News Blog

News on what’s been happeing in BAS.

Calvert – Location & Facilities

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Calvert Dark-Sky Telescope Site – Bourkes Road West, Calvert

BAS has been very kindly invited to utilize the privately owned facilities of the Calvert Radio Aeromodelling Field, also known as Gratton Field, located on Bourkes Road, West, just south of the hamlet of Calvert.  The site is about a 1 hour, 70km, drive from the Brisbane CBD via Walloon and Rosewood.

The location is recognised by two names searchable within Google Maps:

  • Calvert Aero Modelling Society
  • Gratton Field

If driving from Brisbane, head for Rosewood. Then take the Rosewood Laidley Rd west for 7.6km. Just after the first right-hand curve in the road look for two small bus stop shelters. Immediately after turn left into Calvert Station Road, cross the rail line and creek and immediately turn left into Bourke Rd, West. Proceed 260m to a gate entrance on the right with two white flag poles. Drive down the lane at no more than 30kph and you have arrived.  And, don’t forget to bring your $10 to compensate the facilities owner.  This will be collected by one of the attendees and left in the clubhouse for the site owner.  This helps offset the costs for site mowing, maintenance, facilities, and power etc.

Google Maps link to Calvert location: HERE  Search Google maps with either of these terms: “Calvert Aero Modelling Society” or “Gratton Field”

What3Words link to Calvert location: HERE or here: https://w3w.co/logos.recycle.helpful

Calvert entrance gate with two white flag poles.

The gate at the far end of the entrance lane, opening into the car parking area, is usually shut to keep cows out.  Please leave the gate as you found it- usually shut.

Please do not drive vehicles beyond the car parking area and into the model aircraft flight area (where the windmill is).  Tyre ruts can damage delicate landing gear and expensive aircarft.

The facilities comprise plenty of grassed open space.  Telescopes may be set up on the grassed carpark or on the flying field.  No vehicles to be driven onto the flying field.  The sunshade structures have 240V power outlets, available to BAS astronomers. 

The main clubhouse building has a kitchen, microwave oven, and refrigerators we may use.  Nearby is a toilet block.

Camping is permitted.  Either camp or park your vehicle in the main car parking area, or you can take your sleeping bag (and a camp bed/stretcher would be a good idea) into the main dining room area. Please leave the site as clean and tidy as you found it, or better.

BAS has New Moon weekend dates booked for the Calvert site and listed on our website calendar:  https://bas.asn.au/calendars/bas-members-event-calendar/

BAS members may utilize the site 365 days provided the owner is alerted prior to visiting.  Contact the BAS President to arrange permission to visit.  A $10 fee is payable per visitor.

The Calvert site has excellent facilities:

  • Kitchen with microwave ovens, BBQ facilities, refrigerators.
  • 240v power and running water
  • Dining hall with tables and chairs
  • Toilets and shower facilities
  • 240v power is also available along the flying field awnings
  • Extensive flat mown grassed areas.
  • Plenty of room for camping.
Some of the main facilities at the Calvert Aeromodelling Field.
Kitchen and dining hall area.

Online Astronomy Educational Resources

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At our March 2021 meeting, BAS member Greg Newman, gave a talk on the extensive “library” of online resources for astronomy education. Options range from short videos to comprehensive pay-to-learn university programs, and everything in between. Greg’s presentation slides, and list of selected resource sites, are available here in PDF format.

Excellent introduction to astronomy

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Openstax.org is an initiative of Rice University that provides free educational materials to students world-wide.  In January 2020 Openstax published a web version of their textbook – Astronomy. This text provides an excellent introduction to many aspects of astronomy, from the fundamental science to galaxies, quasar, black holes and beyond.  This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning more about astronomy. Get web access to the book here.

BAS Observing Nights Recommence

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2020 Observing Nights Get Started - Again

Saturday July 18th, 2020, a memorable night.

COVID-19 has delivered us a very disrupted year.  BAS hopes all of its members, and their families, have escaped the worst aspects of the disruption and everyone is safe and well. However, we have all been starved of telescope and astro-camera time under the stars in recent months. But last Saturday night delivered at least one form of antidote to our frustrations.

Our members conducted members-only observing evenings at our Maleny Golf Club and Harding’s Paddock sites. The sky was exceptionally clear and steady – exactly what we needed. Both sites were well supported by members and the planets put on a show for everyone.

Maleny plans to conduct another members-only night on Saturday, July 25th.  So, start packing your gear. You might just get to glimpse a comet too.

