Casino and N, S, W, E of

[CoombellKid]

Ok you folks in the Casino area anyone keen for a get together before
Xmas? I'm happy to offer my place for either the 15th, 16th and 17th
and 21st and 22rd of December.

I'd be even keen to go out to Alex's place, we could car pool.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[glenc]

Sounds good to me. Any day is ok.

[GrahamL]

yours or glens is fine with me rob.. alex is a little far for me around that time
should buy some land out your ways guys ..since i keep driving out there:P

[xelasnave]

I am back in Sydney but hope to be back again by then..I have to give a star talk at Tabby School and show the kids something thru a scope.. If you need my place anytime is ok there is a guy living up there now and he is doing the lawns they should be under control in a couple of days. Anyways post the time and place when everyone agrees.
alex

[glenc]

I suggest Robs place. Is that OK?
The long range forecast shows no rain on the 16th & 17th.

[CoombellKid]

Glen, 16th or 17th np's here

Graham, we could help you look for a nice dark sky site too : ))))

Alex and anyone else, can you make it out to Coombell, south of Casino? if
you want a place to crash, there is a spare bed, couch, tent if needed


regards,CS

Rob

[GrahamL]

sounds good

[CoombellKid]

Ok then guy's

Weather depending 16th or 17th if conditions dont prevail

then...

22nd or 23rd as Glen suggested in his Dec/Jan thread, sorry hadn't
realised you had started that one glen.

or if your feeling keen both weekends :D

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[glenc]

Thats ok with me. We should have an accurate forecast by Wed or Thu.

[astro_south]

Guys

Leyburn is out for me this weekend due to a work Christmas party, and due to the extra night at Cambroon not happening, I am very anxious for some dark skies (last seen September). I would favour the 22nd or 23rd (probably the 23rd more) if anyone else is keen. I have no preferrences for whose house (+ or - 20 to 30kms isn't going to bother me coming from Brisvegas). Anyone else from Brisbane interested?

[glenc]

Forecast isn't good at the moment.
http://weather.smh.com.au/local.jsp?lt=aploc&lc=2960
We will have to see what it is like a day or two before the night.

[CoombellKid]

Np's here Andrew,

The extended forcast isn't promising for this weekend, 22rd or 23rd is
cool with me either way, come on down :thumbsup:even if it is clear this weekend.
I'm keen for a double weekend out here, for the rest of the northern NSW boy's.
Have had a couple of lovely nights. Tonight it's clouded out. Also getting some
impressive views through the PST at present.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[CoombellKid]

Been keeping an eye on it, looks like we have storms out this way tonight.
Hopefully it will settle before the weekend.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[xelasnave]

Well I have figured it out. I have been driving up and down the coast from here to Sydney with all my gear including three new items, mount binos and 300mm lens and alp top to guide with..I proved it today the rain came up the coast after me.. it put fire out as I pasted between here and Grafton I kid you not.. I was hot as here today, I missed the year end day dam it but looked at the photos you could see it was hot..and the rain has not stopped.
I am sorry but it must be helping someone.
I have only managed two miserable shots with the new gear I think I will go West I get that camper back after xmas.. I say that ever wet I guess.
What I am saying is its real wet.
alex

[CoombellKid]

It missed us unfortunately, would love some rain for the garden. But it did
look like buckets coming down over your way mid afternoon.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[glenc]

Rob, which night do you want to have the get together?
It looks like both weekends are going to be cloudy.
Big storm here this pm.

[CoombellKid]

Glen,

Either night of either weekend is ok with me, we had a storm come through
earlier, but it has cleared up rather nicely here now. But I agree the extended
forcast doesn't look too promising. I suppose we take it as it comes and see
what happens.

I'm printing up some charts for comets 4P/Faye, Swan, McNaught C/2006
to track down tonight.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[GrahamL]

yeah its hard to pick !!... been clear ..an ..cloudy..an clear all day here
storms gone up the coast ftm and its looking like another good night
have a look tommorow arvo you think ?

[glenc]

I suggest we pick a night and hope it is ok.

[CoombellKid]

Just nabbed Faye, and R Leporis is putting on a nice display difinitely brighter
than last year and I've estimated it is near max around 8mag. It's another
carbon star Graham probably slightly more red than the last one V Aquilae.

