Sometimes...dreams do come true...

[multiweb]

Not sure about that. I saw it in 2012 at Coona only because Lachlan who was there with some dude from the Texas Star Party exchange pointed it out to me. It was a milky patch at the zenith. Not obvious but you could see it with averted vision. I recall the milkyway though that was wrapped all around the horizon 360 degrees and you could still see it. That was pretty cool. Like a ring. Saw the zodiacal light after sunset out west a couple of time but never saw the zodiacal bridge either. I did see my hands and arm shadow though with the milkyway up ahead one cold winter at Wiruna in 2008. Not defined outline but you can certainly see the blurry shade. I don't think I'd see it now. My eyes aren't as good anymore.

[strongmanmike]

Yeah I've been lucky enough to see that at Eagleview too, its really quite amazing to see, huh?! One needs an unobstructed horizon under good dark and clean skies though. One day I will attempt a panorama/mozaic of it from the attached spot :)

Mike

[muletopia]

Mike

Here is the picture. Importantly the "stand" can be relocated, just lift it out and roll to a new location and place it as before. In the photo it is in its second location.
I don't think that a caste base can be moved that easily.
Chris
PS the trees are not close, this is the crop from the central portion of a telephoto shot.
From the ob I set a horizon file at uniform 30 degrees, all well

[strongmanmike]

Ok cool thanks for that. Hmmm? I have 44gal drum too...:confuse3: Might get a disc ready to pour when the concrete truck comes to do my support pier, there is always left overs :thumbsup:

Bah! no problem moving it, I've still got enough :D :thumbsup:

Mike

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
I am watching your progress and waiting for a seeing report.
I want to know whether sub 1 arc second seeing is possible in Australia?
It might only happen between say 2am and 5am on a few lucky nights
but I think it's possible at your site.
If so there will likely be many astro imagers wanting to use your site.
I really hope so.



cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

Hi big Al :hi:

Well with this rain the start of observatory construction has been delayed :sadeyes:..aaaand due to interruptions and delays within the international container shipping network, I'm pretty sure my new 3M Scopedome won't be ready for delivery to site until perhaps late January at best but more likely sometime in Feb..? but I am patient, besides, I have to get the support pier constructed and then the deck built before then anyway :)

My many nights of visual observing over winter, certainly give me hope that it is a steady site :prey: there were no nights where I thought, nah, the seeing is not good tonight (so that's promising) had some of the best views of Saturn and Jupiter I have ever had. Darkness, contrast and transparency are certainly most excellent, as was the frequency of clear sky time at night (not so good right now :help: :cloudy: in all of SE Aus)

Anyway, it is first and foremost my intention to setup a working observatory for myself :D:computer:, then, if I am successful with all this new fangled computerisation and automation palava :help: then, sometime down the track, if some others are lucky enough to be able to share and utilise these magnificent sub-alpine skies, well and good :thumbsup:

Photos from last weekend and this weekend, my sons Perentie 4X4, setup camp in a lovely clearing right at the top of our property, at 1450m ASL...very cool :)

Mike

[xelasnave]

Well Mike as Hans wouldn't say...it is what it is;)

Want to stop the rain dig a veggie garden.

The thing to remember there is a long road ahead full of pot holes that you must fill with patience.

Perhaps get a secondary hobby to help you cope...rebuilding pre 1930 cars maybe.

Good luck and thanks for keeping your story in front of us..I love it.

Alex

[strongmanmike]

He he...at the moment just being on site is enough to make me happy, it is a magnificent location and there is plenty to do...PLENTY! :scared:..especially since I just completed a chainsaw course last weekend :D rev, rev cut cut cut...everything! Mu hu hu hu ha ha haaaaa :D

Mike

[alpal]

Thanks for the update Mike.
I am really hoping it will go well and
that we'll all see some magnificent images at
a quality not seen before posted on Ice in Space
and maybe even some APODs.



cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

sheesh!...no pressure! :scared2: :lol:

[alpal]

No pressure -
it won't happen overnight but it will happen. :thumbsup: :lol:

[strongmanmike]

well...actually, eventually..it will happen overnight :P :lol:

[astroron]

Sorry, that should read "Cloudcroft"
Its a small town in New Mexico USA that has a dedicated
astronomical community..
Cheers:thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Ah yes, now I get it, I'd read about that, very cool. Yes that would be a great thing to have available down under somewhere but not at Eagleview I'm afraid :)

Mike

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
I've had time to think about your project.
To me the most important thing is to keep a record of
the seeing conditions for everyone to check out.
e.g. at such an altitude and location -
is it possible to get sub 1 arc second seeing? -
and if so - how many nights - for how long each time?
If you have good results it would encourage other people to set up there
and install more powerful telescopes with a large enough aperture
and back focus so that they can use adaptive optics
working at say 10 Hertz on good nights.
You would start to rival pictures from CHART32 on occasions.
The goal should be - what will happen in the next 5 years?



cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

He he thanks Allan ;)

One step at a time...my observatory build keeps getting delayed due to the weather...and the dome isn't even in Australia yet.

