Bretti Reserve - November 2013

[glend]

Back to Bretti - November New Moon
I am keen to get back up to Bretti to try out my new 16" dob under those very dark skies.

Looking at the 2013 Guide I see that the first weekend in November (say 1st-3rd) coincides with the New Moon (on the 3rd), with the moon failing to rise at all during darkness from the 1-4th. That seems like an excellent time to be at Bretti. That weekend is maybe the last chance for 2013, no school holidays, and it will start getting really hot come December, and the holiday period is a no-no anyway.

So I am planning to go up to Bretti that weekend and would like some company. Any interest? :welcome:

[Allan]

For me it will depend on work. I get my roster in 2 weeks for that period. If I am free I will join you Glen.

[Allan_L]

Hi Glen,
This sounds good to me. :thumbsup:
Count me in.
Looking forward to catching up with your upgrade(s)
(subject to change dependent on mood swings of: weather and significant other) :P

[glend]

Just bumping this up into view again. Bretti November New Moon camping weekend.

[Arthur Alchin]

Might be stretching my luck with that, have a new job, and lost my months annual leave I was taking in November., worse is that I can only take an ado on a Monday as I have patients' grand rounds on Fridays and Tuesdays and can't miss them.

I will definitely be at the feb/ march one though.

If you get there enjoy.

Maybe we should make the 2x 16 inch scopes into a pair of binoculars, would be interesting

[Inmykombi]

I think I will miss this one due to my work commitments. I wish all those who attend a great time.

[glend]

It would be great to get a few more IIS members interested in this November new moon weekend ( the 1-3rd of November) camping, observing, and/or imaging, trip to Bretti Reserve.
It's a magic spot for any astronomy activity and close enough to make it a reasonable trip after work on a Friday. Here is one of the many links to a photo set from the site (scroll down to the photos button):

http://www.caravancaravan.com.au/entity/bretti-reserve-camping-area/nsw

Being just northwest of Gloucester, it's about two hours from most of the Central Coast and less from the Newcastle area, with wonderful dark sky nights. Folks from Sydney's north could get to Bretti in about three hours, and don't forget that with daylight savings now in effect the trip can be done before dark if coming on Friday after work; or just come up on Saturday enjoy the night sky and return home on Sunday.

If your new to astronomy this is a great chance to explore our wonderful southern sky, where even modest scope apertures bring wonderful detail to view which are just not obtainable in the city.

Hope you can make it.

[glend]

Just over two weeks to go to the next Bretti Reserve astro camping trip. If you long for really dark skies this has to be a location for you. No traffic to fight through, no sky glow, just relaxation and a dip in the river if you'd like. See the location details in the posts below, looking forward to more IIS members getting out there.

[MortonH]

I notice there is a grass fire between Gloucester and Bretti just now. How prone to fire is the Bretti area?

[glend]

Hi Morton, thanks for that information, I just had a look at the RFS website. I take it your talking about the Bowman River Road Grass fire (more than 12kms south of Bretti). That fire is listed as under control and the size was only 1 Ha. We still have 12 days to go till we plan to head up there.

General info: Bretti Reserve is regularly slashed and is also used from time to time for cattle grazing by stock from the station next to it. Bretti does not have tree cover (other than a shade band along the river). I've not heard of there ever being a fire at Bretti and it's a very popular place with caravaners as it's a free camp, so there are usually other people there as well. When we were last there in early September, there was no evidence of a fire in recent years. Obviously no fires are allowed in Bretti in the present situation. There are many cattle properties between Gloucester and Bretti and the area is well looked after by the stations and residents.

I will keep an eye on the RFS website to see what going on with that grass fire.

Certainly, compared to the situation in recent days in the Blue Mtns, and what is expected there in days to come, there is little to be concerned about at Bretti (in 12 days) at this time. I will keep this thread updated should the risk profile change.

[Shano592]

Sounds like a great event.

However, due to work commitments, I think I will be restricted to the Pony Club.

Maybe Feb/Mar, like Arthur mentions .... :shrug:

[MortonH]

Glen,

That's quite reassuring :) although I guess there's always the possibility of smoke interfering with the observing conditions even if not presenting a danger.

Can't make this one as I have family coming out from the UK a few days later. I will get to Bretti one day, though!

Cheers

Morton

[glend]

Just over a week to go to the new moon at Bretti. Anyone looking for dark skies free of pollution and sky glow please come along to this magic spot. Its a weekend camp but if you can't make the time just come along for one night on Friday the 1st or Saturday the: 2nd of November. Its a pictureques 2hr drive from the Central Coast and three hours from the north of Sydney.

