SPSP Report!

[iceman]

Hey guys.

The report is finally complete!

Read the goss, read the viewing reports, and see the pictures, in the observing logs (http://www.iceinspace.com/?observing) section.

More specifically, here's a direct link to the report (http://www.iceinspace.com/index.php?id=33,175,0,0,1,0).

For Rod, Robby, Seeker and Xstream, if you want your report on the main site, just email it to me.. or otherwise just add it to this thread or the other SPSP thread.

Comments welcome!

[Thiink]

Great report, looks like a good weekend. Those observing reports/lists are damn impressive!

Shame I didn't read your post about the star party sooner, would have only been an hour trip out there from here! Would it be worth making a trip out there on a normal weekend to have a look? They have a normal observing session coming up next month. Wouldn't mind checking out another observatory, and there's a few around here.

I'm definiately going to have to pack the dob up and take it out of town soon, my view from my backyard is really limited at the moment by trees. How did you go about packing your 10" safely into the car? Just using the original packing?

[rumples riot]

Great report Mike, really good shots and things of interest. Maybe next year I will try make it there with the LX200. Sounds like a great time was had by all. Thanks for sharing.

[ving]

great report mike :)
think i'll have to invers in a dcs myself.

[tornado33]

I know the maker of this scope
http://www.iceinspace.com/image_zoom.php?show=MV80NTNfM296Y3Z sTUVrYS5qcGc=
George, he hasnt finished it yet, and is working on a 1 metre aluminium mirror, nothing is too big for him hehehehe. We are both in the Newcastle Astro Society. http://www.nas.org.au/
I havent been to the last 3 SPSP's but did go to the first few then the odd one thereafter.

[Moonman]

Iceman,

Is there a viewing night etiquette that everyone adhers to since you have so many scopes concentrated in the one area and I assume it would be pitch black. (No reference to the movie)

Also great photos. Theres some pretty awesome equipment about.

Moonman

[Vermin]

What is this "star-mate" gizmo of Robby's? I keep getting "connection refused" errors when I try the web site link.

[Robby]

Hi Vermin,
Try http://www.2fdesign.co.nz/astronomy/starmate.htm if the www.star-mate.com website is not working. I had problems with it yesterday, but it should be right now.

Great report Mike.. Shame about the kiwi fulla polluting a few of your photos:)..
I got home 3am on Tuesday morning, then found out yesterday that I have to go to Perth for work today (Wed).. So I have been running around like a mad man trying to get everything sorted for that. Consequently I have not had a chance to write up my Aus visit. In the weekend hopefully!..
Cheers

[iceman]

There's a contingent that heads up there every new moon for some observing. I'm sure if you gave Don at Bintel a call he'll tell you all about it. It's a nice place to go, especially if you get to look through the 25" dob.
I image you'd more want to go for the social aspect and looking through other people's scopes, rather than the dark skies. You can get equally as dark skies closer to home I imagine.

Yep, I used the station wagon and laid down the back seat, and used 2 of the original foam packing to rest the OTA on, and I jammed the base and everything else around it so it didn't move about while driving.

Basically no white lights.. some people drove their cars in after dark with their lights blazing and that drew a roar of unpleasant responses from many an observer.

But apart from that, just normal courtesy and ettiquette.. you'll find that amateurs are more than willing to talk about their gear and let you have a look through their gear. All you have to do is ask.

Oh and of course be careful not to lean all over their scope or put any grubby fingers on their eyepiece lens :P

Thanks for the comments.. looking forward to reading the reports from Robby, Rod, seeker and xstream.. bring 'em on guys!

[iceman]

I consider myself warned!!!!

(Love wifey)

[Robby]

Back from Perth. Man it is hot there! Still sorting out what time it is and with daylight savings ending last night I'm not really sure what is going on!!!
Mike, you'll be interested to know that I know have star-mate interface to the Argonavis. Gary sent through some shell commands that allow button emulation. Hooked it up to the serial port on the star-mate and bingo! I'll mount it all up on the scope and send through some pics.

I will get my SPSP photos developed tomorrow and post the most embarassing ones here!
Cheers