Pony Club January 4?

[Shano592]

Trying to get as much use out of the scope as possible, before I have to head back to work...

Dependent on weather, do we have any takers for the Pony Club on Saturday night, January 4?

[Allan_L]

Hi Shane,
as mentioned elsewhere...
I am interested
Hope I don't upset the weather deity ;)

[Shano592]

Allan, I think that a whole range of Christmas presents, right across the country has done that.

One more thing isn't going to make a huge difference. I hope.

[photosinferno]

Pony club? - I'm confused is this a 'get together' anyone can join in? - if so how far from Sydney - sorry for all the questions new to this Star Parties thing and new to the Geography of both the land and Sky!

John

[Allan_L]

Hi John,

The Pony Club is the nickname for the Mangrove Mountain observing site.
The Mangrove Mountain Pony Club use this site also, and they have a sign at the front gate as such.

It is actually crown land, and the Pony Club have a licence to use it.
We have an arrangement to use it of night time (ponys dont like to run around after dark apparently)

YES All are Welcome.
It is Free for us to use (currently)

And you get to it from Sydney by taking the F3 to the Calga exit, onto Peats Ridge road then left onto Wisemans Ferry Road.

From F3 Newcastle take Sommersby interchange onto Peats Ridge Road then onto Wisemans Ferry Road.

There is a map and directions in a "sticky" at the top of the Star Parties thread.

Hope to see you there.

Allan

[Shano592]

Hope the weather holds.

Looks like there might be some cloud after all.

Fingers crossed.

[Allan_L]

6:30pm edit
More clouds rolling in.
No definite takers.
So we are going to call it off for tonight.

[photosinferno]

The weather this week has been bloody annoying with all this cloud! :sadeyes:
Roll on clear skies!

John

[Allan_L]

Amen to that John!

A Prediction looks promising for Monday night. (maybe even Sunday)
If anyone is available/interested
I may venture up the mountain
But with twilight till after 9pm, unfortunately it makes it a late start and tough for many to take advantage of.
And the weather (prediction) changes quickly and frequently unpredictably.

[jakob]

Happy new year !

I got fed up with clouds, headed to wiruna Friday, two glorious nights, may stay another night.
:eyepop:

[Irish stargazer]

Just got back from Wiruna. Beautiful night last night

Wide field Magellenic clouds. Lots of green sky glow last night
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/1...faf908fc_h.jpg (http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/11766547815_c6faf908fc_h.jpg)

Crux
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/1...71d72e77_h.jpg (http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/11767302656_3e71d72e77_h.jpg)

Eta Carina
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/1...2a830302_h.jpg (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/11767294226_d02a830302_h.jpg)

[Allan_L]

7 timer looks good for tonight (Monday).
If it holds, I will try to take my newly acquired SW12"GoToDob up to the PC tonight.
Might take the old SW10"Dob too. For a compare.
Any other interested parties welcome to join me.

7:30

[Shano592]

I may be in on this. Weather today and into tonight is supposed to be good, so far.

Humidity is supposed to be lower than last night too, although Moon glow will be up.

I'll keep you posted, Allan.

EDIT: John, I love the Crux image. A really great shot.

[Irish stargazer]

Thanks Shane
Good luck at the PC tonight guys. Weather looks great. I'm still recovering from the Wiruna weekend so will sit it out tonight

[glend]

How did you go guys? I have just got out of bed to have an early morning session with Mars but alas the cloud has rolled in since earlier this evening so no go here.:shrug:

[Allan_L]

Clouds rolled in at home just as I was packing to leave. It looked pointless.
But I went to have a look anyway. Being "over the other side of the ridge" I thought you never know.

When I got there it was pretty good and improving.
There was a good breeze that kept the dew away for a few hours.
Surprisingly it got quite cold, and I was wearing two jackets most of the night.

I got some great views and was able to see some things I had not before, even with a brightly waxing crescent just over 30% illuminated, and slightly sloppy atmosphere.
Very happy with new scope.

Eventually the breeze dropped and the dew followed.
Locked the gate on the way out at 11:30.
Glad I made the effort.

Looking forward to our next dark skies outing.

[Shano592]

That's really cool, Allan. So the new scope performed nicely for you, then?

It rained at my place, around 10:00pm.

I wish I had gone up, now. Good ol' hindsight...

[jakob]

[QUOTE=Irish stargazer;1046963]Just got back from Wiruna. Beautiful night last night

Wide field Magellenic clouds. Lots of green sky glow last night

Crux

Eta Carina

John, Lovely shots.
Very sharp!:thumbsup:

I was imaging (trying) various DSO's
The horshead facinated me, I belief it was visable through the 25".
My shot F6.8 550mm & Nikon D7000.
3x15 min ISO1250 with UHC filter

[Irish stargazer]

[QUOTE=jakob;1047651]

Very nice horsehead Jakob :thumbsup:

[Allan_L]

Beautiful horsey Jakob.
A bit "noisy" but beautiful image none the less. :thumbsup:
But I fear we (observers) are losing you to the Dark Side ! :(