PC Jan 2013

[gb_astro]

Anyone up for the PC this Saturday 5th?
With moon rise at about 00:30 Sunday it could be a short night but the weather is looking pretty good at this stage.

Greg.

[Allan_L]

Yes Please. !
So lets agree then...
NO NEW PURCHASES between now and then ! ;)

[Arthur Alchin]

The twelfth is good for me, unfortunately working this Saturday until 1930hrs.

[Shano592]

I'm in.

Allan, will you be bringing the big wind-breaking van? Looks like it may be a little blowy.

[Allan_L]

Affirmative Shane.
Last time we positioned it beautifully to shield us all from that distant street light too.
So we may have to choose.


Thats no excuse. The sun does not even set until after 20:00.
Plenty of time to get there and set up before it gets dark enough.

[warpsl]

hi.what are the directions?thanks.

[Irish stargazer]

There is a set of directions to Mangrove mountain at the top of this forum. Hope to make it myself tomorrow.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=26142

[jakob]

I'm planning for it too!
:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[mithrandir]

According to Google Earth, the street sign near the gate for Mangrove Mountain Pony Club is at 33°20'17.69"S 151° 9'29.58"E plus or minus a couple of tenths of a second in lat/lon.

If I was going I'd just put that in the GPS and let it do the hard work.

[Allan_L]

Morton and I (and friend) are going up tonight too (Friday)

about 8:45.

If you are free call in
Allan

[Shano592]

Jason (warpsl), if you like, you can follow me. I am near to where you are. It is pretty simple to get to... just takes about 45 minutes from where we are.

[GTB_an_Owl]

the Owl is a very good chance of sitting on a mountain branch as well

geoff

[warpsl]

hi shane.what time,and where did you want me to meet you?regards.

[Arthur Alchin]

Sorry Allan,I'm not a pretty sight after a 12 hour shift at work and most people want to avoid me like the plague until I've had a good nights sleep

[Arthur Alchin]

We have discussed it previously, now up for discussion with everyone: a Friend and colleague is inviting us to look at an alternate site at kulnura on her 700 acre farm.

It apparently has a back paddock that is unused (except for a house cow) with a shed with power and toilet. We would need to go there and have a look. Her, her husband and her father are offering it gratis as long as she can take her telescope there and give her some instruction in its use.

Thoughts on the subject??????


Do we need to start a new thread for this one?????

Also anyone for the pony club on the 12th if the weather is good?? I think it is the new moon. I promise to buy nothing new between now and them.


Arthur

[Shano592]

Hi Arthur,

I think a new thread is best for that. The idea is a good one, and I think it deserves its own attention.

Personally, the only big question, is that of house-cow landmines!

12th sounds good too, providing nobody makes any new purchases.

Jason, we can meet out the front of the Warnervale aerodrome at 6pm, if you like. I will be driving a gunmetal Pajero, rego AJ30AI. From there, we zip down the F3 for 15-20 minutes, then up to Mangrove Mountain.

I will PM you my mobile number, in case there are any issues.

[warpsl]

hi shane.i will see you at airport/sparks rd at six.i have a white ute.

[gb_astro]

Sounds very promising Arthur.
How soon can we have a look at the place?
I'm on holidays so could get up there anytime.
Greg.

[Allan_L]

I am in.
There were some nice steady views from the PC last night.
But it did get dewy from about 10. and the seeing dropped off.
Hopefully if there is a breeze, that could blow it away, otherwise bring dew control gear.

Good news, the field is newly mown.

With sunset at 20:07, I will aim to get there just before 8.
Lets hope for a good night.

Geoff, do we have a key to the amenities yet. Even if only the loo.

[Rick Petrie]

Looking good for tonight so I am in.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
I have a key and should be there about 7:45ish for early setup.
Fingers crossed for a good one.

[Irish stargazer]

See you all there. I have a new camera I want to try out :D

[MortonH]

Had a great time last night. Hope it's clear for you guys tonight.