Find out what your telescope is really capable of in a dark sky site. :eyepop:

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/14489559.jpg

[glend]

Were starting to get within the 7 day forecast range for the Bretti area (Gloucester forecast in this link):

http://ruralco.weatherzone.com.au/local-forecast/nsw/gloucester

Its good to see that Friday the 1st is predicting ENE winds and a low 49% humidity (but that's high by recent Sydney standards). The wind, even light, will be important for keeping any high smoke smog from spreading up that way (fingers crossed).

As we saw last time at Bretti, abit of high cloud during the day cleared away after dark. I will keep an eye on the forecast as we get closer and update here.

[glend]

I had another look at the forecast for Bretti for this coming weekend, according to the Bureau forecast chart, looking great for Friday night with it being the pick of the two. Daytime highs high 20s to 30, night time lows around 11. Dew point around 13 but we had no dew to speak of last time up there. Some possible cloud on Saturday but daytime/afternoon cloud up there seems to disapate after dark. More on the forecast as we get into the four-day forecast window, but the Thursday 10pm chart shows a large high moving over the area for the weekend, so the Saturday forecast is likely to improve. The very good news is that predicted winds should have an easterly component and this will help keep any remaining southern smoke haze away, but winds aloft can be different.

[glend]

ANother weather update. Attached is a link to the Bureau 4 day chart:

http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/4day_col.shtml

It's looking great for Friday and Saturday night.

Anyone wanting to join us for the weekend, or even one night, at Bretti Reserve, it looks like a great weekend for astronomy under dark sky conditions.

:thumbsup:

[Allan_L]

So we will be heading up to Bretti mid morning tomorrow (Friday 1 November) for a couple of nights.

The weather looks to be pleasant (25* by day 12* by night)
should be good camping weather.
Anyone thinking of dropping by, would be most welcome.
Probably heading home on Sunday (November 3). But open for discussion.

Good to see that the rain has cleared out the smoke haze and reduced any further risk for our duration.

[GTB_an_Owl]

no promises - but i may be a late starter Sat nite or Sunday on my way back from Port

geoff

[Allan_L]

Hope you can make it Geoff :thumbsup:

[glend]

I was reading today that Venus will be within two degrees of our galaxy's black hole on Sunday, which is 26000 LYs from us. Not visible of course but we should be at least be able to look into the centre and maybe see the visible objects,, provided Venus is not blinding.

[glend]

Thanks to Allan_L and Geoff for coming up to Bretti. Both Friday and Saturday night were great and have to say Saturday night was the best seeing for most of the night (had some light cloud drift in around 1am).
Some great deep objects in Orion rose into view, and I was able to put my Neb filter to good use. Hopefully next time we can get some more people to come up to this great spot.

[GTB_an_Owl]

the wind and heat got the better of me about 2pm to-day and i packed up and came home instead of staying

Note to self - Bretti season is April to August

geoff

[Allan_L]

A nice little getaway!
Thanks for your company Glen (& Toby) and Geoff.
Clear dark skies! Gotta LOVE 'em!

[glend]

Thanks for the company gents, and Geoff the 20+year old port was very nice - once the floating cork particles were removed! Sorry to hear the heat got to you Sunday afternoon, it was hot up there, mid-thirties on the first two days but Sunday was 37C when I got in the car to leave. Happily the atmo twitchiness on Friday and Saturday was gone by about two hours after dark, and the 12C nights were a welcome relief. I found my mirror carrier adrift from the bottom ring when I got home, allowing the carrier to hit the side of the bottom ring and tube, a legacy of shortening the focal length - but no damage done but it did make some strange noises on that road.:thumbsup:

[Shano592]

Glad that you guys got the best of the viewing.

PC was very scratchy, except for mostly northward views.

We did manage to get good looks at Andromeda and M33, as well as a few outlier items.

Pleiades did come into view from behind the clouds for a bit, and we managed some really crisp looks at 47TUC.

Alas, the clouds came in quite early, and we had to satisfy ourselves with chasing boltholes in the clouds, bookended with a lot of conversation.

We eventually left at midnight, just in time for light rain. Maybe next new moon....

[Allan_L]

some happy snaps
(just learning how to use this camera so dont expect too much)

[GTB_an_Owl]

what camera is that Al ?

geoff

[Allan_L]

Pentax K100D Super DSLR

Too many complicated features I dont understand.
I think I had the ISO set too high. (3200)
And could not work out how to change the F stops.
(not manual like my old SLR)
Manual focus and Bulb
I used a manual cable release and guess power.
but I did work out how to manually raise the mirror to avoid mirror shake.
So at least happy I got something out the other end. :)

edit:
note to self:
next time make sure the toilet block is out of frame. :)

[Arthur Alchin]

As an addition, I did post an event for Chaffey Dam for the last week of Feb 2014 but it has fallen off as I think it was to early but anyhow the last week of feb leads to a new moon and I'm planning on Chaffey Dam for 6-7 days.

I will repost closer to Xmas so we can try and keep it floating till the event