/ 26th National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers
Melbourne, Victoria
April 18-21, 2014

BULLETIN 1

AN INVITATION

The 26th NACAA will be held over Easter 2014, Friday April 18 to Monday April 21, hosted by the Astronomical Society of Victoria. The NACAA XXVI committees invites everyone interested in the "cutting-edge" of amateur astronomy to attend.

We are working to ensure that the programme will include an exciting mix of invited speakers, technical sessions, group discussions, hands-on workshops, and social functions. The 2014 Berenice Page medal is expected to be presented at the convention dinner. The Sunday night BBQ will be held at the Melbourne Observatory complex in the Botanical Gardens.

The venue for NACAA XXVI is the Rydges Bell City, 215 Bell Street, Preston. Situated in northern Melbourne, Preston is about fifteen minutes by car from Melbourne Airport. It is easily accessed by road via the Hume Freeway, Metropolitan Ring Road and other motorways, and by regular rail services to Bell. As well, the #86 tram travels from central Melbourne (Bourke Street) to the corner of Bell Street and Plenty Road in around 35 minutes.

Registrations for NACAA XXVI will commence in late 2013. A number of registration packages will be available, ranging from attendance at just one or two sessions or workshops, through to a full convention, dinner and BBQ package.

PROGRAMME

The core of the convention is of course its presentations, and we are asking you to consider making a contribution, by yourself or in a group. There are no restrictions on topics or themes, so long as the contribution is significant and interesting. Here are a few suggestions:

An address or poster

·  on an observational (or desk-bound) research programme you are involved in;

·  on a significant development in instrumentation and tools: optical, imaging, computational, electronic, whatever ...

·  on your progress with a significant project or programme, national or worldwide;

·  to share your imaging successes with an appreciative audience;

·  an entertaining address aimed at promoting the enjoyment of astronomy;

·  on a significant club or local activity;

·  on an interesting piece of astronomical history.

A workshop or round-table meeting

·  on an observing or research technique you use;

·  helping amateurs move to a more advanced plane of astronomical activity;

·  with likeminded specialists to discuss or plan your field;

·  on an educational or outreach activity;

You can submit a proposal for consideration by the PC by completing the form on the NACAA website http://www.nacaa.org.au/2014/submission. The full submissions guidelines can be obtained from http://www.nacaa.org.au/2014/cfp.


Submissions should be made before

·  2013 October 1 for workshops, colloquia, or symposia,

·  2013 November 1 for oral presentations or round-tables,

·  2014 March 1 for posters.

If you have any questions about contributing to NACAA XXVI, you can contact the programme committee by email at or via the NACAA web site.

CONTACT US

You will be able to find up-to-the-minute details about NACAA XXVI, and can contact the committee members, at the NACAA web site http://www.nacaa.org.au. Our postal address is PO Box 188, Plumpton NSW 2761. Email enquiries should be sent to .

/ NACAA Inc
Since it commenced in 1967, the National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers has encouraged people from around Australia to share their knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the diverse aspects of amateur astronomy.
NACAA Inc was formed in December 2006 to ensure that this tradition will continue on into the future. Visit our website for more information.
ABN 23-502-070-992 / http://www.nacaa.org.au

PO Box 188, Plumpton NSW 2761