Jan/ Feb new moon a Pony Club

[Arthur Alchin]

Unfortunately long weekend precedes new moon by a week, so are we looking at the 1st of Feb as a goer for the PC???

This is the last before Nundle, YIPPIE

[Allan]

I will be home on the 1st of Feb so that night will be good for me.

[Shano592]

I'm definitely in.

[Fizics]

Setting my gps coords for pony club for that date.
My gps coords have been all over the place these last 9 months, my calendar kept replacing pony club dates and where ever I setup the scope clouds rolled in. Ain't seen a star for months.

If my calendar is kind this year I will make the pony club more often.

I intend to make Nundle in Feb. So who is going?

[arc4ne]

I'm up for any future events, I keep logging on to the forums right after an event happens :(

If anyone is planning on anything in the next month or so, feel free to send me a text (Hopefully I remember to log on though)

My number is: 0407488222

~Kev

[Arthur Alchin]

There are a small number ? How many, venturing to Chaffey Dam for a casual astro camp the last week of feb. There is a thread there for it, maybe we need an informal head count of possibilities😄

[Mattg]

I'm planning to return on the 1st and will be better prepared with medicinal spirits.

[Allan]

I got my days wrong and won't be home until Sunday, so will miss this one. I will see everyone at Chaffey Dam though. Have a good night to all who go, and may the weather be with you.

[Rodstar]

Hi everyone.

The moon does not rise until after midnight on the night of 25th January, so if the conditions are stable and clear, I would be interested in heading up. Anyone else interested?

[Allan_L]

Hi Rod,
Long time ...

Yeah good call.
I was thinking the same thing myself.

Weather dependant but I am definitely interested.

[sally1jack]

Hi ,
I had high hopes of comming along on sat , but we are going to the big bash, if weather plays its part & sat is off i can come sunday night( long weekend)hope you have a good night
phil :thumbsup:

[Inmykombi]

it looks like I can't make it this weekend.:sadeyes:
Sorry people.

[linstar88]

Hi all,
Weather permitting, what will we need to bring? Guessing a tent, sleeping bags, drinking water, sandwiches and of course scope plus gear. Think there's a $5 fee per head per day, yeah?. What else is needed might come in handy?
One other question rather important for us, are there actual horses in the area or been in the area? Linda can't go near horse hair without bringing on a server asthma attack. She will have to pass on the pony club site if so.
I don't have a problem with horse hair as I'm not an alien from a strange galaxy whom crash landed on Earth as I'm sometimes convinced my wife 'may' be :lol:. If only I could locate her ship to prove it :rofl:
Hope to meet some of you there,
Cheers Guy.

[Allan_L]

Hi Linda and Guy.
I think you are confusing this one night observing session with the 4 dat camp planned for next month.
The Pony Club is free to attend. (subject to the pleasure of the Land Council Trust)
We are not camping there.
Bring drinks and supplies for a few hours duration.
The toilets are not always available, so if you have a portable alternative that could be handy, alternatively find a discrete spot, (or come and use my campervan loo).

The pony club site is very open.
Never seen horse hair there.
But horses do use it occasionally.
But i doubt this will be a problem.

Handy = warm clothes, RED light torches/head lights.
comfortable chairs.

Hope to see you guys there :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Rodstar]

Hi all, weather is not looking good for tonight unfortunately. It may be best to call it now. Fingers crossed for next week.

[Arthur Alchin]

Is tomorrow night an option if it's clear?!!

[GTB_an_Owl]

forecast for sun nite is worse than to-nite Arthur

geoff

[Fizics]

Disappointing even for tomorrow.

[glend]

You guys going to try tonight? Its looking very clear here and moon doesn't rise until 1:12am. I'll be setup in the backyard. Had a great solar session this afternoon.

[GTB_an_Owl]

7Timer says dew will be a problem to-nite up there

geoff

[Allan_L]

Yeah! It looks brilliant from here too!
But too many Aust Day celebratories to contemplate driving!
(especially with double demerits).

Backyard may be best option here too, unfortunately! :(

[Irish stargazer]

Likewise. Our first Australia Day as Aussies so driving is out :drink:. Looks like a good night-cleared up very suddenly.

[glend]

Wonderful night it was, with the Glenfiddich to keep the chill off. No dew to speak of here . The odd small cloud drifting around didn't hinder viewing.

[Arthur Alchin]

Great to hear about a good night.

Congratulations John that is so good. Welcome to the Aussie family.

28 sleeps till Chaffey Dam

[Gemini]

Hi all,

I would like to come to the Pony Club this Sat 1st Feb. I'm a newbie with not too much equipment, but hope to practice taking a few snaps of the Milky Way on the DSLR.

