Brighton was the happening place, but nothing was happening (Tuesday night)

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #1 24-01-2007, 07:43 AM

I was hoping to return to Brighton Beach last night for another squiz but it looked too cloudy. A friend of mine ended up there anyway and rang to say that although it was cloudy, there was a large break in the cloud so it may be visible when it got darker. He also said there was over a hundred, possibly 200, people standing on the foreshore waiting for the comet to appear! The footpath near the playground was lined with a queue of people, many with binoculars. The car park was full and people were double parking to fit in!

So we headed down there only to be met by a stream of cars leaving the car park. A great big dirty cloud had wiped out everything, even the Moon.

Apparently, Olivers Hill in Frankston was as clear as a bell? A friend rang us to get some directions on how to find the comet and he said there wasn't a cloud anywhere.

The weather tonight may be better, however Thursday and Friday nights are expected to be quite cold, implying little nighttime cloud cover...fingers crossed.

I am hoping to set up my binos again at the beach on any "clear" nights if I can. Perhaps we can get a sort of mini "space camp" going and make the best of the hundred or more people I expect that may turn up (based on last nights turnout). McNaught may be our best chance of promoting Astronomy to the public, even if we can get a handful to buy a scope and a dozen or so members for IIS it would be worthwhile. I was thinking of making some small handouts with web links to IIS, Astro suppliers, Astro clubs etc. I might even take the scope to set up for views of the Moon.

astrocoast · #2 24-01-2007, 09:57 AM

Hey OneofOne
was on my way to Brighton and saw the cloud cover and the moon disappear - so I turned around and left.

By the sounds of it, there was quite a crowd!

This is the weather report from BOM "The chance of a morning shower or two then a fine, partly cloudy afternoon with mainly moderate southerly winds."

Let's seee how the day pans out - it cleared up yesterday afternoon, of course only to cloud over when we really didn't want it to

erick (Eric) · #3 24-01-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneOfOne

.... I was thinking of making some small handouts with web links to IIS, Astro suppliers, Astro clubs etc. I might even take the scope to set up for views of the Moon.

Go for it! My experience last night was that newbies were more excited looking at the crescent moon through 12x bins than looking at the comet.

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #4 24-01-2007, 03:28 PM

I looked outside at work (Burwood) and it is quite clear, a bit of cloud on the horizon from what I can see, but there are factories in the way. The satellite photo is looking very promising....remember that on Monday it was very cloudy at first and it cleared to near perfection!

At the moment I would give it a 70% chance?

astrocoast · #5 24-01-2007, 03:48 PM

Am planning to head down to Brighton tonight. With the way the weather is going anything is possible

EzyStyles (Eric) · #6 24-01-2007, 05:17 PM

i was also about to go down to brighton again but saw clouds from a distance so decided to go back. Tonight looks abit cloudy also but tomorrow (Thursday) will be clear.

danielsun · #7 24-01-2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EzyStyles

i was also about to go down to brighton again but saw clouds from a distance so decided to go back. Tonight looks abit cloudy also but tomorrow (Thursday) will be clear.

Yes,me too! was all ready to go back to Brighton then seen the clouds and settled for a local location on an outback road away from everything and it was good to see a few cars had also pulled up there to view the comet. When i showed them the pics from Brighton and gave them a look through the binos they loved it!!
I managed to get a couple of shots but it wasn't a fully dark sky before the clouds invaded.

Well done to Trevor (One of One) on promoting astronomy and Ice in space on Monday night he had them qeuing up for a look through the binos and everyone was fascinated. It was a top night!!

EzyStyles (Eric) · #8 24-01-2007, 06:24 PM

well done trevor

represent IIS

Although i didn't get a chance to meet you there.

Looks promising right now. Will be heading down to brighton again tonight this time with my laptop and EQ3.

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #9 25-01-2007, 07:26 AM

Unfortunately the clouds rolled in as the comet was just becoming an easy naked eye target. We set up behind the trees north of the playground, as usual, and waited. A guy was there waiting for it to get dark to take some photos. He said a friend of his from work was interested in astronomy and took lots of photos etc. I asked him if he had mentioned IIS, but he didn't recall the name...so I handed him one of my "fliers". That was my first one...actually my only one

Down to my last 39! Just as it was getting dark enough that he could begin to try some shots a big cloud moved in and spoilt the show. A couple of women walking along the path stopped and chatted while we were waiting for it to get darker, so my wife chatted to them to fill in time.

We should be down there again around 9:30'ish, at the same spot, tonight if it is clear.

astrocoast · #10 25-01-2007, 10:36 AM

I was south of the car park and set up the binos and waited. As we started to see it I got people to look through the binos and as we waited for it to become more of a naked eye target.

Got some good viewing before the clouds came over, and got a few oohs and arhhs when they looked through - that's always a buz!

During some cloud cover I moved the binos to our wonderful moon and got people to have a look - more oohs and arhhs - it was the first time they had seen the moon with detail - again, I got a buzz out of them getting a buzz.

Someone said I should charge people, but I reminded him that the sky and universe are FREE.

Was great to see people lined up along the car park area to watch McNaught.

I'm heading home to Daylesford tonight, so won't be at Brighton - hopefully I'll get a good dark sky view from there.

Enjoy

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #11 25-01-2007, 12:50 PM

The sky is looking good at the moment, satellite photo looking good too. should be there around 9:15 to 9:30 if anyone else is coming!

Tamtarn · #12 25-01-2007, 08:30 PM

We've had clear skies here since Monday. A clear view from home of McNaught every night ........... WOW !!!!

erick (Eric) · #13 25-01-2007, 08:55 PM

Spectacular clear sky and sunset outside. I have to be inside tonight, sadly. I hope all Melbourne comet-seekers have a great night's viewing.

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #14 28-01-2007, 11:47 AM

I have been going to the beach area at the end of North Rd in Brighton for my viewing, but the last couple of times, the lighting in the area is pretty annoying. On Australia Day, we went to the beach at the end of South Rd and found a rather large car park overlooking basically nothing! Has anyone else been using this area for viewing? Is the sky darker than at North Rd? A friend of mine would still like to see the comet, but we haven't had a clear night lately to show him. I need a dark area with good wheelchair access so he doesn't get bogged! The parking at South Rd seems to be quite adequate and would give excellent access for him.

Haven't seen the comet since Thursday night, is it still easily visible around the beach area?