AstralTraveller
06-06-2012, 10:00 PM
Well I'm back and I've stopped bouncing off the walls with excitement. Sort of. It's been a great two days where nearly everything went well, generally with only minutes to spare.
The car was packed on Monday. I snuck out an hour early yesterday, and ran into the Head on the way :whistle: . Explained .. he was cool. Made a last minute decision to take a portable battery in case I couldn't have the scope near the car (eg in a park with trees). Made an adapter. We decided the weather would not be clear east of Yass and so booked a motel in Yass. Drive through filthy rain until Goulburn but then it lessened. Arrived 10pm. Messages to and fro with Peter about tomorrows plans - he is at his place in Bungonia and will be up at 4.30. Bed by 11.30, can't sleep for ages, up at 4.45.
It's clear - perfectly clear. Phone Peter, still cloud at Bungonia but maybe clearing. Too risky to go east (even though it would shorten the drive home) so we'll go west. I know Wallendbeen is usable so that's the go. Head off by 6. Still perfect conditions. Get to Binalong and discover that the park/sport field is suitable and so stop there - after all it's perfect here. Now seem to have extra time to set up. It evaporates. Last minute jobs (filter for telephoto lens). Technical hitch - power lead fuse blown. What fuse - ... spare??? OK cut wire .. strip ends .. attach to battery I nearly didn't take. Lucky.
Everyone at scopes with 5 minutes to spare. Perfect ingress. Great sight. File that one in the memory banks. Settle into looking periodically, have a cuppa and snacks. Entertain passers by. All good until 11 when Ray turns up and brings the clouds :P. Still get some views but it's getting worse. Some considerable periods of no sun. Consider moving but it's just too much work - take too long. About 30 minutes before egress conditions start to improve. It might happen. It did happen. Clear for egress. Great views. Yahoo yippee yahay. Pack up and head off. First spots of rain within 15 minutes. Rain on and off all the way home.
The photos are a fail, despite my wife's positive comments. The focus is soft and/or there is too much shake. I know I didn't decide to even try until Sunday but I still thought I'd do better. The positive of this is that I'm going to prepare much better for November.
Astronomy is great!! :thumbsup:
The car was packed on Monday. I snuck out an hour early yesterday, and ran into the Head on the way :whistle: . Explained .. he was cool. Made a last minute decision to take a portable battery in case I couldn't have the scope near the car (eg in a park with trees). Made an adapter. We decided the weather would not be clear east of Yass and so booked a motel in Yass. Drive through filthy rain until Goulburn but then it lessened. Arrived 10pm. Messages to and fro with Peter about tomorrows plans - he is at his place in Bungonia and will be up at 4.30. Bed by 11.30, can't sleep for ages, up at 4.45.
It's clear - perfectly clear. Phone Peter, still cloud at Bungonia but maybe clearing. Too risky to go east (even though it would shorten the drive home) so we'll go west. I know Wallendbeen is usable so that's the go. Head off by 6. Still perfect conditions. Get to Binalong and discover that the park/sport field is suitable and so stop there - after all it's perfect here. Now seem to have extra time to set up. It evaporates. Last minute jobs (filter for telephoto lens). Technical hitch - power lead fuse blown. What fuse - ... spare??? OK cut wire .. strip ends .. attach to battery I nearly didn't take. Lucky.
Everyone at scopes with 5 minutes to spare. Perfect ingress. Great sight. File that one in the memory banks. Settle into looking periodically, have a cuppa and snacks. Entertain passers by. All good until 11 when Ray turns up and brings the clouds :P. Still get some views but it's getting worse. Some considerable periods of no sun. Consider moving but it's just too much work - take too long. About 30 minutes before egress conditions start to improve. It might happen. It did happen. Clear for egress. Great views. Yahoo yippee yahay. Pack up and head off. First spots of rain within 15 minutes. Rain on and off all the way home.
The photos are a fail, despite my wife's positive comments. The focus is soft and/or there is too much shake. I know I didn't decide to even try until Sunday but I still thought I'd do better. The positive of this is that I'm going to prepare much better for November.
Astronomy is great!! :thumbsup: