Unbelievable ... Three clear nights ahead for melbourne

[rustigsmed]

Feels like ages since I could set up and leave the mount out for w few nights. Moon is out though, will have to go NB probably something in the smc, open to target options! Upgraded my focuser screws etc fingers crossed tilt is gone :prey::prey:
Get out and enjoy it !!

Rusty

[Somnium]

it may be clear for you, but i had the opportunity to work from my observatory site for a week and the clouds have not left me.

[pgc hunter]

There is so many clear nights here I don't know what do with them. :scared3:

Make the most of it Melbourne especially during this record crap year.

[bugeater]

Clear but moony. Really need that narrowband setup. And an observatory.

[Mamba]

Just been driven in by an incredible amount of dew formation over the last 15 minutes. My brand new scope all wet and cold in outer north Melbourne,
I've been waiting two weeks for first light.
Mamba

[rustigsmed]

No good, hope the observatory is coming along. What a terrible year it has been!



Glad somebody is getting some clear nights. You are right need to take pretty much any opportunity this year (in Melbourne at least).



Yep struggling with guide stars with this moonlight!! I hear you re an obsy me too!



Yep unlucky mamba dew is building here slowly hoping it stays away as long as possible. Also copped a long cloud that only affected my imaging area (ngc 456) and came from the south which was unusual!
No powerful owls out which is unusual they usually make an appearance near the full moon

[Atmos]

I knew this would happen!! Gone away for 9 days up to Western Australia, been wanting to use my new telescope more for AGES!

[AussieTrooper]

A bit moony for observing, but should be good for the eclipse.

[N1]

Yep, for Melbourne it's one of those rare double eclipses where Earth totally eclipses the totally eclipsed Moon (http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2015Sep28T.pdf). ;)

[rustigsmed]

Indeed, a bit moony but also never fear Atmos, in typical Melbourne fashion the wind sprung up so much I had to take the scope down despite predictions of 5-10km/h. I did snap w few pics of the moon so not a total waste ...

[BilliGoatsGruff]

So we won't get to see it at all?

[AussieTrooper]

Haha, yeah, I ran it on skymap this morning.
We need some sort of mine shaft through the center of the earth!

[N1]

No, but that's alright, because we also won't get to see next year's Transit of Mercury (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_of_Mercury#/media/File:Transit_of_Mercury_May_9_2016_ Orientation_of_Earth.png). :sadeyes:

And as we all know - two negatives makes a positive :hi:

[AussieTrooper]

We miss both transits. 2016 and 2019.
Three negatives???


But it's ok if you can hang around until 2032, where the transit begins late in the afternoon.

[N1]

No, you are forgetting the 2018 Partial Solar Eclipse, to which SE OZ has exclusive observing rights (http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2018Jul13P.GIF)

Obscuration should be similar to Mercury Transit, especially from Adelaide :P
Good luck observing that one, rest of the world! :lol:

[BilliGoatsGruff]

Well that's a bummer. I've already missed out on the other three.

[deanm]

Ben - good idea, but that would spoil it for everyone: while the eclipse was underway at night on the opposite hemisphere, all of the daylight from our side of the planet would leak through the mine shaft and ruin the eclipse...!

Dean

[N1]

Not if the mine shaft starts under Ben's car port :thumbsup:

[AussieTrooper]

SWMBO doesn't want me spending any more money on telescopes, so I'm selling this one as central heating for the house. ;)