The Programme Committee is very pleased to present the programme for NACAA XXIII. This is undeniably the biggest and best NACAA ever, with over 40 speakers, 8 workshops and round-tables, 3 plenary speakers, and a symposium to boot. The programme is so full that we are having to run parallel streams for most of the four days. We are confident that you will enjoy the wide variety of presentations over the Easter weekend. Click here for the full schedule.

Our distinguished speakers are:

• Keynote address: Professor Matthew Colless, "The Future of Australian Optical Astronomy"
• Dinner address: Professor Ray Norris, "Aboriginal Australians: the World's First Astronomers?"
• Plenary address: Dr Arne Henden, "The Amateur Scientist in Modern Society"

There are a number of round-table and special interest group sessions:

• "The International Year of Astronomy: Opportunities for the Amateur Community", Helen Sim (ATNF), Robert Hollow (ATNF), David Malin (AAO ret.), and John O'Byrne (UofSyd)
• "Asteroid Research and Amateur Input", Col Bembrick
• "How You Can Help the AAVSO", Arne Henden (AAVSO)
• "Planning, Operation and Administration of Very Large Amateur
  Telescopes", Barry Adcock (ASV)

The Second Trans-Tasman Symposium on Occultations will be held in conjunction with NACAA XXIII. The Symposium will commence on the afternoon of Sunday March 23, and continue through Monday March 24.

A number of hands-on half-day and full-day workshops will be held on Friday March 21 and Monday March 24:

• "Precision CCD Photometry", Arne Henden (Friday PM)
• "Modern Lens Design Techniques", Barry Adcock (Friday PM)
• "Light Curve Analysis of Contact Binary Stars", Surjit S Wadhwa (Monday all-day)
• "Occultations: Observing and Analysis", as part of 2-TTSO (Monday PM)

Note: Attendance at these workshops and symposia may be limited, and you will need to register separately for them. A charge will apply to cover room hire, catering and materials costs.