3RF Events and Activities

As a major part of 3RF's mission to promote interest & education in astronomy, we regularly support a number of local and regional star parties by providing and operating large, quality telescopes and running public Sky Tours for the benefit of those people wishing to attend those events.

Why do we do this? Because we know that so many of the people attending those events either do not have their own telescopes, or wonder what it would be like to observe through a larger telescope than they currently own or have access to.

A small selection of the events we support are listed below:

OzSky 2012: The OzSky Star Safari 15 - 26 February 2012 The "OzSky Star Safari" is an exclusive event hosted by 3RF Australia on the outskirts of Coonabarabran, New South Wales - The Astronomy Capital of Australia. OzSky's primary aim is to provide amateur astronomers from the Northern Hemisphere with not only a unique Australian cultural experience, but more importantly a unique opportunity to experience the grandeur of the southern night skies through a number of large, high quality astronomical instruments without the need to transport large telescopes from one side of the world to the other. Formerly known as the Deepest South Texas Star Safari due to it's founding attendees coming primarily from Texas, the new name "OzSky Star Safari" has recently been adopted to reflect the expanding demographic of amateur and professional astronomers now attending this popular event on a regular basis. OzSky 2012 will be held between 15 - 26 February 2012 with the observing portion scheduled for 19 - 25 February 2012. For more details including booking information and registration forms for this unique event, please visit our website at www.OzSky.org or email Info@3RF.com.au

South Pacific Star Party 19 - 22 April 2012 The annual South Pacific Star Party (SPSP) is a major star party hosted by the Astronomical Society of New South Wales and is one which 3RF has supported for a number of years. The 2011 SPSP will be held over the weekend of 19 - 22 April 2012. For the past several years 3RF has supported the SPSP by providing large telescopes for public Sky Tours on the Friday and Saturday nights, and has also donated door prizes of free private observings sessions using some of 3RF's largest telescopes.

Border StarGaze 15 - 19 August, 2012 The Border StarGaze is a star party hosted by the Astronomical Society of Albury-Wodonga and proudly supported by 3RF. The 2012 event will be held from 15 - 19 August 2012 at the 120 hectare (300 acre) Wymah Valley Retreat, 32km north of Albury, New South Wales. 3RF will again offer its support for Border StarGaze by providing a number of large telescopes for the Public Astronomy Sky Tours on the Friday and Saturday nights. Telescopes provided may include quality 14" and 18" telescopes for the benefit of those attending this event.

IceInSpace Astro Camp 27 - 30 October 2011 IceInSpace Astro Camp (IISAC) is a star party organised by the IceInSpace online community, and was held over 3 nights from 27 - 30 October 2011 at Lostock Scout Camp, Lostock in the beautiful Hunter Valley area of NSW. The location was chosen because of its proximity to Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle, and at under 4 hours drive from Sydney you'll be amongst clear, very dark skies in a lovely country setting. 3RF attended IISAC 10 again in 2011, and will continue support the event by providing and operating a number of large telescopes which may include quality 14" and 18" telescopes.

OzSky Alumni Star Safari 3 - 10 November 2010 Another of the main events being coordinated by 3RF Australia is the pilot OzSky Alumni Star Safari (OzSky Alumni), to be held annually near Coonabarabran, New South Wales - The Astronomy Capital of Australia. The OzSky Alumni Star Safari is an event which is aimed at providing past attendees of OzSky / Deepest South Texas Star Safari and anyone else with a dedicated observing week under the grandeur of the November southern skies without the need to transport large telescopes across the Pacific Ocean. The pilot 2010 OzSky Alumni was held from 3 - 10 November 2010.

Transit of Venus 6 June 2012 A transit of Venus occurs when Venus passes across the face of the Sun. The last transit occurred in 2004 and was gthe first since 1882. The next transit of Venus will occur on 6 June 2012, and will be visible in it's entirety from Sydney and most of Eastern Australia. The transit will commence at 8.16am (1st contact) and will end at 2.44pm (last contact). After this, The next transit of Venus won’t occur until 2117, so be sure to see this one! Volunteers from 3RF Australia will be involved in observing the 2012 Transit of Venus, and will be broadcasting live footage of the transit in conjunction with staff and volunteers of 3RF Sciences, LLC in Texas, USA.

2012 Total Solar Eclipse 14 November 2012 A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring all or part of the Sun for an observer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is equal to or larger than that of the Sun, and occurs in a narrow path across the surface of the Earth. Volunteers from 3RF Australia will be involved in observing the 2012 Total Solar Eclipse from nort of Cairns in Far North Queensland, and may also host a Star Party in conjunction with the eclipse at a venue yet to be determined. Watch this space for further information.