Beginners Night in the Field (BNF)

Full information can be found here Beginners Curriculum

LOCATION Forest Trail Park

PARKING?

Please register at the gate for COVID-19 and get your allocated site# before being directed towards your parking spot.  Note that you must park with the rear of your car facing the car park. 

REMINDER

• You will be required to reconfirm your social distancing statement and wear a mask when required.

• Please bring only torches with RED light to preserve our night visibility.  You could wrap red tape or cellophane over a normal torch.

• Must bring your own telescope with your own eyepieces.

• If your telescope needs power, then please ensure it's fully charged or new batteries inserted or 12V adapter to the car or 12V portable power bank.  ***Rechargeable batteries are NOT recommended for astro trackers as their voltage is lower e.g., 1.2V instead of 1.5V for AA ***

• Finderscope is battery-powered e.g., CR2032 and such so please also bring spare finderscope batteries.

• If your scope is a Celestron Starsense Explorer, then please install its app (same name) on your mobile phone. The app requires the Unlock Code on a card shipped with your Starsense telescope.

• Warm Clothes – Highly recommended gloves, beanie and warm jackets and jumpers in cold weather. Layers!

• We start an hour before Sunset to allow the setup of the scope whilst there’s daylight. The finish time will be around 9:30pm.

• Dinner BYO!! Restroom is available on site.

FINAL GO or NO-GO?

1. You will receive an email by noon on the day if the event is cancelled due to cloudy or bad weather and as such this event will be rescheduled for the following Saturday.

2. If you must cancel, then please reply to this email immediately.

IMPORTANT

For Beginners Night in the Field you need to bring your own telescope and your telescope MUST be of a suitable standard and not a “my friend bought this 10 years ago and gifted it to me”. These scopes typically will not help you learn and will more than likely stop you from learning what you need to know and frustrate you (and us). If it’s old and worn but has sentimental value – put it on the shelf and leave it there. If you are wondering if your telescope is suitable please drop us a line at nsas@nsas.org.au and we will let you know.