New Member from Darwin, NT

[DrunknStargazer]

Hi Members,

I am a very amateur stargazer and have only just joined IceInSpace.

My kit consists of, Scopes - Orion Short Tube 90mm Refractor; Orion XT12g Dob Reflector.
Binos - Orion 20 x 80 Astro; Nikon 10-22 x 50 Zoom; 10 x 42 ProMaster Roofs plus several eyepieces & filters.

There are some pretty spectacular objects in the night (and early morning) skies at the moment but unfortunately the skies are very unpredictable during the wet season.

Are there any members in the Darwin area that are interested in some stargazing when the weather clears up, cheers.

Dave

[PhilTas]

Hi Dave,
There are a couple of other Darwin IIS'ers who post on here. I am presently working in Karratha, but will hopefully be moving back to Darwin in the near future. It would be good to make contact with you and the other chaps.
I live near Humpty Doo where there is a bit less sky glow than in town. You would be welcome to come out anytime once I get home.
Cheers Phil

[Hemi]

Hi Dave, welcome to IIS. I'm new into the hobby (3months) and live in Darwin.
I setup a Darwin members thread. But got very few responses. I don't think there are that many of us up here....and certainly no clubs. I agree about the wet, but this week has had some stunning nights. Very happy to meet up, but I'm sure you won't learn much from me!

[DrunknStargazer]

Hi Phil (PhilTas),
I am in the process of making my XT12G more transportable so that I can take it out bush where the viewing conditions will be much better. Having viewing location options such as Humpty Doo or anywhere around Darwin will make this hobby even more enjoyable.
Looking forward to some stargazing when you return home.

Beer Skies
Dave

[DrunknStargazer]

Hi Hemi,
Thanks for your reply.
What a great hobby to have, I am too still learning as a novice stargazer. You're right, there have been a few clear evenings (and mornings) in which I usually grab the binoculars for a quick look before setting up a scope.
I am also keen to meet up for a bit of viewing. There is a street light right out the front of my house but I have a solution for that.
Don't forget the Partial Solar Eclipse on Wednesday Morning.

Beer Skies
Dave

[Hemi]

Hey Dave, what's your solution for the street light?
Alas I am in Melbourne on Wednesday, flying back up to Darwin so will miss it. It will be a good sight with 50% in Darwin.

[BeanerSA]

A .22 rifle?

[vlazg]

Hi Dave, i also live in Darwin, haven't set up as yet due the wet, probably late April , May, Where i live i have virtually no sky to observe but i have friend who lives out past Humpty where i leave my setup for astrophotography till Oct or so.
would love to meet with all the others up here.
George

[StephenJ]

Hi Dave and George and Hemi and other Top Enders,

I too do some star gazing from the northern suburbs (10inch dob), often go out to Lee Point for darker skies to north.

Presently frustrated with wet season clouds, but we need the rain hey? Jupiter great when things clear up. The big dipper starting to show too.

Cheers, SJ

[DrunknStargazer]

Hi Hemi,
Looking forward to the partial eclipse tomorrow, I am taking my small scope and solar filter to work so that I can share the experience with the guys at work.
My street light solution is simple but doesn't involve any silly stuff.
Enjoy your time in Melbourne.
Beer skies

[DrunknStargazer]

Hi Paul,
My street light solution is simple but doesn't involve any silly stuff.

[DrunknStargazer]

Hi SJ,
Lee Point is a great idea, always a bit worried about going there by myself though, East Point and Dripstone Cliffs would also make great viewing places.
Might need to make some stargazing plans when the skies clear up.
Beer Skies
Dave

[NTgazer]

Hi guys, another Darwin member here. I haven't been on for a while I've been crazy busy having another baby, moving house etc! I reckon out at Gunn point would be a pretty good place to observe, problem is the road out there gets pretty corrugated at times and so isn't too good on scopes. Anywhere down the highway gets noticeably darker, past Coolalinga especially into the rural areas. Wish I had a PST for today's eclipse

[Hemi]

so 5 of us currently in Darwin. That's a good number for a meet up! Lee point or dripstone would be good spots.

[DrunknStargazer]

Five people is a great start, some other possible viewing locations are;
Channel Island area
Nightcliff Foreshore (parkland on western end of Aralia Street)
Howard Springs Nature Reserve
Any Rural area property
Even my Driveway (Northern Suburbs).

Maybe there will be a break in the weather before the wet season ends, here's to beer skies soon.

Dave

[DarwinAstro]

Hi Lads
Phil (PhilTas)
George (VLAZG)
Chris (NT Gazer)
StephenJ
Dave (DrunknStarGazer)
Chris here from Karama. I'd like to jump onboard with some locals for some viewing and Astrophotograpy nights during the dry. I won’t be rude, I’ll wait for an invite! Hopefully your all still here in the Top End.
After many years of absence from a hobby I loved as a kid the time has come for me to jump back in.
I have been putting my kit together over the last 10 or so months and ready to get my first light. The last (Yeah Right!!) bits of kit arrived yesterday!
I think I'm gonna need some assistance getting all this to work correctly???
I’ve been hard at YouTube, forums, Pixinsight and Photoshop and such to get ahead of the game with processing so when the skies clear I’ll be good to go, well at least the best I can be anyway.

So…. If any of you guys are still about and have the time to spare and share some knowledge and a few coldies, I’m all in!
Clear Skies Lads

Mount: HEQ5 Pro
OTA: Skywatcher ED80
Main Camera: ZWO ASI 1600mm Pro (Mono)
ZWO EFW 8 Position filter Wheel, loaded with LRGB & Ha, OIII and SII.
Auto Focus: ZWO EAF
Guiding: ZWO 120mm c/w ZWO 30F4 Guidescope
ASIAir

Mount: Mini AZGTi Mount with EQ Modification
Scope: William Optics Spacecat 51
Canon 600D (3Ti)

[PhilTas]

Hello all you Darwinites,

Count me in!

Once the skies clear a bit, then lets talk about a time and a venue.

Cheers Phil

[Hemi]

Ill be up for it.

H

[DarwinAstro]

Cool thanks for getting back to me fellas.

[DarwinAstro]

Great Friday night 19th. Forecast is not to bad this weekend. Anyone keen to hook up? I have a place to go to at Knuckeys Lagoon. Might be ok for a first meet?

[chrisp9au]

Try this for picking good spots, works for me down here in Victoria.
Zoom in to get the location names.
Click your mouse on a location to see what class skies you will get.

https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=8&lat=-1434016&lon=14588804&layers=B0FFFFFTFFFFFFFF

Clear skies!
Chris

[DarwinAstro]

HEQ5 pier extension has arrived.....its a beast of a thing.

[wasyoungonce]

Hi Dave...I was in Katherine many years ago for 5 yrs.. Tropical Rain used to clear the skies extremely well but tropical lightening flashes tend to be visible from a long way away....destroys viewing