BAS member – achievement award

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BAS Member's - Achievement Award

Congratulations to Dr Ken Wishaw for being recognised by the Queensland amateur astronomy community for research into human eye dark adaptation and the effects of red/amber light on adaptation speed and effectiveness. During 2018 Ken conduced research with volunteer astronomers at the Queensland Astrofest and Sunshine Coast BAS astronomy evenings, held at the Maleny Golf Club. His research found that the common red-wavelength light astronomers have been using for decades to protect night vision and speed dark adaptation, may not be the most efficient wavelength for in-door and at-the-scope lighting. Ken found that a more amber/orange wavelength may in fact be a better option.  Read more on the details of Ken’s research HERE.

Ken was recognised for this research at the 2019 Queensland Combined Astronomy Societies meeting held on December 6th at the University of Queensland. Well done Ken.

Ken also delivered an excellent talk at the meeting outlining the formation, objectives and recent achievements of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance.  Ken is one of the founding members of this initiative to help protect the night skies of Australia from the ravages of light pollution. Again, well done Ken.

Meritorious achievement award

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Tony and Anne-Louise meritorious achievement award

The South-East Queensland Combined Astronomy Societies annual meeting was held on Friday December 6th at the University of Queensland. BAS is very proud to announce that two of our most hard working members – Tony and Anne-Louise Surma-Hawes – were recognised by the Queensland amateur astronomy community for their many years of commitment and effort invested into the planning, delivery and management of the annual Queensland Astrofest event. For many years, Tony and Anne-Louise have been the BAS representatives on the organising committee for this multi-society event. Tony and Anne-Louise put in countless hours each year, that BAS members never see, to make the Queensland Astrofest one of the most highly regarded astronomy festivals on the planet. So, a very big thank you to Tony and Anne-Louise.  May the Astofest-force continue to be with you for many more years to come.

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Gilmour Space Technologies speaks to BAS

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Gilmour Space Technologies speaks to BAS

A very big thank you to Peter Kinne, head of sales for Gilmnour Space Technologies, for speaking at our October 2019 monthly meeting. It’s not often you get the chance to handle a chunk of rocket fuel – thank you Peter for bringing it along for show & tell. Now we all have a much better understanding of hybrid rocket technology and why this is likely to be Australia’s next pathway to space. BAS looks forward with huge anticipation to the next GST rocket launch.

2019 BAS Astro-Quiz

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2019 BAS Astro-Quiz

At our July monthly meeting we held the annual BAS Astro Quiz for 2019. While surreptitious use of Google and Wikpedia were not endorsed at the meeting you are now free to give the quiz a try at home with every astro-resource available to you. No answers provided here, you will just have to do your own research. A PDF version of the quiz slides is available for download: Click Here

Laser Pointer Safety and BAS Policy

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Laser Pointer Safety and BAS Policy

Brisbane Astronomical Society has a duty of care for public safety at its astronomical events. One potential area of risk to BAS Members, and the public, is the use of laser pointers either attached to a telescope or operated by hand. This Laser Pointer Safety Training Lecture material, and 23-point Laser Safety Policy, is designed to alert BAS members to potential dangers and risks associated with laser pointer use, and to guide BAS members in laser operational procedures that should help minimize the potential for adverse incident or personal injury. BAS members seeking to use a laser pointer at a BAS astronomical event are required to be certified that they have undertaken basic training in the safe operation of a laser pointer and understand some of the common risks associated with laser pointer use. The BAS Laser Pointer Safety Training materials, and 23-point Laser Safety Policy, and Certification application form, are available for PDF document download: Click Here

The Certification application form, alone, is available as a PDF document download: Click Here

August 2018 Meeting – Astronomy in Antarctica

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August 2018 Meeting – Astronomy in Antarctica

Astronomy in Antarctica. It seems a strange place to locate a telescope. Most of us find a SE Queensland winter a sufficient challenge to operate a telescope. However, BAS member, Mike Zupanc, who has actually lived and worked in Antarctica, explained to us just why the frozen continent is one of the best places on Earth for a few specific forms of astronomy. For one, the atmospheric turbulence we experience in temperate and tropical zones from jet streams and moving high and low-pressure systems and pestering clouds, are not an issue on the high dome regions of central Antarctica. Moisture is also never a problem as it instantly freezes to ice on the ice pack. So, telescopes are free of dust and condensation and can even track circumpolar objects continuously at certain times of the year. We even learned that the University of NSW has an entirely autonomous telescope operating in Antarctica. That is an impressive feat. Most of us have enough trouble keeping our telescopes operating for a few hours within arm’s reach.

Thank you Mike for a really informative talk.