
> > >> >> >> are building all their large southern observatories.
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >> Michael Stecker
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >> --
> > >> >> >> Michael Stecker
> > >> >> >> mstecker@earthlink.net
> > >> >> >> http://www.homestead.com/mstecker/index.html
> > >> >> >> http://www.homestead.com/astromike/astrohp.html
> > >> >> >> http://www.homestead.com/astromike/astrogallery.html
> > >> >> >> http://www.homestead.com/mstecker/placesindex.html
> > >> >> >> http://www.homestead.com/astromike/peopleindex.html
> > >> >> >> http://mstecker.homestead.com/index.html
> > >> >> >> http://www.homestead.com/mstecker/nepalgeo.html
> > >> >> >> http://www.homestead.com/mstecker/iceberg.html
> > >> >> >> http://mstecker.homestead.com/anttxt.html
> > >> >> >> http://mstecker.homestead.com/egyptgeo.html
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >> -- APML Archives at <http://www.system.missouri.edu/apml/> ---
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> > >> >> >>
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >
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> > >> >>
> > >> >>
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> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
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> --- John Gleason
> --- dvj@earthlink.net
> --- EarthLink: It's your Internet.
>
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