[Arthur Alchin]

Weather permitting any one up for the 12th ?????

Asked Sharon about visiting next Saturday (during the day) but they are away for the week. I think they would like to meet up with a few of us personally to show us around first

[MortonH]

12th is good for me.

[Irish stargazer]

A few shots from last night. Great turnout and the weather played ball (apart from the heavy dew)


Here are a few shots taken last night at the Pony Club using the new Canon 7D and a Sigma 50mm F1.4 lens. All the shot are unguided 10 second frames with the camera on a tripod, stacked in DSS and processed in photoshop elements (crudely)
I wanted to see how deep the camera could go so this shot of Orion is a bit over stretched (and upside down :laugh: ).Stack of 22 frames at ISO 1600 with dark subtraction used. It does pick out the flame, horsehead and gives a hint of Bernards loop. Not bad for 10 seconds in a semi dark site with no filters used and a stock camera.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8350702197_f654ef8b34_k.jpg

This shot is the LMC. Stack of 18 frames with the same settings. I like this shot. It brings out a hint of a spiral arm. Couldnt stretch it too much due to the Sydney skyglow
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8351771202_131007f89a_k.jpg

Eta Carina region. 14 frames, again restricted by Sydney skyglow.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8350711867_a1a583a55d_k.jpg
This is just a rough processing of the images.

[MortonH]

The LMC is cracking!

How come the stars are a bit trailed in the Orion shot? Is the alignment off in the stacking?

[Irish stargazer]

22 frames were stacked without any guiding so each image moves a bit from the last. Its the price you pay for stacking some many frames so near the celestial equator. The LMC is easier as it doesnt move so much. Vixen Polarie here we come;)

[Inmykombi]

Sorry I missed another visit, I had My Son and Daughter-in-law visiting.
we also had to mind the grand kids while they went on a date.
We were very tired too after running around after kids again at the beach etc.

Looks like it was a great night.

And John, All your images are good, but I think that LMC shot as a beauty. Well done.

geoffro.

[GTB_an_Owl]

yes - nice turnout last nite
good to get out under the stars as a group again

Geoff

[gb_astro]

Yes good to see the numbers up a bit.
No wind, no clouds but the seeing pretty soft.
Gear award goes to Jason with his twin 150 f8 refractors set up as a binoscope.
Observational highlights; bright ISS zenith pass and, right at the end of the night, Io shadow transit over the GRS (thanks Allan).

Greg.

[MortonH]

Yeah, the Polarie will make things a lot easier! :)

[jakob]

John, I like your images.:thumbsup:
I think you did very well for un-guided shots.

I thought i show you my effort on the Coal sack.
At least it is detectable from the PC, I got no chance from Kellyville.

What realy impresses me is the number of stars that pop out in my image!
3 x 1min. at 400 ISO. Nikon 35mm 1.8 lens, D7000 Body.
Stacked with DSS, Curves and re-sizing in CS4.

[Irish stargazer]

That's a nice picture with lots of detail Jakob. A darker site really helps though. Here is my attempt from a few months back using the same lens and settings on a 450D from the PC, again unguided 10 second shots

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7807868960_8de016562e_k.jpg

[Shano592]

They are really good, Jakob and John.

It must have been a late shot.

Good to see that you did manage to get some imaging done.

The skyglow from the PC seemed brighter than I remember it. More to the southwest than normal. Suburbia is coming!

[GTB_an_Owl]

who opened up sat nite ?

i have a spare PC key

geoff

[Shano592]

I opened last Saturday.

[Arthur Alchin]

Is this Saturday a goer if the weather is right? The scope (and me of course) are looking for a bit of dark sky. Got a view of the Scuptor Galaxy from my driveway last night, can only be better up the PC. I aim at getting there about 1830 if the night is a goer but don't have a key :-(

[GTB_an_Owl]

then i have "your" key Shane

till next time we meet

geoff

[gb_astro]

I should be there. 1830 sounds ok.
I was thinking of going to Wiruna but this heat.....
Greg.