If you want to pick a night Glen np's, do you have a preference? you guy's
keen coming out next weekend too? I think Andrew was keen on coming
down.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[GrahamL]

can't make it tonight ,,looks pretty cloudy here atm ?

[CoombellKid]

It's been pretty ugly out this way all day, we have storm action here
at present. I did get up for a few hours @ 12:30am this morning. The
Geminid's were active and putting on a nice display. Now I'm about to
turn all household appliances off.

hope fully tomorrow will be a go

regards,CS sunny days, speak tomorrow

Rob

PS: Just got the new Starry Night Pro Plus 6 fed-ex'ed from Canada, but
have to kill power : ( so I cant install.

[GrahamL]

havn't seen a lightning show like that for years ,hope the weather didn't get to ugly for you guys we got a little rain and wind .

[CoombellKid]

We lost power for a couple of hours here. The light show was spectacular for
a while there. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get any nice lightening shots.
We had 10mm of rain in about 10 minites. I'm glad I didn't water to garden
the whole place was drenched.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[glenc]

Power was off here for 19 hrs from 7:30pm last night to 2:30pm today.
I heard that the lightning hit a transformer down the road.
Had 47mm of rain last night and more today.

[GrahamL]

thats a fair wait glen,wonder if you can get a discount on the
"service availability" (whatever that means)charge they tack on the bill
must of had to bring the new transformer in from somewhere far away .

My wifes night was pretty ugly ,the restraunt lost power for a couple hours
an x-mass party ..just couldn't understand with no power .. we can't
cook for you .. run the air con .. or chill wine .

[CoombellKid]

Well we lost power again today, not sure what time we got it back on
as I went to bed early. Almost had to cook dinner on the fire, if it weren't
for KFC Casino lol. But I guess the biggest worry is the freezer, then the
fact of no power = no tap water, toilet water. Might look into a geni to
run a few household items during blackouts.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[CoombellKid]

Hi Guy's

After last weekends storm action, I'm hoping this weekend is better,
the extended forcast looks good!

Glen, has suggested Friday night out here in Coombell, which is fine by
me. Actually any night you guy's want to come out let me know, I'm
off work until Jan 07

Lets see if we can drag Andrew down from Brissy!!

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[glenc]

This weekend is looking good.
Fri & Sat are both ok 4 me.

The attached file gives the % of clear days for some "nearby" towns.
Think I might drive up to Texas or Goondi in January.

You can copy the file to ms excel.

Reference
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/map/climate_avgs/clim_avg1.shtml

[GrahamL]

I should be free either night :)

[CoombellKid]

I was thinking of suggesting if anyone is keen on a trip up to Leyburn
one weekend early sometime next year. We could car pool perhaps take
a scope, maybe my PST. but I'm sure if we time it with Andrew he'll have
his 12.5" truss dob out there. Perhaps even picking up Alex on the way.

there are also and asortment of 16" to 30" truss dob's that maybe on the
field.

Any thoughts?

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[CoombellKid]

Well folks she isn't looking to promising for this weekend either eh'
I'm hoping it might clear for tomorrow.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[xelasnave]

Up home is looking better with the jungle now mostly like a golf course (not 200 acres either just round the house) when the time comes there will be heaps of observing spots even tent sites. When Glen was up it was at its worst and we were confined to a small blob of cement by the shack. After I get back from Sydney next time we are going to get the observatory completd or a good part of it.. the worst is over but the roof will be an interesting challenge. Even when it cleared a bit the other night there was so much moisture in the air everything was wet in no time..I dont bother when its wet at all these days such does it irritate me. Binos are good for a whip in and out however. Still not properly mounted ..one small screw needs to be brought from Casino..just one.
alex
alex

[CoombellKid]

Hi Alex,

seems an aweful long way to came and get a screw!, do you know what
size you need? perhaps I can get some and post them out to you.

I would mine coming out and checking your skies out, out sometime in the
new year.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[glenc]

I like the Leyburn idea but it will be April or June before we get a 50% chance of a clear night there.

