Good Seeing in Sydney

[multiweb]

Although the moon's getting up, if you're around Sydney Monday night the forecast points to a clear sky with incredible seeing. A night where you want to get that Ha filter out and image anything at over 3m FL. Sunday night isn't half bad either but Monday looks better. Get ready. :thumbsup:

[atalas]

I'll believe that when I seeing It Marc:lol:Sydney seeing sucks.

[Somnium]

that would be a nice change, last night i had probably the worst seeing conditions that i have ever seen, over 6" FWHM!

[multiweb]

oh well, I've had a couple of excellent seeing nights in Sydney. But I can count them on one hand. It's that or the three swallows ;)



Yes it was clear last night but the twinkling was very evident even up ahead. Sunday and Monday the jetstream will be close to nill with no surface wind. It's a calm pocket of air passing by the east coast. Short window of opportunity and it's going to be clear (so says CFN). So fingers crossed. Let's make the most of it if it happens.

[h0ughy]

is this just like the clear night at astrofest Marc?

[multiweb]

Without the rain. Hopefully... :P
Seriously... much better, if it eventuates.

This is not something you see very often.

[Atmos]

I may just have to take the next few days off and head north of Melbourne!

[multiweb]

Don't you dare bringing that Melbournian Feng Shui into our NSW clear skies mate. Keep it down there. :P

[Atmos]

Where is the love? :P

[mental4astro]

Yup, and here come the clouds, right on que... :rolleyes:

[multiweb]

Well, last night wasn't bad at all. Tonight should be better. :stargaze:

[Somnium]

I had my best seeing in ages last night, around .28" rms, looking forward to tonight, I will be kicking off imaging while at work so as to not miss out, just a shame about the moon though

[multiweb]

Excellent. :thumbsup: Tonight should be even better. I wasn't out last night but had a peek very early this morning. I'm hoping to get some time tonight too with the C11. :)

[Atmos]

Do I hear Trifid core in the making? ;)

[Somnium]

i am working on the Helix, but after a month of trying and really bad seeing i might end up with about 7 hours of data. also, the moon is not going to be great for both targets tonight, but it will be much worse for the trifid

[multiweb]

Nah... moon's too close, and it's the danger zone for me anyway. I somehow always end up on M8. :shrug: Gonna try that NGC6744 galaxy in Pavo that big Mike (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=147847)did.



Sounds good. Looking forward to the pic. :thumbsup:

[atalas]

:lol:....yeah but what an M8! you out there tonight Marc?

[multiweb]

Yeah mate. I'm doing subs on NGC6752 a small cluster bright enough to train guiding before I move on NGC6744. Sky's very still I get +/- 0.6" guiding with the lodestar/OAG throught the C11. Fingers crossed I get the same on the galaxy.

[atalas]

Very cool...good luck with It.

[multiweb]

It was a great night. Best seeing we've had in a while and no surface wind. Little wet and the moon was a nuisance but it would have been good for NB or planetary or even lunar. The galaxy is in my shots but it's going to be hard to get out of the sky glow. The cluster though is bright and beautifully resolved. The guiding was very tight at times and the gear behaved well.:thumbsup: Still a bit sh|t faced this morning but nothing a good night sleep won't fix. Packing up later this arvo as it looks like clouds are coming back for the next few nights unfortunately.

[atalas]

Better to be sh|faced than the data to be sh|te....look forward to seeing It.

[multiweb]

Well... a bit of both TBH. :lol: I buggered my flats badly. Here's a couple of pics, rig and the cluster NGC6572.

That said I had fun. Big John doesn't get out much unless the seeing is very good and it worked well last night. No drama. Just the usual struggle to hold 26kg at head level long enough to slit it into that Losmandy rail whining like a little girl.

I won't be doing this for much longer. This thing needs an obs and permanent setup on an EQ8. Later in life. :)

[atalas]

That glob looks real good Marc :thumbsup: and that's a sweet looking Rig....don't remember my G11 having a threaded counter weight shaft,did you change It?guess so.

[multiweb]

Thanks mate. I'll have to process it later on.
This is a Titan shaft. My G11 is a bit of an hybrid mount. A cross in between a Titan and a G11. It's reinforced internally, got more bushes and bearings, etc...

[andyc]

Damn, looks like I missed a decent night for planetary... have got in-laws in town so playtime is limited. Nice kit Marc!

[multiweb]

It was a great night but for the moon. We get a couple of these now and then. Worth looking for them on CFN.

[Somnium]

I will post on the main forum in a bit, but this is what i captured during this bout of good seeing, i captured about half the data over those 2 nights.

https://www.facebook.com/618688161540178/photos/a.734031263339200.1073741833.618688 161540178/1075771229165200/?type=3&theater

[multiweb]

Wow! That looks great! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: