Good viewing in Perth last night

[DaveR]

Last night I had my first good clear night with my new 10" dob. Even in down town Perth I could make out the LMC and SMC with averted vision which is much better than normal.
Still learning so I did not find that many before tiredness caught up - too many end of year celebrations this week! Orion and Tarantula were great but spent most time just getting lost in 47 Tuc. Even my teenage son was impressed.
Hope it is as good tonight:)

[rogerg]

Good to hear a report from Perth. We've had an awful run of cloud lately. I noticed it looked good last night but couldn't quite convince myself to stay up. I find when I can only start astronomy when it's dark at 10pm I am finding it hard to be bothered doing any at all as it would mean a very late (early) night.

I'm tossing up if I'll do any tonight.

The easterly wind has been blowing around all day, hopefully that won't ruin tonight for anyone who is observing.

Roger.

[rmcpb]

Great to hear about your session Dave :) However, I agree with Roger that with daylight saving its often too late to get set up during the week and its reducing the real chances to Friday and Saturday nights which have been cloudy lately.

Keep giving that 10" dob a run, you will absolutely love it.

[WadeH]

:hi: Hello and welcome Dave.
The more the merrier from this side of the country!! Sounds like you and your son had a great nights viewing. Like Roger I looked outside and could not force myself to set up. Daylight saving, dont get me started :mad2: However, have you checked out http://www.heavens-above.com/, a great site for shuttle, ISS, and Iridium times and co-ordinates. A -8 Iridium is passing over Bully tonight at 22:10 daylight savings time in the ESE. Should be visable from Perth.

[DaveR]

Roger - maybe my tonge-in-cheek comment a few weeks ago was tempting too much. Sorry.

Rob I agree that daylight time is a pain if you are hoping to have a session at the telescope as I tend to hit the wall at 11.30 max, but I love the extra time for garden, bbq, beach after work. Just need to figure out how to get both - maybe we could lobby to have summer time limited to no moon weeks or clear nights:lol:

Wade, thanks for the suggestion about the website. I caught the ISS a few weeks ago out Bullsbrook - stunning sight.

Cheers
Dave

[boxy66]

Sitting outside last night having a couple of coolies with the missus and spotted that iridium flare.... saw a really bright satellite not long before it as well - dont know what that was .... but they were both speccie.

Had my little 130mm reflector setup in the backyard as well to have a look at the orion nebula ....i seem to be able to see more each time i look at it.

I'll drag out the scope again tonight....my daughter wants me to see if i can spot Santa!!

Merry Christmas

Boxy:xmas:

[mickoking]

I have noticed the skies have been nice and clear the last few nights, Haven't done much observing lately tho, distracted with other projects.