Mt Buffalo viewing nights, Jan 2013

[Rob_K]

Parks Victoria will be conducting 3 astronomical viewing nights at Mt Buffalo National Park, NE Vic, during Jan 2013 as part of their Summer Program. Once again, a few bods from the Bright Astronomy Club will be turning up with scopes. There is no charge but Parks Victoria ask that people book so they have an idea of numbers. Bookings should be made by contacting the park office on 03 5755 1466.

Times: 9.15pm till 10.15pm.
Tuesdays 8th, 15th and 22nd January 2013, at Lake Catani (beside the lake, near the Day Visitor Area).

Naturally, the events are weather-dependent.

Cheers -

[Wavytone]

hehe ... I'm heading for Bright for paragliding 2nd - 6th Jan so will miss these dates, and I may have room in the car for 1 small scope. Would there be any objections if I rock up with a 4" refractor for a quick show one night ? Otherwise we'll head for somewhere quieter like the cricket oval (I know where that is).

I'm planning on returning again late jan (22nd) with a larger scope, 180mm Mak... though its only a maybe at this stage. I have accommodation booked but work might get in the way.

[jamiep]

Rob,

I attended one of these last year - was a fantastic experience.

Thanks to the three members or so that guided people around the night sky ... also a word for the wary - the trip down the mount in the dark of night needs to be taken SSSLLLOOOOWWWLLLYYY to preserve both the local wildlife and you're vehicle....

Jamie

[Rob_K]

Hard to believe, but after perhaps the longest spell of clear nights we've had up here for the last few years we got cloud! And late cloud too, it was looking good even as I left home to drive up the mountain. Then again, mountains can be contrary things that can generate their own weather!

Nonetheless we got a good turn-up and managed to show people a bit in gaps in the cloud moving through. I think people enjoyed it - we certainly did and there was plenty of animated astro conversation going on across the observing field. Thanks to the regular helpers (Zac, Sean) and a special thanks to Daniel (dannat) who came up the mountain with his monster binoculars to help us out.

Here's hoping for clearer skies next Tuesday!

Cheers -

[spacezebra]

Good to hear that you had a great night Rob. Remember if you need the Albury volunteers to help at any point send a request through.

Cheers Petra d.

[Rob_K]

Thanks Petra - I've got a mind like a sieve but you jogged my memory that you had made this kind offer before! I've been here there & everywhere in the past few months and practically buried in work so I didn't really get involved much in planning. But if any of your members want to come across to help on any of the two remaining nights they'd be more than welcome. Just let me know and I'll advise Parks Victoria.

Thanks again - strange that we live so close but have to go to far north Queensland to catch up! :lol:

Cheers -

[Rob_K]

Second astronomy night was held last night - great roll-up of about 40 people and we had the queues working well. Jupiter was of course the highlight and lots of oohs and aahhs as people got their first ever views of the banded gas giant and its moons. One lady commented that it didn't look real - how could that bright 'star' resolve into that by pointing a tube at it?! Deep sky was a little marred by some high level murk which caused less than optimal views but nonetheless we managed to show a few of the highlights.

We also did a laser-light tour of the naked-eye sky, pointing out the Milky Way, Magellanic Clouds, etc etc. After the show wound up and nearly all people had left, had a short crystal-clear break in the vicinity of brightening comet C/2012 F6 Lemmon and managed to show it to a couple of the die-hards who remained. They were pretty excited even though it was only a little smudge.

Next week with a bright gibbous moon in the sky I might take up a webcam and laptop to do live views of the Moon & Jupiter. I don't think night vision will be a huge issue and we'll still have the telescopes there for eyepiece views! :thumbsup:

Cheers -

[Rob_K]

Last of the three astronomy nights was held last night with an excellent attendance, probably similar to last week. With a big bright gibbous Moon in the sky, I did take up the laptop & webcam, which helped ease pressure on the queues. I took pains to point out that there is NOTHING like the view through an eyepiece though, so there was great circulation around both the telescopes and the laptop. The kids particularly seemed to enjoy watching the Moon & Jupiter on the laptop. And the kids were really interested and asked all sorts of probing questions!

Seeing was reasonably good so the (cheap) webcam views were fairly sharp. Was able to point out lots of craters and 'seas', the difference between terminator views & those of fully-illuminated areas, etc. Jupiter and its Galilean moons fascinated everyone, as usual! After I shut the laptop down we progressed into some deep sky viewing - it was a clear night and despite the Moon there were some reasonable views of things like the Great Nebula in Orion.

Naked-eye, the brighter band of the Milky Way was easily visible as was the LMC. The SMC was a little more difficult. Altitude helps!

Cheers -

[Wavytone]

Hi Rob, I'll be in Bright again March 24 - 31, anything planned around that time ? I'll have room to bring a 7" Mak.

[Rob_K]

I may have, bit hard to commit this early as I work away a lot with short notice (even over Easter!!). Got a pretty bright Moon over that spell too. Send me a pm closer to the date - would be great to catch up! :thumbsup:

Cheers -