[Arthur Alchin]

I think the coast gets a little moderated by a slight sea breeze. Look forward to seeing you there Greg if you can make it

I might have to being some " non-cookable" savories to share around

[Irish stargazer]

I was also thinking about Wiruna but with temperatures to rise again at the weekend it looks a bit dodgy. Keen to try the PC again to do some imaging (if my new counter weight arrives in time).

[jakob]

I hope to make it too. Need more practice!

[Allan_L]

Sorry! I hate to disappoint everyone! (...anyone?)
But I will not be likely to attend this Saturday night.
Visiting the Out-Laws in Sydney (the deep south)
Won't be back till (too) late

[Arthur Alchin]

Oo Allan!!!!!

That is disappointing but we shouldn't be selfish and keep you to ourselves. Our parents taught us to share our good things around. Enjoy :lol:

[Inmykombi]

Looks like I can now attend.:D
I put a " stopper " on the In-Laws visit, but that's another story....:screwy:

I haven' t been to the PC for a while, so it will be great to catch up with everyone.

geoffro.

[gb_astro]

Well not looking too good at the moment.
Plenty of loud plus 20kph southerly predicted. ??
Greg.

[sally1jack]

Can't make tonight hope you all have a great night, my new scope is due for delivery in march & first light will be in coona, so april new moon i will be at the p.c lets hope for better skies this year.

phil: thumbsup:

[Shano592]

My weather advice is suggesting quite a bit of cloud (on top of the stupidly hot day), for this evening/night.

I will hold off on a decision until later today, I think.

[Arthur Alchin]

I'm leaving my decision "not to go" until later this afternoon. At this stage it is still positive for me (being the ultimate optimist) and i will be disappointed if i decide later not to go.

Will decide about 1700hrs. Looking and hoping for a miracle

Arthur

[gb_astro]

It could happen.
Other forcasts are saying clouds clearing a bit and wind more like 13kph.

Greg.

[Arthur Alchin]

:) Like your optimism also Greg, let's see how it pans out as the day progresses

[Rick Petrie]

Very cloudy, very hot.:cloudy:
Don't know whether to go or not.:question:
Some say yes, some say no.:shrug:
I'll make my decision when it's time to go. :P

[Shano592]

Ah, Rick! The People's Poet returns!

[Arthur Alchin]

Not bad Rick for a poem on the hop.
Words were flowing and then they stop.
We're no wiser than to go or stay
Will make up our minds a bit later in the day.

[Inmykombi]

Whether the weather is windy
Whether the weather is hot
We should weather the weather
Whatever the weather
Whether bad weather or not....:P

I'll wait to make a decision as well ....


Update.... Looks like its clearing a bit here....

[Rick Petrie]

What have I started here..... 'Poets Corner'?:lol:
Satellite maps are showing cloud building so I think I may have to pass on attending the PC tonight. Also with southerly blowing and jet stream map not looking crash hot, it is generally looking a bummer. Damn again.:(

[Inmykombi]

I spoke too soon on my last post. The clouds are coming in fast now, and the radar shows rain coming from the south West.
Cant believe my luck when I finally get a chance to get the scope out again.

[gb_astro]

Looks like I'm out.
Even if it clears a bit this wind will probably blow us away.
Not sure if any key holders are still considering going. ??
Greg.

[Inmykombi]

Yep, I am out too.
Catch up next time I guess.
Radar looks less than desirable.

[Arthur Alchin]

Pointless going by myself, catch you all soon. Will pm to morton

[bahoogas]

Damn. I was looking forward to seeing your new beast Arthur!

[Inmykombi]

Its a real shame the weather didnt play the game.

I was looking forward to catching up with everyone and checking out the new scope/s.

[Shano592]

I think last night was the night for viewing.

Missed it by that much!