Karachi Astronomers Society (KaAS) are planning a star party event with off roading in Balochistan near Sindh at 26.247900° 66.718003°on Saturday 24th March and return back to Karachi on Sunday 25th March. This location was covered in dawn.com in our previous KAAS visit on February 2012. Here is the link to the article.
We are very close to Pakwheelers and together we go outside Karachi in search for Bortle 1 dark skies for watching the heavens of the deep skies in remote off roading locations. During the day time we explore and off road at exotic locations and then party out the whole night under the stars in deep skies with some of the finest telescopes in Pakistan. We have in our aresnal some of the most largest Telescopes in Pakistan. This article tells about what telescope do Pakistan has and which telescope KaAS have. We also do Astronomy public sessions in Karachi.
Whenever we go there, we do the following:
Offroading during the day to reach a particular destination and then observe the night sky in general
Discuss about the upcoming major celestial or Astronomical events
Watch Galaxies, Nebulae and Planets through telescopes in the deep skies.
Enjoy food, tea and darkness
Enjoy the traveling, observe the mountains, sky and the great land of Pakistan
Enjoy photography
And lot of fun
The first ever trip with Pakwheels was 2 years back in 2010. The first event was successful and amazing. We went to Nani Mandir, Hingol National Park. The post about the event can be found here. Such a wonderful event it was.
KaAS is planning its next Rutjaga (meaning, an event when one stays for a night). The details are:
Rutjaga: AlBeruni R-18 Date: 24/25th March 2012
Venue: KaAS Base Camp @ Baluchistan near Sindh at coordinates 26.247900° 66.718003° This is a very safe location in Balochistan close to Sindh. Its also safe for families and kids.
Distance: 200Km from Karachi
Elevation: ~3000ft (we search for higher regions as we want to have more clear skies and a clear Horizon). There are other amazing spots within this location going upto 4000 feet.
Off-Roading to KAAS base camp: 20-25Kms
Cost Per Person: ~ Rs. 3500/- (or less as on previous visit it costed us approx 2500/person). We will share the cost Fuel of SUVs and for Food on actual cost.
Participants having SUVs may bring there own SUVs and can accommodate those participants who doesn't have one. The fuel cost can then be shared equally. We currently have 2 SUVs. We are also looking at option of hiring Mazda bus as it has high ground clearance and good for at off roading till KAAS base camp.
Your own warm cloths, tents, sleeping bag and Snacks.
KaAS went to the same place Feb 2012 and the event was covered by Dawn.com. Here is the link to the article.
Those who are interested to join us for the event may register here so we can contact and send you guys the invites. This registration is not just for this event but once registered you will be notified of our future events too. After registration you can tell us here at the Forums about your attendance