Mangrove Mountain (Pony Club) January Observing Night(s)

[Allan_L]

Long range forecast indicates next Saturday 17 January may be good for viewing.
This may be a last chance to get a view of Comet Lovejoy C2014Q2.
This was spectacular at our December viewing, especially through Wild Thing ! But it is heading North and will be out of sight by end of January (I believe).
Moon won't be an issue, not rising until 2am.
Any interest?

[MortonH]

I'd be up for it. Haven't managed to see Lovejoy from a dark site so far.

[GTB_an_Owl]

i should be ok

geoff

[Allan]

Thanks Al. Yep, I can make this one. Looks like the moon rises just before 4.

[Rodstar]

Hi guys,

Sorry to say that my daughter is having a sleepover party at our place that night with half a dozen 12 year olds. If I'm not at home there'll be hell to pay for. I am hoping possibly to organise something for the Sunday night over the Australia Day long weekend instead. Will let everyone know once specifics are worked out.

[jakob]

This could be plan B for me.
I'm planning to head to Wiruna Fri-Sunday. But as with all good plans, it may change!

[MortonH]

I'm definitely in.

Just to confirm - is this the Pony Club or somewhere else?

[Allan_L]

YES Morton.
(Weather Permitting) Mangrove Mountain Pony Club.
2986 Wisemans Ferry Road
GPS -33.338114(S); 151.157222(E)

Sunset: 8:05pm
I plan to arrive about 7:45pm

FREE admission
All Welcome (Especially Newbies and First Timers)
(BYO Everything!)
Telescope or Binoculars recommended, but not essential.

[ausastronomer]

At this stage Rod, Phil Townsend and I will be heading to the Pony Club on Sunday 25/1 which is the Sunday of the Australia Day weekend.

Phil will be bringing his "Purple Photon Eater" (28"/F3.3 SDM) and I will be bringing my 14"/F4.5 Zambuto powered SDM. I believe "The Mary Rose" will spend the night at home, which gives Rod a night off from transport and set up of a large scope.

I hope to catch up with a few people there.

Cheers,
John B

[Allan]

Hi John. I am doing the Pony Club this Saturday, and will probably come on the 25th as well. My only question is, being the Australia Day long weekend will the Pony Club or Jump Club be using the place for their competitions?

[Allan_L]

Their web site is closed down
And their Facebook Page has little or no information except this general comment:


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mangrove-Mountain-Pony-Club/189474601081704

[GTB_an_Owl]

i think the Jump Club have a training day on sunday the 25th

geoff

[gb_astro]

So wouldn't they be packing up in the pm?

Greg.

[ausastronomer]

I was thinking the same thing. I planned to arrive around 7pm and I figure they would be long gone by then.

Cheers
John B

[GTB_an_Owl]

yes i would think so too

geoff

[gb_astro]

Would be good to phone someone in the jump club to confirm no one is going to camp overnight there though?

Greg.

[Inmykombi]

Looks like I can go tonight. It is possible that af few of the local Monks from the Monastery at Mangrove Creek will be there as well. I worked there last week and every time I go there for work, they ask me about the Stars and the Sky. They are interested to see what is up there. If they arrive, please make them welcome. You should be able to recognise them dressed in Black. Cheers.

[Fizics]

Unable to make it tonight .....maybe next weekend.

[Allan_L]

Looks like being a good night tonight, not so sure about next weekend.

Packing of van in progress.

7:45 still my planned time of arrival.

Newcomers welcome.

[Allan_L]

looks like just a normal day (not a camp-over)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Coast-Showjumping-Club/132956200156342?sk=timeline

[glend]

So how were conditions last night at the Pony Club? The seeing ,looked pretty ordinary up my way at 10pm but had improved considerably by 1130 .

[Allan]

I would say the seeing was just ok, maybe 3/5. The SQM was 21.27, which surprised me as it seemed brighter than that because of all the light domes and neighbours lights. At least the company was kind of ok, and the red was good. :P

Plenty of good views of the comet in everyone's scopes, plus a comparison of the Carina Nebula in all the scopes with all sorts of different eyepieces and filters, so that was fun.

Bring on Bretti I say.

[GTB_an_Owl]

another nice social night of observing at the PC

a pleasure to meet Allans son Jordan and great to meet Nararra couple, Bev and Steve for the first time.

hope we have the pleasure again soon.

we had a visible passover of the ISS early in the night and quite a few meteors after midnite

Jupiter was very bright in the scopes i looked through and views of the comet from behind were great.

red buckets picked up and gates closed at 2-30am

how are the eyepieces Geoffro?

geoff

[ausastronomer]

Hi Allan,

I would check the battery in the SQM and if it isn't brand new, replace it. I have found with my unit and Andrew Murrel's unit, which are both the early model, even though they appear to be working fine, can give inaccurate high readings if the battery is not fresh and fully charged.

There is no way the skies at the Pony Club, on even the darkest of nights there, get close to 21.0 let alone 21.27. You will get 21.2 to 21.4 at Bucketty, not at the Pony Club. I would estimate an accurate SQM reading for the Pony Club on a good night is about 20.5 at best. The Paintball Place which is a lot darker than the Pony Club, has tree shielding from the lights of Gosford and no annoying street light across the road, used to get to between 20.7 and 21.0.

Cheers,
John B

[Allan]

Interesting point John. I have heard in the past these things need good batteries to work well, which explains some of the SQM 23 readings on the east coast of the US!!!

They are the original batteries I think. I got multiple readings throughout the night at 21.26 to 21.28 and really didn't believe them. The batteries probably explains it. I will try with a new set next time.

[ausastronomer]

Hi Allan,

If you have another 9v battery on hand you can test it outside now. You don't need to go back to the PC. Go outside, take a reading from a specific location aimed at a specific part of the sky. Change the battery and repeat the reading under identical conditions to the first reading. I will bet the 2nd reading will be lower than the first.

Cheers,
John B

[Allan]

Thanks John, that's what I tried earlier tonight and interestingly ended up with the same reading on both batteries. Bring your SQM along next Sunday and we shall do some comparing.

[Rodstar]

Sounds like we are good for this Sunday night. Fingers crossed the weather co-operates.

[AG Hybrid]

Current weather forecasts are not indicating good conditions.

[gb_astro]

Hmmmm... Almost certainly a repeat of yesterday with afternoon storms.

gb.

[linstar88]

Last call yay or nay will be when?

[gb_astro]

Looks like a no go for me in Sydney.
If the storms dissipate early it could be clear up till midnight maybe.
gb.

[Rodstar]

Sadly it is a nay. I can't go anymore, and I believe that John B and Phil T won't be there either.:(

[linstar88]

Ok, will shoot for the stars in a dark location at a later date. Going to the movies to see the hobbit instead.
This weather is a fickle ..... :shrug:
Cheers
Guy & Linda

[OffGrid]

A no show from Deb and I.
Debbie has been doing a Girl Guides sausage sizzle at the big green shed in Umina all day and is putting her feet up to watch the tennis.
Should be a good tennis night without having to hit the degrunt button.

As for me, I may set the scope up in our beer garden tonight and practice for finding asteroid 2004 BL86 in readiness for tomorrow night.

Steve