Does this mean we are in for a good night tonight???

[bloodhound31]

AND ON A FRIDAY NIGHT! Yipeeeeeee....sleep in tomorrow!:party::party::party::part y2:

Baz.:D

[bloodhound31]

sorry, heres what I'm talking about....

Baz:D

[DobDobDob]

Get on Messenger Baz :P

[xelasnave]

It is clear here I have everything set up and with a little nap earlier I plan on an all nighter even with the Moon bright as... I want to see what I can see in these conditions and sort gear out some gear.
Have a good one Baz.
alex

[John Saunders]

A good night for some, but here in Brisbane we have lots of useless fluffy cloud - giving no rain and blocking the sky.

Now last night was different - when I came home late and too buggered to do anything the sky was beautiful and clear, zippo humidity and Jupiter was huge. Had the bino's out for a while...a short while...before I was forced to retire to bed.

Them's the breaks....:P

[rogerg]

Nice and clear here, has been for 2 weeks, but my telescope's still down from the lightning strike 2 weeks ago.

[erick]

Now, Roger, that cannot go by unexplained. Where's the pic of the bbq'd OTA??:scared:

[rogerg]

Sorry - it wasn't that impressive. The lightning strike was in the immediate vicinity (estimate within 50m), conducted through the network cable to kill 2 hubs, and conducted through the pier to kill the electronics of the scope. Nothing visual though (other than an unresponsive scope and dead network!).

Lighting through the pier is one thing a UPS doesn't protect from and something I never considered a problem, until now!

:(

I should still take a pic of my observatory though - it's very sad - the scope lying on the floor with no electronics and no control panel. The obs looks bare and a mess, and the scope looks naked! It's quite depressing whenever I walk in there, I have to admit.

[DobDobDob]

Blimy, sorry to hear about your woes, that's amazing but could happen again, so here is the question. Has anyone insured the equipment as a separate task or do most people just lump it in with household insurance?

[erick]

Oh dear! A very expensive lightning conductor! Hope you are back running very soon.

[rogerg]

All my astro equipment is ensured specifically. Most of it as portables (so it's covered anywhere, out in the field or in the car). But I'm hoping the cost of the fix will be less than the $700 excess of the home insurance :rolleyes:

.... but for no particular reason I have been browsing over the current range of 14" and 16" LX200's.... :whistle:

[seeker372011]

well its clear, no wind, and no cloud..but moon casting shadows here in sydney right now

[Ric]

Just finished up from the first good night in a while (for me anyway) even with the moon out and about. Got some good imaging done which I hope to post soon.
Roger, sorry to hear about your scope, I hope your up and running soon.

Cheers

[xelasnave]

Well I called it a night at 3-30am and woken early by my Son playing with my grandaughter at 5-35 am. All night getting pole spot on before I then dismantled it all.. and never got any shots when it was good, got some of Omega centuri earlier thru the 80x400 ($200 scope) did 15 using the 30 second shutter stacked 10 when I came in, no darks, when polar still not spot on and was surprised how well they turned out.. Jupiter was up but just behind trees but was never an intended target. Took a short wide field run not very good at around only 100 seconds, took photos with LPI of bright stars whilst trying to get auto guide going but something is wrong and needs more effort as the guiding does not respond. By that time getting very tired and could not be bothered.
But how good to just get out there even if less than perfect.
alex

[bloodhound31]

Can I now consider my original post oficially hi-jacked? ROFL!!

Baz.:D

[xelasnave]

Thats what a chat is all about eh BAZ:) ..so did you have a good night..I hope so.
alex:) :) :)

[rogerg]

Your post? what post? Ohhh ! that post :D

Sorry about that, un-intentional! :)