Do I just turn up around 2am (or so) and introduce myself, or would i need prior permission?

I'll keep an eye on this thread just in case the weather doesn't permit and see what the rest of you think.

[Allan_L]

Hi Yanis,
Welcome to IceInSpace :welcome:

Whereas you don't need prior permission to turn up to an organised observing session at the Pony Club, it is always a good idea to check this forum that some are going to be there that night.
You see, there is a locked gate and only a few with keys. (Myself included).

Most people turn up around sunset, to set up scopes etc in the light (or twilight).

Lately, we have had some heavy dew later in the nights at the PC, and it is not uncommon for everyone to have packed up and gone home well before 2am (sometimes even before midnight!).
So I cannot guarantee that someone will still be there if you turn up at that time.

Anyway, keep an eye on this thread and take it from there.
Hope to see you Saturday.

[Arthur Alchin]

If all works out well I will be arriving at the PC at about 1700hrs sat. Might have a feed when I set the scope up. Don't have a key though, any key holders going to be there that early?!! Will be on channel 11 UHF of anyone is on line

[Gee]

I aim to get there around 6 ish.

Gareth.

[Rodstar]

I am planning to arrive about 7pm, weather-willing!

[jakob]

Looking forward to dust-off the LB16 :thumbsup:
See you there.

[Arthur Alchin]

Well Jakob that will be a blast from the past, I thought you had found a new home for the LB.

That means all the heavy scopes will be there

We might see The Mary Rose, the LB 16, the skywatcher 16, the Orion 14, maybe even Phil's monster, maybe Sunday will be dark if we suck up all the photons on Saturday night

[Inmykombi]

I will be there.
Good to see a post from my Mate Gareth.:thumbsup:
I am looking forward to checking out your setup too Gareth.
And it'll be great to see that 16 again Jakob.:eyepop:

See you all there.

[Allan]

I am spewing. All the big guns come out and I am away.

[Arthur Alchin]

Allan try maxolon or stemetil

[Shano592]

I'll try to get there early-ish ... if I am nearby.

I took a drive up to the Barrington NP yesterday, and there would have been at least 10-12 campsites in use at Bretti. Everything from tents to large vans, and everything in between. Some pretty elaborate stuff in there, too.

For a first view, I have to say that it really is a nice looking place.

Where does everyone normally set up there? I noted the more elevated, hilly land to the north end, and a good view south at the entry-end (near the big pond), down through the valley.

Anyway, if I am in the area here, I will try to get there around 5-5:30 myself.

[Arthur Alchin]

When we go to Bretti we set up at the distant end of the area near the far causeway. It is flat and gives the best overall view.

Chaffey dam at the end of the month is a different story, we go to the peninsula area and have excellent skies all around. Water on two sies and farmland around with no lights at all

[Allan_L]

I hope to be there too.
New scope is looking good and itching for some dark skies.
al

[Inmykombi]

New Scope ????

[cookie1]

All going well I plan to come up to my first visit with my new (from Allan_L) scope. Aim to arrive at 7.30 to have some twilight to setup with.

Any tips for newbies at the PC so as not to step on anyone's toes? :)

[Mattg]

I plan to come up for my second visit and will arrive around 6pm. Hope to see some of you again and meet others for the first time. Will be hoping the dew stays away and I am still there late enough to start looking at galaxies in Virgo.

[Gee]

Yes Geoff (inmykombi), I've got the TV 85 and the 8" SCT mounted on the AZEQ6 simultaneously now. Been practicing this week in getting them balanced and aligned for observational . sorta ok now.

Looking forward to see what difference there is between the 8" and your 10" SCT.

Here's hoping the skies stay clear. Today the air seems pretty clear. I use a benchmark of how clear the peninsula and lighthouse at Norah Head looks from where I am. It's about 25k away.

[Fizics]

Wow I hope there is enough space for all of us! My little scope should fit it somewhere. Just waiting for Apple to bring out the iScope:rolleyes:

[glend]

Apologies, i thought about it, but for me the physical side of breaking down my 16"er, reconfiguring the car (have to take out the cargo barrier), and re-collimating for a few hours was the stopper, despite the obvious attraction of the social side of things. I have rolled out the scope for the past few nights, including a good session with Mars, Saturn, and the Virgo galaxies last night between 1 and 4am so for me maybe I am not suffering as much as some from observation withdrawal.

If anyone is taking a Sky Quality Metre with them I would appreciate some readings from the Pony Club to compare with my own location, just to get some perspective.

I will raise a glass to you on Saturday night.

I will hopefully get there one night, but looking forward to Lake Chaffey now.