After an almost utopian winter up here, with lots of clear, dark, transparent and steady skies, the current run of pretty shight weather is becoming a little annoying :cloudy::mad2:

Have had some lovely days though...fitted new handrails to our back steps this week :D..and the last photo was taken standing right where the telescope will go :thumbsup:

Mike

[alpal]

I love that Mike -
I think everyone is watching this thread.


Allan

[Startrek]

Mike,
2 months of cloudy nights for me ,I’m sure we’re all in the same boat here in
the east / south east
La Niña ??
I waited nearly 9 months for my NexDome, deck and services were ready 3 months before it arrived
Had a great Winter as well , I think around 12 to 14 all nighters over 4 months
I feel your frustration but it will be all worth it when your up and running on a pristine clear Bortle 2 night.
Hang in there
Cheers
Martin

[strongmanmike]

The planned 2 Ton excavator was deemed probably too small, so a 15 Tonner has been booked :scared2:

Builder has me down to start one day next week, based on the weather :prey:

Mike

[mura_gadi]

Sounds like you have enough soil for an embankment maybe?

Might be an idea to look at moving the soil to a windbreak if there is going to be major excavations.

Either that or make a barrier to keep flood water from going over the slab.

[strongmanmike]

About a 1-1.2m fall across the site, so should be 5-600mm cut and fill

Can't wait to see finally see it...will be a good spot to pitch a tent too :campfire:..and what an outlook! (https://pbase.com/image/171987117/original) :thumbsup:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Well after a few delays, construction has finally started :cool:

For those interested, I will be posting progress photos here :thumbsup::

Eagleview - Australia's Highest Observatory (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/building_eagleview_observatory) :)

EDIT: I have started a separate thread (https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=195597) to detail the observatory construction in the DIY Observatories section of the Forum :thumbsup:

Mike

[alpal]

Nice progress Mike,
it's an exciting project.


Allan

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Allan, indeed...and a little daunting too :scared2: Just the securing and then the logistics of getting trades to the site is probably reminiscent of more famous observatory construction stories (but I don't have their budgets! :help:)...and this goes for other work required around the house too :scared:...It can be done but we are learning to go as local as possible, to shop around and...to be patient :prey:. Ah sigh...just some of the minor inconveniences one must endure to be at one of the best astronomical locations in the country :)

Mike

[strongmanmike]

A gorgeous clear sunny day (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/172215861/original) up here today (and should be for the next 2 or 3 days)

...maaan! the anticipation is bluudy killing me!.....:prey: :scared:

:lol:

Mike

[multiweb]

You'll be able to see the comet tonight. How hot does it get during the day? Cools quickly at night?

[strongmanmike]

It's sunny and warm today, hit 25C around 3:30pm, but yes it cools down over night up here, one thing I need to remember over summer is that the sun/UV is a little more intense at 1500m.

Although sky access is good from the northern and very highest point of Eagleview, just up behind where I decided to locate the Observatory, it's a nice open area but a tad close to the bush (bit like the southern/western half of the observing field at Wiruna), as per attached shots (south to North). I'll probably go out to the big open area (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/171461338/original) in the middle of our property instead for a looksee at dusk before the Moon rises, the sky is 360deg unobstructed from there

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Got a good view of it...from our back deck, easy naked eye with a bright nucleus in binoculars and showing a short but distinct tail...cool :thumbsup:

My first comet from Eagleview :D

Mike

[alpal]

It is too.


Don't try this with a Roo:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIRT7lf8byw

[multiweb]

25c is awesome. Went up to 37c here.

[strongmanmike]

Both weather science and the locals confirm, it's usually several deg cooler than Canberra up here :)



Mike

[multiweb]

I just live in a hellish oven. It's usually 8c to 10c difference between the coast and here. :lol: Time to get out of dodge.

[wavelandscott]

I will trade…morning of winter solstice started at -3 C…winter is indeed coming

[strongmanmike]

Like a few others have enjoyed on the east coast of Australia over the recent week or so and after a rough El Nina influenced past couple of months that has delivering lots of cloud and rain, fiiinally (bar one massive rain and hail downpour) sky conditions have once again been excellent up at Eagleview...yaay! Most of the last couple of weeks has delivered fully or partially clear nights as the Moon has waned :party:...and predictions suggest it will continue for a few more days yet :thumbsup:

This turn in the weather has been great for viewing Comet Leonard and although I haven't imaged it, I have had great fun viewing it naked eye each evening (easy to spot each night with direct vision) and with binoculars. Tonight there was not a breath of wind and the sky was very dark and transparent, with SQM (now using a calibrated unit! :rolleyes:) readings of between 21.88 and 21.93. So, using my 10X50 Binos, I was able to trace Leonards striated tail, past the distinct knot feature visible at about 6deg from the nucleus and out to about 10-12deg or so long, beautiful :thumbsup:

By about 10.45pm with the sky fully dark, the summer Milky Way running from Crux and Centaurus through to Orion and Taurus, was very bright and in fact rather similar in prominence and brightness to the winter Milky Way as it appears from my Wallaroo observing site, North of and much closer to Canberra! :eyepop: The LMC and SMC were very bright as they both cross the meridian high this time of year and the LMC was huge with that almost spiral like structure quite prominent. I was able to spot Sigma Octans easily naked eye and the number of stars visible in Orion made it almost unrecognisable. Damn!...wish I had a 24" SDM :tasdevil: :lol:

