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gaa_ian
07-04-2005, 12:36 AM
A viewing night with a difference tonight...
Had an impromptu BBQ on the shores of the Arafura sea in NE Arnhem land.
With Jupiter rising in the east as the sun set, a lovely evening began.
The constellations you would all be familiar with (Centaurus, Crux, Carina, Vela etc..) dominated the southern horizion.
Following a great BBQ Dinner it was lights out & a sky tour of the northern constellations of Auriga & Ursa Major as it rose through the NE horizion.
The clear skies were ensured by the fact that I didn't take a telescope along.
A very interesting story from one of the guests of his experience in 1958 (I think)
watching through a small refractor and seeing a new "Star" appear!
Expecting a tale of a supernova, I had not heard of, I was surprized to hear that he had in fact witnessed one of the moon missions, where they curcumnavigatred the moon.
The bright new "Star" was in fact the stage 1 & 2 separations of the launch rocket.
Now we can so easily watch the ISS pass us by, predicted within an accuracy of seconds
:atom:
How the times have changed.
How did you spend your Wed night :)

ballaratdragons
07-04-2005, 01:29 AM
Hi Ian,

Sounds like a great relaxing night, and probably nice and warm up there too.

Yes, the times have changed. I can remember back in Primary School being sent home to watch Neil Armstrong become the first man to walk on the Moon. Our school didn't have a TV. Either did most of the kids at school so I took about 6 kids home with me to watch it.

As for my Wed night: I was all ready to set up for another night of Sagittarius searching. I checked the sky about 10pm and it was crystal clear again but all the stars were wildly twinkling and we had a very gusty wind! Sagittarius would not be up for a couple of hours so I kept checking in case the seeing improved. By 12:30 the clouds starting rolling in and that put an end to any plans, so I spent the night watching TV and in here. Not a very exciting night but I have been spoilt with terrific viewing on the previous 2 nights (even if it was freezing).