[linstar88]

Hey Allan,
Yep seems I mixed one site with the other, (it happens :lol:). Thanks for your "as always" very helpful advice/info, much appreciated :thumbsup:.
One last question.....
Will there be a post letting us all know if the skies are still expected to be clear enough, at least a few hours before it's time to head up to the PC? We are keeping eyes on the weather channel with great anticipation regardless anyway.
Cheers Linda and Guy

[Shano592]

Hi Linda and Guy,

Just looking at the forecast, I would say that things will be pretty darned good for tomorrow night, weather-wise.

If the sun is out tomorrow (not overcast), then it will be on.

No doubt this thread will be updated, as people start to confirm their leaving times, etc.

Hope to see you both there.

[Arthur Alchin]

Usually find there are replies still coming on up to about 1500. I will be there at 1700 so if anyone wants to give me a call before they leave ( sometimes I have a signal there, I'm with telstra$ to see the weather up there. If I have a signal I'll talk to you. 0400372813

[Inmykombi]

I will plan on getting there about 1730 - 1800.

See you all there.

[Shano592]

Same here. Around 1800.

[Irish stargazer]

Hopefully around 7.30pm weather permitting

[gb_astro]

About time I showed up, so hope to be there.

This could be the biggest turnout, numbers wise, for a long time.

Greg.

[Shano592]

So, are you saying that you are looking to be popular, Greg?

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Don't forget your name tag, so we can remember just who you are!

Hope to see you there!

[osteoblast]

I will also try to get there. I came along about 6 months ago and haven't had the chance to return until now.
Mark

[Rodstar]

I know of at least 2, possibly 3 others who may be coming tonight. It does sound like it will be the biggest gathering for many a blue moon!

[Inmykombi]

All packed and ready to go. Leaving soon.

[Rodstar]

I have confirmed Bambo and Phil Townsend are starters, and Ron Peters is joining us too. I will be there about 7. Happy days!

[RB]

I may be dropping in later if I can get away.

:)

[netwolf]

I was seriously considering coming tonight have not been to this site, last I came was when it was at the paintball site. But some other things have come up. Does this site have access to electricity available?

[glend]

Bit late now as they are probably up there. I know that at least one of them probably has a generator, but not sure about access to the Pony Club power as the building is locked I think.

[netwolf]

Will try going up next new moon. Setup at home and just packing it now as clouds have rolled in. I am guessing the guys up there had a good night the view here was not bad.

[Irish stargazer]

Wow! What a turn out last night. The PC looked like a car park. Never seen so many people at the PC before. Fantastic!

I departed at midnight, defeated by the heavy dew but I did manage a few snaps despite the constant use of a hairdryer. Very impressed with the Polarie's tracking ability. This was a five minute exposure at effectively 160mm.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/12258260464_ab90b77fe3_h.jpg

Look forward to seeing Arthurs's group photo. Any chance of putting a link to the picky so we can download the photo? ;)

[Rodstar]

Hi all,

What a great night! Wonderful to see so many people. Looking forward to seeing Jakob's group photo. A few arrived later after the group photo was taken, but most people are in it.

Conditions were pretty much ideal until the dew kicked in at about 11. The transparency was excellent, and seeing very still (which of course contributed to the dew). By midnight my shroud was absolutely drenched, and, uncommonly for the Mary Rose, the primary mirror was all fogged up as well.

It was great to have Bambo and Phil sharing the Mary Rose with me. I convinced John that TPAS run was not required. John had an appetite for galaxies, so we chewed through quite a few, including my favourite NGC1365 in Fornax and one of John's favourite's NGC1566, a lovely spiral. The Humunculous was spectacular - lots of details in the lobes were visible without any effort or averted imagination required. We also chewed through quite a few crisps, and some of us enjoyed a drop of Makers 46 (yum).

Also good to see Ron this time with his 8 inch dob - he was able to locate a few object such as NGC253 and Eta Carinae for the first time which was a buzz for him.

Jupiter yielded some lovely tight views through the evening. M42 was spectacular - E and F were visible in twilight, and the pallet of colours came in to full force by mid-evening.

I will be in Coonabaraban next new moon for a week's concentrated observing with John (XStream) and Anna. Looking forward to it!

Hope to see you all in late April!

[Gee]

What a great night. The dew killed me by 2200, really have to address that and got a lot of tips from people on doing just that, something about 'pulse phase units' or was that 'phasers on stun' or something or other ... lol

Met a bunch of lovely people for the first time, and caught up with some older faces, pun intended, and got to see some fantastic views. The 'Mary Rose' is a real eye opener, pun also intended. Go dobs.

Some pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/116119862@N02/

-----------------
please call me on 0401669556 is any of these pics offends and I will remove ASAP.
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[RB]

Couldn't get away last night, visitors stayed to very late.
Glad you guys had a great time.
Rod, wish I could have joined you, John and Phil for a sky tour.
The sky looked great from here but dew was bad.

Sorry I missed all the fun.
:sadeyes:

RB

[Rodstar]

Hey RB, I know you had your hands full with visitors last night! There will be other times....

[GTB_an_Owl]

FANTASTIC to see such a big turnout last nite and only two clouds in sight (:P) all nite.
Hope the new comers had a good session and will come again.
Al and I closed the gate about 2-30 am
A real pity the dew got so bad late in the evening

geoff

[Allan_L]

The Observing field looked like a parking lot!
So many people there I am sure I didn't get to talk with nearly everyone.
Sorry about that.
But the viewing was "on" and there was plenty to see.

Special thanks John for the excellent supper.

Thanks to everyone who turned up!
And a special warm welcome to all the "First Timers".
Hope to see you there regularly.

[Inmykombi]

I cannot remember when there was so many at the PC as there was last night.:thumbsup:
Welcome to all the new comers who visited for the first time.
A Cracker of a night until the Dew came in, but with my LX200 dew heaters working overtime to keep it away, I was observing until about 1 am.
14 meteors and a few brightly flashing satellites kept the naked eye busy between visits to the numerous eyepieces on offer.

Thanks to everyone who attended for a great night.

[jakob]

Nice shot John.
I was trying to look at the Flame nebula last night but no success, the bright Alnitak just drowns it out.
Your polar alignement was also pretty good to get the stars so sharp.

And thanks for the midnight Snack!
:thanx:

[Irish stargazer]

Thanks Jakob, however I didn't provide the late night snacks:P

[Rick Petrie]

Congratulations to everyone who turned out to make such a good night.
A warm welcome to all the newcomers and to John 'Fizics' for those scrumptious snacks.:P
Thanks also to Rod for the 'firewater' and awesome views.:)
Hope you sort that pinched optics problem Al.
Once again top roll-up and bring on the next meet.:thumbsup:

[Shano592]

I think there were about 15 vehicles, by the end of twilight. I have never seen so many there.

The Mary Rose had to setup near the road, it was so full.

Sorry for the image quality, unfortunately, this particular tablet doesn't have a great camera. Still, you can see most of the field.

I think 2 or 3 more vehicles may have arrived after this photo was taken.

Sue and I left at around 23:30, and everything was soaked due to the dew. I don't think I have seen it so bad up there before. The wind had stopped by 8pm, so that probably wouldn't have helped things.

Still, the seeing was quite good, and we had quite a celestial feast.




Geoffro, the link you want for the wifi controller is:

http://astrodevices.com/products/NexusS/NexusS.html

[jakob]

Here is the Pic, missing are Geoff_the_OWL, Joe and the button pusher.
That makes 20 attendees, not counting the earley morning arrivals.

Agreate night and thanks to the Snack provider.

[GTB_an_Owl]

great pic Jakob

couldn't you find a picture of an owl to photoshop me in?

i make the number 23 that attended Jakob

geoff

[osteoblast]

I also thought it was a great night despite the dew formation. My apologies if my headlights disturbed anyone when leaving just after midnight. I didn't expect dew on the inside of the windscreen and couldn't see where I was going. I also had a first go in the field with an Ioptron skytracker driving an old DSLR. I couldn't polar align properly due to lack of familiarity with the southern pole and possibly a fogged polarscope. Inspired by John's pic, this is a 2min exposure of a similar region to his snap. It was taken as an afterthought when my other lenses dewed up. Despite its limitations (tracking, focussing etc) I think there is a flame and maybe a bit of something where the pony is meant to be. Something to work on next time.

[Irish stargazer]

Nice shot Matt.

[linstar88]

Hi all,
It was well worth the trip up to the pony club even though dew attacked the primary fairly early. Was great to meet some of the IIS members. Lots of excellent advice floating around for us beginners (fair warning, lots more will be needed :lol:).
Was awesome to see some of the more advanced scopes in action and even better getting a chance to take a peek through some of them :thumbsup:. Though that massive 20" mary rose was a little intimidating thus both Linda and myself were not game to climb that ladder just yet, kind of like Jacobs ladder that one :) maybe next time.
Work and weather permitting we will be back up again to shoot for the stars next new moon and clear skies. Some nice pictures were posted including the group shot. Hope to see you all and possibly some new faces on the next run.
Huge thanks to everyone for help, advice, comparisons, food, facilities and general good conversation. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Cheers Guy and Linda.