Under these
Australian Skies, or my winter
vacation in August

Chuck Grant

   So I went to Australia.  It wasn't my idea really, I had to go for work. Not that I didn't want to go, I thought it was a great idea, especially the part about not having to pay for it myself, but I wouldn't have picked the end of winter, and just before the 2000 Olympics. Luckily, I would be there for a New Moon. I had some goals for the trip. I wanted to hook up with an astronomy club and use a telescope while down there for at least one night. I wanted to see lots of sights and exotic wildlife and ride some trains, and I wanted to get a little feel for what it would be like to live in Australia. I think I made it.

   I kind of had the whole schedule of the trip in limbo depending on the weather. I was willing to ditch any part at the last minute if it looked like that was going to be my only chance to observe. I had two weekends scheduled for observing, and as it turned out, the very first night made the whole trip worthwhile.

   One of  the first things I do when I arrive is look up Sydney's Binocular and  Telescope Shop (http://www.bintel.com.au). It is on a street one block away from my hotel, and the street numbers differ by only about 400, so I think it is about five blocks away and I set out walking.  Before too long I figure out that street numbers work a little differently in this city.  A difference of 400 means not four blocks, but about 400 different addresses between here and there.

   An hour later, I make it to the shop. I am warmly greeted by Mike Smith, the proprietor, while Don Whiteman is talking eyepieces with a customer. (I had conversed with Mike via email previously.) They are extremely friendly, and I load up with books about the southern sky. After chatting a bit, they seem to be shocked  that my main telescope is only 24 inches, and it takes me a few seconds too long before I can

On the following page, Chuck describes his reaction to observing the Tarantula Nebula for the first time. This object is well know for its detailed filamentary structure and extraordinary green nebulosity. Shown here is cluster Hodge 301 (Hubble Space Telescope image.)

come back with, "Oh well, that's my portable  telescope."  I am rewarded with "Nice try, a little slow, but you're  catching on."  This is typical of the level of seriousness for much of my adventure to follow.

   I mention that I am looking for a star party, and Don invites me to one that very evening. Perfect. I couldn't have planned it better, except that I would be observing most of the night Friday when I had been awake pretty much solid since Wednesday morning (plus or minus six time zones and the international date line).

   At 4 p.m. we head to his house in the suburbs. Just as it is just starting to get dark, I look up to see a bright red star overhead. I have been warned already that Scorpius will be overhead, so I recognize the star and the asterism, but that does not reduce any of the weirdness.  Away from the horizon, the asterism looks smaller (probably like the moon illusion). I glance down toward the horizon, not knowing what direction I am facing. It takes me about two seconds to determine this must be south.  I observe six stars that I have never seen before, yet I immediately know them, and could not have possibly mistaken them for anything else: Alpha and Beta Centari, and Crux. 

   I do expect the experience of seeing the southern sky to be really good, but I do not anticipate a big emotional reaction. In that moment, however,  it is as if I am whisked away to a magical land where fairy
                   (Continued on page 8)

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