[CoombellKid]

Thats cool, and will be freezing out there in April or June will need thermals.

Last I was out the was in Feb 05 and we had one of the best seeing
condition they had seen for quite awhile. The site isn't quite as dark
as my place as you have three major light domes off in the distance.
Toowoomba to the north, Warick to the east south east and a big
power station to the west. But the company out is great, we should
if we do try and arrange it when the big dobs are out there.

There is caravan sleeping, first in first served. otherwise it's a tent.
There is a kitchen caravan. Leyburn itself is just a few km drive
where food can be brought. Plus a few dollars ($5 from memory)
to chip in which helps maintain the place.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[GrahamL]

Well its been raining all day here :shrug: .. bucketing down at times
7.00 pm and theres nought a cloud to be seen.. maybe tommorow?

[CoombellKid]

It's been the same here, but not so much the rain. It is reasonably clear
here but you can see a distint thin cloud haze, I will probably do an early
morning thing here if it clears up a lil more. Doesn't look like very good seeing
at present.

Sorry I'm late in responding, been over giving one of the neighbours a hand.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

Tomorrow is fine with me, actually any day except, Xmas and boxing days.

[CoombellKid]

Actually it isn't looking too bad, Canopus & Rigel are doing a lil twinkle
in the east, but high up it isn't too bad.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[xelasnave]

Got the screw, and a new paint set, and some brushes, and some neat wood boxes to put them.... er thanks but I am OK, tired of travelling in the wet however.. hard to imagine the rest of the country is in drought as I have said before.
I have given up on reasonable viewing so its only up from there. Just see what turns out daily and how we are placed etc.
alex

[CoombellKid]

Yeah well, it was nice tonight but there is now a huge cloud
bank coming through from the south west. I spied what
appeared to be an Iridium flare around 10pm, heading west
to east.

I agree, it's pretty green here too.

Rob

[CoombellKid]

Well I have to say, it aint looking to good for tonight, whats a boy to
do!!! managed a quick look see in the PST this morning. Then had to
head into town to get a couple of things. By the time I got home it
had turned crappy.

regards,CS

Rob

[GrahamL]

Yeah I'll have to pass rob ,it may well clear up again later tonight
like yesterday , lots of high cloud and a bit of stormy looking stuff
out to sea here .

sure makes it hard to make plans !!.

All of you have a safe and happy x-mass

[CoombellKid]

No prob's Graham, it has gotten marginally better but not alot.

I think I will called it off and go have an Xmas beer with my neighbour.

merry xmas all, and a happy New Year for 2007

regards,CS ...I wish!

Rob

[glenc]

Happy Christmas Rob and family.
CU in the new year.

[CoombellKid]

Well like Graham predicted. it has cleared!

Glen, if you still would like to come out. I will be here.

and Graham too!

Rob

[GrahamL]

Yeah I'd like to rob , the wife is getting away from work a little early
tonight , So makeing her ride her bike home 10 ks into a 30 knot
northerly around 11 pm prolly wouldn't go down to well :P
Now if it was a southerly tailwind ..you know.. I reckon I'd give it a shot:D

[glenc]

Just got your message. I should have come down as I had trouble with the neighbor's lights last night.
CU.

[CoombellKid]

Glen & Graham

If you not up to much, and I know it's xmas eve. It's looking good for
tonight. I was out until I found myself asleep on my chair lol approx 10pm.
So I went to bed and got up again around 2:30am to catch some stunning
views of Saturn, best I have seen her in a couple of years. Orion Neb
look pretty special too, must sat on that for about 40-50 minites. With
such miminal chances lately mainly due to weather, I had a really good
time chasing mainly show stoppers.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[glenc]

Had a great night last night. Very clear but windy. Saw heaps of things.
Was up from 1am to 4:30am and no neighbors lights this time.

[CoombellKid]

Same conditions here, yeah it got a lil windy, stayed out until 2am.
Still it was t-shirt and shorts weather and very lil dew.

[GrahamL]

yeah was pretty nice outside last night ,I didn't stay out to long
my neibour spent most of night out back "trying " to assemble a couple
of bikes with his yard lit up.

sat/sun were good nights though ,saturn was good rob very crisp views
from home .