I shared the evening with a friendly wombat too, who munched continuously nearby :)

Nice to be back out under clear skies...bring on New Year :hi:

Mike

[netwolf]

Congrats Mike , looks like an amazing place.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Fahim, it's pretty special :)

Mike

[gregbradley]

Do you still have your NJP mount? You could setup a temporary pier or use a tripod and image using that like you did for years.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

I do and yes I have plans for it ;):D

Mike

[LewisM]

Right, that's it, I put in my bid for Mt. Selwyn. Selling time shares - Matt, you in?

[strongmanmike]

If you mean Selwyn Snow resort, yes, you could buy that I guess and it is 100m higher than Eagleview. Or there is a Mt Selwyn in VIC too, out in the middle of nowhere in the Alpine National Park, it is only 30m lower than Eagleview..but not sure there is any free-hold land there though :question: :)

Mike

[LewisM]

We aren't averse to building a tall tower with gyro stabilisation :)


No, seriously...

[strongmanmike]

Oh I believe you!

During our long 4 year property search journey, that eventually lead us to Eagleview, my wife mentioned numerous times that if it were just up to her, she would preferred a view of the sea, ie meaning she would prefer to live on the coast :rolleyes: :doh:

Ok so, on that note, we ended up about 80km from the coast and nearly 1.5km above it, didn't we?...sorry darling :sadeyes::love2:.

Our vantage point high in the Tinderry range means our southern outlook from Eagleview affords us clear unobstructed views out to well over 80km, down the southern Tinderry ranges and Strike-a-light Nature reserve below us and across the vast Monaro plain to Cooma (56km) and beyond, indeed the lights of the small town of Nimmitabel, some 84km away, would be visible if a low rise hill, called Summer Hill, wasn't just our side of the town. Looking to our east however, towards the NSW south coast, is a different story, where unfortunately this outlook is obstructed by intervening mountains and hills, namely a handful of peaks, in the 1200m-1400m range, 15-20km away in the Tallagandra National park to our east, without whom, Angie could have had her sea views, stretching from Batemans Bay down through to Moruya!!...all be they about 80km away :)

So, I got to thinking what if I was to raise up the observatory, would the view to the east improve..? and using a cool bit of software called PeakVisor, that allows you to simulate your horizon at any point or elevation on the earths surface and in any direction, it turns out that if I was to raise the observatory, ala Joshua Bunn style (ie up on a tower), approx 350m higher (putting the observatory at a lofty 1800m AMSL)...well..ta daaa!! we could see over those peaks in Tallagandra and Angie would be able to see the sea! :D

I did put it to her and said we probably wouldn't have to tell council, it wouldn't be tooo expensive and no one would notice such a structure :shrug:...but she wasn't convinced....:shrug: :lol:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Forgive me for posting but I captured this lovely westerly view, on the way down from Eagleview on the weekend, passing down through about the 1100m mark, after a beautiful clear night, so thought I'd share :)

Love it up there, every day brings a new vista, sky colour to see or something to do (actually...plenty of work too :help:) :thumbsup:

Mike

[JA]

^ Clouds?
What clouds..... meh.
Nice to be above all that. :thumbsup:

Best
JA

[astroron]

Beautiful.

[strongmanmike]

Got three mostly or completely clear nights in a row up at Eagleview over the Mother's Day weekend :stargaze:. Had the first deep sky observing night for the year too and the first from the new elevated observatory site (~1450m). I utilised the currently vacant flat concrete pad, that will soon house the 18" Dob (https://a4.pbase.com/o12/29/633929/1/172265599.QvP3lKvX.172265599.hOYOZ1 9h.20220111_154922.jpg) shed, as our viewing platform. We had friends staying with us for Sat night and apart from the seeing, conditions were otherwise near perfect, light breeze only, totally clear, good transparency and low humidity, the not very good seeing wasn't a big issue as no planets were up and unsteady skies generally don't prevent good views of most deep sky objects. Never the less, the dark contrasty skies enabled our first time greenhorn observers (including young children) to make out all the classic structure in every object viewed, including galaxies, it all just stands out under true dark skies, much more pleasurable giving a sky tour where the inexperienced eyes can actually see all the things you are talking about :lol: Being perched up high on a mountain, with commanding 360deg views feels almost biblical too and really completes the scene, lucky greenhorns I say ;)...one of them actually stayed out, in the cold (got down to zero C) after the kids were put to bed and we observed until just after midnight, he loved it!!

Mike

[AdamJL]

That's the best part of this hobby, be it visual or AP.. sharing it with newcomers and watching their eyes widen and light up.

Great stuff, Mike.

[strongmanmike]

Totally agree Adam, having worked at a public observatory for a decade, under city skies, showing visitors dim crappy, or essentially non existent, views of galaxies and most nebulae, it was always so disheartening having to explain how much better things look under a dark sky....:sadeyes:

Mike