Comet McNaught big for IceInSpace!

[iceman]

Hi all

The comet has been BIG news! It's really captured the public interest, and it's definitely been a boost for IceInSpace, both in membership and visitors.

The site has been extremely busy, especially during peak times (like last night, after everyone came inside from looking at the comet!!) with over 300 people online at one time.

We apologise for any delays experienced - the server copped a hammering. Terry and I are looking at upgrading the server (more RAM!) in the next few months so we'll be able to cope better with loads like this when the next big event comes :) More near-earth comets please, Rob McNaught :D

Just to give you an idea - we've more than tripled the normal number of unique visitors in a given day! It's been huge!

:welcome: to all the new members who signed up thanks to Comet McNaught! We hope you enjoy your visit at IceInSpace and find enough interesting stuff to keep you coming back regularly.

[Dennis]

That's great news Mike - we missed out it Brissie due to persistent cloud cover, but we're glad to know that others were more successful.

Cheers

Dennis

[Grinz]

WOW yes that is busy for any site - deservedly so. I'm new here and very impressed.

McNaught brought me here.... and now you might find me hanging around longer than it will (whether I am as bright as the comet is a mute point though...)

[[1ponders]]

:hi: and :welcome: Lee and to all new members.

[Orion]

What an exiting time of the year, Christmas, New years, Comet, Holidays, IISC.
I can't take much more!

Welcome to all the new members.

[RB]

Welcome everyone :welcome:

Enjoy your stay and good luck with the comet spotting.

[Grinz]

Thanks for the welcome!

[ballaratdragons]

Welcome Lee & other new members.

Hey Lee, there is a cat trying to tear it's way through your post :eyepop:

:rofl:

[Grinz]

Ken,

*purrrrrrr*

(I should add "owned by live-in-felines" to my profile, I guess...

[ving]

and i am owned by 4... if you count my wife and daughter too :rolleyes:

welcome aboard Lee :)

[iceman]

1700 members!! :scared:

Quickest addition of 100 members ever! (in only 5 days!)

:welcome: to IceInSpace.. I hope after McNaught disappears that we see some of you back as regulars! :thumbsup:

[astroron]

:hi: and :welcome: to all the new members to our site, I hope you will stay a while and be part of our great communnity.
South East Queenslanders, we hope to see you at one of our monthly Astronomy nights.:astron: :stargaze:

[Hemiduty]

Well I am another that found this place due to this apparent comet. Still yet to see it thanks to STUPID BLOODY CLOUDS but I will hold out hope until the end, as I always do.

I too will stick around long after the comet (if there really is one) has passed. I love space and science, I read space.com everyday, but it took this comet for me to actually seek out an aussie space forum, I simply hadn't thought of looking before.

Did I mention how much these clouds suck?

[CoombellKid]

They aint much better south of Casino either

regards

[drylander]

been raining all day and still no sign of it stopping. Good for the country here but a bugger to those that like looking at the stars comets etc.
Finally time to spend looking and in come the clouds. :eyepop:
Same-o same-o:shrug:
Pete

[MrB]

I was the opposite.
Been 'into' astronomy on and off for years, but I only found IIS about 8 days ago.
I can't remember how I got here(!), but it was IIS that alerted me to comet McNaught's existance!

And just two days after finding IIS, I bought a 'scope off another member!
Have been meaning to get one for years. (I've got a polished but uncoated mirror here I started grinding about 4 years ago.... slack!)

Anyway, thanks to iceman for a great forum, to Rob McNaught for a great comet! and to anj026 for a great 1st 'scope!
LOL

[[1ponders]]

Wow! 224 new members since the 14-1-07 :eyepop:

[h0ughy]

yes Paul, they are waiting for you to do a drift alignment course;)

great stuff, this comet is building great interest, but I do agree the weather is a problem - wished it could have been a winter comet, could you imagine how much brighter it would have seemed?:D

[OneOfOne]

I think it would be interesting to get an idea of the interest generated by McNaught on the forum.

I am sure the Iceman could get some statistics, like a graph of the number of new members per week/month. Number of postings per day over the last few months, longest threads (I am sure some the the McNaught threads would have to be almost as long at the tail if they were printed!). I know it has generated a huge interest in my family alone, many of them pay only scant attention to the skies but they have gone out of there way for a peek at this!

[DobDobDob]

I'll manipulate my pointing appendage skyward also, the comet drew me here and I am electromagnetically held due to opposing forces of fresh and bright knowledge versus humour and wit. :P