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The Conference Registration fee is $30 per person.
Conference Dinner is $50
The Central West of NSW boasts some of the darkest skies in Australia, and as such is a wonderful place to appreciate the wonders of the night sky. In an effort to foster, encourage and promote astronomy in the region, the Central West Astronomical Society is holding its annual festival of astronomy, or AstroFest, this July. The festival endeavours to bring to the people of the Central West world renowned astronomers, both professional and amateur, so they may share their enthusiasm and love of the heavens.
The CWAS AstroFest will incorporate a one day conference and a programme of associated events. The conference will be held in the Coventry Room of Parkes Shire Council's Library and Cultural Centre on Saturday, 14 July 2012. In a series of lectures, guest speakers will provide fascinating insights into various aspects of modern astronomy. On Sunday, 15 July, events will move to the CSIRO Parkes Observatory Visitors Centre with a programme of daytime astronomy and talks.
On Saturday night, 14 July, the conference dinner will be held at the Comfort Inn Parkes International Hotel.
Click here for Accommodation Information in Parkes: http://www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/about/1012.html
Click Here to view the highlights video of the 2011 AstroFest.
The Associated Events:
- An astrophotography competition will be open to all amateur astronomers in Australia. An exhibition of the best photographs will be on display at the Parkes Observatory Visitors Centre. Dr David Malin, the world-renowned astrophotographer, will judge the entries. The "David Malin Awards" will be presented at a special ceremony held during the conference dinner on Saturday, 14 July. Following the AstroFest, the exhibition will tour to various venues across Australia beginning with Sydney Observatory. Canon Australia is supporting the competition with significant prizes.
- From 10:00AM on the Sunday morning, 15 July, a daytime astronomy viewing will be conducted at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory's Visitors Centre. CWAS members will have various telescopes setup in the grounds of the Visitors Centre, for viewing the bright stars, planets, the Sun and the Moon during daylight (weather permitting). Breakfast and lunch will be available at the dish cafe.
- At 11:00AM on Sunday morning, 15 July, a talk on the history of the Parkes Observatory's role in space tracking (including the 50th anniversary of the Mariner 2 flyby of Venus and the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity), will be given by John Sarkissian in the Visitors Centre lecture theatre.
The Conference Programme: Saturday, 14th July, 2012
Venue: The Coventry Room of Parkes Shire Council's Library and Cultural Centre - Find map here
| 10:00-11:00 | Dr Lisa Harvey-Smith (CASS): "The SKA has a home (or two): so what happens next?" |
| 11:30-12:30 | Terry Lovejoy (SAS): "Comet Hunting in the Digital Age" |
| 12:30-13:30 | Lunch - Provided for all registrants |
| 13:30-14:30 | Dr Marta Burgay (Cagliari Observatory, Sardinia): "The Double Pulsar and the Sardinia Radio Telescope" |
| 15:30-16:30 | Civic Reception: Coventry Room at Parkes Shire Library and Cultural Centre. Hosted by Mayor, Cr Ken Keith |
| 16:30-17:30 | Dr Nick Lomb (Sydney Observatory/PHM): "The Transits of Venus" - The John Bolton Lecture |
So come along and see the Real Thing, enjoy the hospitality of the Central West and share an unforgettable astronomical experience. See you there.
CWAS AstroFest
Organising Committee
The 2012 CWAS AstroFest is proudly supported by
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