Ah well I have s pretty decent view from the golf course. Darned RWY35 CBR lighting and Bullscheiteropolis town lights bugger NW but still better than what I had in QLD by a Long stretch.
Getting the Yamamoto 60 out tonight for a peek at Orion
That's very disappointing as I was looking forward to this weekend, but hey, you have to expect that occasionally with this pursuit. I'm glad we made the decision early as it saved me all my motel money.
I won't be able to make the April party as I will be away working so I can pay for more Astro gear.
I'm happy to make my dark site at Coolah available for Tak Attack 3. It might get some Queenslanders involved, but I can see it's a fair drive from Melbourne.
What a pity Tak Attack was not last night. Simply spectacular even from suburbia near the airport! So steady seeing, and such perfect seeing with not even a hint of scintillation. LMC and SMC stood out as highlights for me, but I also observed M1 for the first time ever (rather than imaging it - in QLD it was never visible visually), the Jupiter PN was easily seen, as was M78. M42 was vast and I swear I was seeing colour. M88 was a nice vista but the Jewel Box just poured colour and little diamonds (once you put B-crux out of the FOV lol).
While the observatory build is on hold, I've got the 5D Mark III on the back of the FSQ capturing data. I've got something to work on when I have some spare time now.
As you might have read we had to change the dates due to the presence of heavy cloud.....
SO we'll give it another try on the 28th and 29th of April at Yass. Arrangements are as before except the area is prone to get quite chilly in late April so bring your thermal base layer, mid layer, outer garments, gloves, beanies, hot packs and moon boots......
I will make no promises on the weather but it is generally much more likely to be clear and steady than our February attempt...
Please contact Phil (issdaol) or me for any enquiries. There is no requirement to own or aspire to own any Tak gear, all that is expected is to be of good cheer and enjoy the very casual gathering.....
This could possibly be my first attendance at an astronomical gathering!!!
BUT I have a few questions so I can square things away with SWMBO
1) Will a 12" Bintel Dob be welcome, or will you all just laugh at my mirror
2) I can only make it for one evening/night, which would be best (assuming the weather is the same for both
3) Are there any 'planned' activities as opposed to general sky gazing
4) Will you laugh at me more if I bring my 2 28mm RKE eyepieces to try in the binotak?
Lewis, you need to toughen up, and don't touch any metal objects with bare hands
Andrew, Welcome
1) Will a 12" Bintel Dob be welcome, or will you all just laugh at my mirror
Yes, there will be room for a 12" Dob, laughter is optional
2) I can only make it for one evening/night, which would be best (assuming the weather is the same for both
Friday is closer to the new moon which is during the week
3) Are there any 'planned' activities as opposed to general sky gazing
Stargazing is generally accompanied by some red wine, coffee or sometimes Champagne and a Saturday lunch somewhere in Yass
4) Will you laugh at me more if I bring my 2 28mm RKE eyepieces to try in the binotak?
I wouldn't mind trying the RKEs myself...
With just a few more sleeps to go I am getting the Tak ready for some viewing
Unfortunately the "Little One" (FOA-60) will not make it to this years gathering, it is still in pieces in the Takahashi factory along with Lewis's FOA and K-Astec are still making the tube rings and dovetail plate to suit....
Our recent test run saw Phil, Lewis, Joe, Ross, Alex, Greg and yours truly attending at Yass to put the scopes through their paces on some Jupiter, Saturn and Lunar views. It was also my first chance to look through Ross's new CFF140 F7.5 scope as well as Lewis's FS102........
The evening had its ups and downs but I think we all agreed that binoviewers trumped single eyepieces on planets
At the end of the evening (3.30am) everyone left for home, leaving me to a peaceful nights sleep in the MerCruiser until 7.00am when I too headed for home.
I finally told Jaycar where to put their unreliable power pack and bought the DryPower LiFePO4 kit to power the mount so I have a little wiring to do...
The TOA is now sporting the StarGPS Module, Baader SkySurferV Finder, Baader Zeiss T2 Prism, Televue Binovues or alternately the Baader 2" BBHS Diagonal and after my recent eyepiece cull the leftovers are either Ethos or Nagler eyepieces.
Hopefully the Weather Gods will let us have some clear skies
Bring you winter woollies, it gets mighty cool up here !!!
Yup, downs for me...accompanied by nearly a bottle of red and a sore butt, but much sorer pride Then stood up again, only to fall down again 2 hours later. Memo to self - bring 200kg rated camp chair.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kunama
but I think we all agreed that binoviewers trumped single eyepieces on planets
Not just planets - the Jewel Box central stars seemed 3D, almost as if they were juxtaposed to the rest.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kunama
Hopefully the Weather Gods will let us have some clear skies
Bring you winter woollies, it gets mighty cool up here !!!
Here's frozen fingers crossed. Though it was pleasant the other night, unlike the first time I went out...
We've had quite a few runs with heavy, instant dew out there, so be ready. Not slowly creep up on you dew - it's like clear one second, completely fogged and dripping the next. Even chemical hand warmer packs work well. (My dew straps arrived this morning, so I am set.)
Also, remember, batteries die fast in the cold - think big, or think about precautions. I run a 44AH pack, so might be able to share if you get desperate.
Though it was pleasant the other night, unlike the first time I went out...
