Convenor's Invitation

We are pleased to invite you to IPS 2006, the 18^th International Planetarium Society Conference to be held in Melbourne, Australia, from 23-27 July 2006 at the Carlton Crest Hotel.

It is a great privilege to be hosting the first IPS conference in the Southern Hemisphere and there are a number of special activities planned to embrace the uniqueness of our location. To open the conference the world-renowned astrophotographer Professor David Malin will be giving the first Keynote Lecture. It would be surprising if anyone in the planetarium field hasn't been touched by David's beautiful photographs of the Universe; they may have even inspired you to enter the field of astronomy as was certainly the case for me. Australia's most lively and entertaining astronomer Dr Fred Watson will be certain to make the conference dinner a night to remember. As the Astronomer-In-Charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory, Fred is well-qualified to expound on the astronomical feats and adventures of observing the southern sky. He is also a marvellous story-teller and there's no knowing what tales may be exposed. With the theme "Under the Southern Skies" you can't get any further south for astronomy than Antarctica. Professor John Storey from the University of New South Wales will share his experiences of observing at the bottom end of the world, from surviving the cold and isolation to the wonder of dark and still nights that stretch on forever.

However, not only are we planning for delegates to be entertained and informed about the Southern sky but since we appreciate that many will be coming a long way for IPS 2006 we want to make sure that you get to experience the wonders for yourself! At the Night Sky Tour we will take a trip to the Astronomical Society of Victoria's Dark Sky Site situated 1.5 hours north of Melbourne, near the central Victorian town of Heathcote. It is rumoured that the sky there is so clear and dark that the Milky Way will cast a shadow - something you must see for yourself to believe. Remember that July in Australia is mid-winter and the perfect time for stargazing - although you will need your winter woolies. The richest part of the Milky Way, incorporating the Galactic Centre in Sagittarius, will be stretching high overhead. Members of the Society will provide their telescopes and astronomical expertise to showcase your favourite southern objects. Don't miss this opportunity to see the Southern sky first-hand!

At IPS 2006 we are also planning some fantastic demonstrations at the Melbourne Planetarium. We intend to run two vendor evenings, where our major sponsors will have the opportunity to demonstrate new technologies and/or present planetarium material of their choice. As we know from past conferences these vendor evenings are certainly a highlight and we will be doing all we can to ensure the smooth running of these events for vendors and delegates alike. In addition we would like to introduce the first Planetarium Showcase for an IPS conference. This will be an all-day event that runs in parallel with paper sessions at the main conference venue at the Carlton Crest Hotel. A series of 30-minute sessions will be made available to screen the latest planetarium show productions with first preference given to astronomy productions. We hope that the Showcase will provide an opportunity for those planetariums who are involved in producing their own shows to exhibit their work.

We are very excited to welcome IPS members to the Southern Hemisphere. We hope that we can make this a conference to remember. The IPS 2006 website is filled with information relevant to the conference including information about our special events - the Night Sky Tour and the keynote speakers - as well as more general information about visiting Melbourne, including travel and visa arrangements, local weather, time zones and currency information. Do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions; we are here to facilitate your participation in every way.

We look forward to seeing you at IPS 2006!

Dr Tanya Hill
Conference Convenor
Curator, Astronomy, Melbourne Planetarium
2 Booker St, Spotswood 3015
Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9392 4503
Fax: +61 3 9391 0100
Email: thill@museum.vic.gov.au

IPS President's Welcome

Welcome to IPS 2006

It is with great pleasure that I join the Australasian Planetarium Society in inviting you to IPS 2006: The Biennial Conference of the International Planetarium Society.

Never before has the IPS voted to hold a conference in the southern hemisphere. I am excited at the prospect of planetarians from all around the world meeting in Melbourne for four wonderful days in July.

In addition, in the southern hemisphere, the winter skies are stunning, with the Milky Way high in the sky and the rich region of our Galaxy in the vicinity of Scorpius and Sagittarius not far from the zenith.

I have been pleased and proud to have been a part of the Local Organising Committee here in Australia and especially to have been working with the staff of the Melbourne Planetarium which, through its main body Museum Victoria, is the host organisation for the Conference.

I am also delighted that International Convention Management Services ICMS, which continues to be so instrumental in the overall planning of the conference, has such a wonderful team with whom to work. I have personally also made several visits to the conference hotel - the Carlton Crest Hotel in the inner Melbourne suburb of St Kilda - and am delighted with the facilities there.

As I continue to travel the world visiting fellow planetarians, I have been most encouraged over the years by the enthusiasm to visit Australia.

Now, the time has come. I know that we are in for a superb conference.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Martin George
President
International Planetarium Society

APS President's Welcome

Dear IPS delegates

I take great pleasure in inviting you to attend the 18^th International Planetarium Society Conference in Melbourne, Australia.

Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands have had a long association with astronomy. This starts with the unique astronomical traditions of the indigenous peoples, and includes the great European voyages to the South Pacific some of which were largely motivated by astronomical discoveries. In more recent times, Australia and New Zealand have been at the forefront of astronomical research.

The general public in Australasia also have had a long fascination with astronomy. Since the Melbourne Planetarium opened on its original site in 1965, millions of visitors have sat under its dome. In this time planetaria have also spread to every corner of the region, from Perth to Wellington. While the Australasian Planetarium community may be relatively small by some standards, with nine fixed domes (and many more portables) it is a vibrant community covering the full range of planetarium styles and functions. We are proud of the innovative programming that features under all of our domes, large or small, and of our success in keeping the public informed and inspired by astronomy.

The Australasian Planetarium Society is proud to assist in hosting the IPS2006 Conference. I hope that you will be able to join us in Melbourne in July 2006 to meet with your colleagues in Australasia and around the world, 'Under the Southern Skies'.

Martin Bush
President
Australasian Planetarium Society