Viewing night in Melbourne

[traveller]

Hi all Melbourne based IIS members, a couple of other members (Alistairsam and The_bluester) and I are heading out for a quick viewing night in Mernda next Friday night. Details are:
Location: Plenty Valley Gorge NP car park at the end of Wilton Vale Road in Mernda. Time: approx 9 pm.
We will bring out own gear and EPs. Please PM me if interested and I will provide further details.
Cheers and hope for clear skies.
Bo

[scagman]

Hi Bo,

PM sent.

If you don't mind a total newbie tagging a long a will be there.

[Aidan]

PM Sent.

Aidan

[Fox]

PM sent
Fox

[scagman]

Hi all, We're going to have another crack at an obs night and I have suggested my place in kinglake west/humeval as an alternative to Mernda.
See post in EP section here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=8092). What night would suit people best. I am home most nights (probably every night).

[mishku]

Wednesdays and Thursdays are out, as a rule. Would prefer not to be out observing on a school night, but happy to come along if I'm free, whenever you decide :)

[traveller]

I am free most nights also and happy to go to Kinglake area. Probably looking at 9ish again, given the extened daylight hours?
Are you happy to coordinate this one John?
Cheers,
Bo

[scagman]

Yep, thats no problem.

How does sat 14th or 21st sound (7th doesn't look good weather wise)?

[alistairsam]

Hi,
if it'll be a full moon on the 14th, the 21st might be a better option.

[mishku]

If you're going up to Kinglake, ASV have a night up at their dark sky site on 21st or 28th, so if you're already making the trip....

Given date tbc for ASV field trip, could we do the alternate weekend?

[traveller]

I am happy with 21st. Re ASV, I can try and make that too, but I may stay overnight and take my son, but with Kinglake, I can do it in one night, and come back by mid night etc.
Bo

[scagman]

OK we can plan for the 21st and if thats the same weekend as ASV we can change it to the 28th.

PM me for address

[Richard Gamble]

ASV viewing nights open to non members too?

[mishku]

Depends on the night, Richard - some nights are members only, some nights are open to the public.

The 14th will be open to the public, details as follows:




ASV Monthly meetingWhenSat, 14 January, 20:00 – 22:00
WhereMueller Auditorium, National Herbarium, Birdwood Ave., Melbourne (map (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en-GB&q=Mueller%20Auditorium%2C%20Nationa l%20Herbarium%2C%20Birdwood%20Ave.% 2C%20Melbourne))
DescriptionTopic: Observational Pulsar Astronomy and the Transient Universe Speaker: Rammesh Bhat, Swinburne University of Technology All are welcome. There is no cost and supper is provided. Looking forward to seeing you there.




http://asv.org.au/calendar.php

[traveller]

The weather forecast is showers on 21, @&@$/! typical...
Lets see how the week goes first.
Bo

[scagman]

Looks like (hopefully) they will have cleared by the evening.

[alistairsam]

Hi,

anyone heading out to the asv site tomorrow?
John, any plans for observing sessions at your place at Kinglake?
Any imagers out there who'd be interested in an imaging session not too far from melbourne?
I'm in the north east, there are a few sites that aren't populated, but not sure if its safe enough if you're going by yourself.
I'm learning imaging, so will be heading out to a place at warrandyte or nearby or John's place at Kinglake if he's available, and is open for members to visit of course.
skies have been surprisingly clear, few clear days after a few cloudy ones.
need to make the best of it.

[mishku]

Ooooh, Alistairsam, should've come to Snake Valley!! All the cool kids were there last night... :)

[scagman]

Hi Alistairsam,

Nothing has been organised. I am home tonight if you want to come up and anyone esle that is interested.

[alistairsam]

Thanks John,

that is very tempting. anyone else able to make it tonight?

I have some major collimation issues to sort out John and some driver issues with my qhy8 and qhy5. but should be able to make it if the skies are clear.
will PM you if I'm coming down.
Thanks.
Alistair

[scagman]

Hope you get things sorted. Its been cloudie here that last hr or 2 but looks like it might be clearing to the south.

[alistairsam]

Had a look at skippy sky and it's cloudy between 5 and 10 pm and clear after that.

[ballaratdragons]

Looks like it will be absolutely clear for you guys from about midnight :thumbsup:

Have a great night :)

[pgc hunter]

Was looking pretty grim before, but all the cloud has amazingly disappeared into thin air and is now perfectly clear. Can see the tops of thunderstorms to the NE hopefully that wont come here.

[ballaratdragons]

The Northwest/West ones came over here :lol:
They are just dissipating now.

[ballaratdragons]

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/warning.jsp?id=IDV65756

[alistairsam]

Just returned from a great night at Johns place at Kinglake. Really dark skies, so many stars, had the odd patch of clouds, but was clear right till morning.
we imaged our first galaxy as well. definitely going back.
Thanks for the hospitality John.

[pgc hunter]

I just came in from one of the most amazing sessions I've ever had. Seeing was incredible. First time in my life I saw a near perfect airy disk resembling that in the textbooks - at 600x. Stars at a rather high 342x were dead set pinpoints (this is with an 8"), the stellar images were so crisp that I could've sworn I was using half that magnification. The reality of the situation was quite astonishing.

[scagman]

Your welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I had a great night and learned a heap. I have been stuffing around for ages each night triing to get aligned and gotos working and probably would be for a long time to come, but after last night I think I have got it sorted. Thanks for all your help.

[ballaratdragons]

Sounds like you guys had a fantastic night :thumbsup:




Sab, I had to quote your post so it will be kept forever in case you decide to go edit it.
It's a collectors item :rofl:
:P :lol: :thumbsup: