2023 Mangrove Mountain Pony Club Thread

[Shano592]

Hi all,


How has everyone been?



Not sure of the status of the PC right now, but I'll try to dig around online tonight or tomorrow.


I'm pretty keen to possibly get up the hill for at least a few hours on Saturday night, Feb 18 (still have my key).


I just have one thing to sort out...


It has been 3 years since I took out the LX200, but gave it a run to see the ultra-transient Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). The only issue I had was that the GPS data rolled into a corrupted phase at the end of 2019, apparently... now the scope thinks it is 2099! I have a patch, but I'm waiting on a circuit board to allow me to make the needed 507 cable, in order to send the patch to the scope.


Aside from that, everything is working wonderfully!

[Shano592]

Right, update completed. After messing around a bit, I was finally able to get the update done. Telescope now believes me that up is up.


Michelle and I will definitely be looking to head up on Saturday night, weather permitting.



All are welcome to join us.

[glend]

I am sure there are many folks that would like an update on what has happened at the Pony Club in the last few years, like are there houses there now, or street lights, etc.

If you have a Sky Quality Metre, a check on the SQM score would be helpful too. There has been, well up until Covid, a gradual intrusion of the Sydney / Central Coast light dome, your assessment would be welcome. It's too far for me to make a speculative trip this time.

[Shano592]

Hi Glen,


All really good points. Unfortunately, I don't have a sky quality meter, but I have pretty strong memories of how much the NW Sydney and even Gosford glows were creeping towards the PC.


I'll certainly report on it, on Sunday though.

[astropolak]

Shane

Have you confirmed your key actually works..., they may have changed the lock.

Had exactly the same problem with my LX200.

Intending to visit PC Sat night..., weather permitting.


RGDS Joe

[Shano592]

I haven't confirmed my key! I thought that we supplied our one. The gate has several in a chain, for each organisation's individual access. That is, we unlock a different lock to the the resident Pony Club.


If we are locked out, there is always Bloodtree Reserve...

[astropolak]

Shane
Can we agree on a ETA time for this ?

Where is the Bloodtree reserve exactly ?

Joe

[Shano592]

I'm thinking that I'll get there at about 7pm. It won't be properly dark until after 8:30, looking at the sky last night.


BOM is suggesting the chance of a thunderstorm, in the 8-10pm band. Hopefully it doesn't happen, and that any cloud is fleeting.


Bloodtree Reserve is in Central Mangrove, on Bloodtree Road. This road forks directly off of Wisemans Ferry Rd, towards Kulnura.

[Shano592]

The weather is looking decidedly poor here, and west of the Mountain is also not great.


What do you think, Joe? Is it worth the trip, or shall we give it away today?

[astropolak]

Shaun

Not looking good today..., tomorrow night ?

Joe

[RB]

Clouding over and thunder in the distance guys.

:(

[astropolak]

Hi Andrew

The weather is conspiring against us I am afraid.

Joe

[astropolak]

We have sunshine here in Hornsby now

Joe

[Shano592]

Yeah, we can hear the thunder on the coast, too.


Definitely off today. Tomorrow is an option, for sure! I don't have work on Monday.


I forgot you were up there, Andrew. We could be employing you to burn off the clouds with your lightsabers!

[RB]

Yes it is Joe, unfortunately.
Typical weather.

I was going to surprise you guys.

It'll probably clear up later.
:sad:


:lol:
Yeah Shane, I'll give it a try.
Batteries are fully charged and sabres are ready to deploy.

:lol:

[astropolak]

Shane

Are you heading to PC tonight ?

Joe

[glend]

Is there a report from the Pony Club attendees?

[RB]

Nay ...
😂

[Shano592]

Sorry Glen, we were clouded out last week.


I'm looking at tomorrow as a potential night out. I know the moon will be around a quarter, but it is better than a full moon!

[RB]

I’m going to try and make it Shane.
Hope Joe can make it too.

Bloodtree Road or PC?

:)

[Shano592]

I'll try for the Pony Club first. Easier access, and we don't have to deal with the lights from the Works Depot.

[Shano592]

I'll start loading up soon, and aim to get to the gate for between 6:30 and 7pm.

[RB]

Sorry Shane, I won't be able to make it tonight. :sadeyes:
Looks beautiful outside atm.
Hope you have a great night.

RB

[Shano592]

All good, Andrew.

It's quite nice up here, though the breeze is a little brisk.

[Shano592]

Michelle and I did go up to the Pony Club last Saturday night. We didn't stay too long, but were easily able to make out a large Tarantula, Uranus and Mars, as well as a bunch of stars and asterisms, and also iron a few bugs out of the LX200's new firmware.

The wifi controller to Sky Safari worked flawlessly, which was one of the issues I was having at home. Initial alignment is still out in the scope, but that is a simple, manual aligning fix. I had hoped a firmware update would sort it, but wasn't to be. No matter.

The cloud came in around 9:45pm, and while the cloud cover was light my body clock is currently on 5:20am wake-ups, so it was a late one for me, plus a 45 minute drive home...

The light glow from Gosford hasn't really changed. While it is present, it is still fairly minimal. However, Northwest Sydney has grown significantly, and the light pollution is clearly worse than it was a couple of years ago. While one can still easily make out objects in the southern skies, they are certainly a now-further cry from what you get at Bretti or Coolah.


Verdict: I think the Pony Club is still handy to have access to, as it is less than an hour from home. One can still set up for imaging and get relatively good results. Visually, I think it is still worthwhile, though the northern skies are definitely the pick over the southern.

[GTB_an_Owl]

thanks for the report Shane

geoff

[RB]

Yep, thanks Shane.

:thumbsup:

[Eospro]

Hi everyone
New to the group and new to astronomy, so thought I would introduce myself here as I'm a Central Coast local.
My name is Brad and I reside at Ourimbah. I have a Nexstar 6SE which I purchased about 5 months ago after about a month of research and am thoroughly enjoying exploring the night sky with it.
I frequently visit the old airfield at Narara, Bloodtree Rd and the Mangrove Mtn. Country Club (which the manager has kindly given me permission to setup in the carpark) and occasionally the helipad on the old Pacific hwy at Cowan.
I would be interested to meet up with anyone going out for a bit of observing locally
and to learn more about this amazing hobby.
Cheers
Brad

[RB]

Welcome to IIS Brad.
Keep an eye on the Mangrove Mountain thread for future meetings.

RB
:)

[Eospro]

Hi All

Went for a drive to check out the Pony Club, luckily enough the gates were open and I could have a bit of a look around. It looks good, a few horse people there were giving me some strange looks so I didn't stay too long.
Travelled to Spencer, but didn't see any suitable locations along the way. Went another 5km out of Spencer and found a clearing on the side of the road that looks a possibility. Good viewing from NNE to S, with another clearing to the NW. Can see from NW to NNE, but only above about 30°-45°.
Still light now as it's 7.25pm so will wait till it gets dark to see how much light pollution there is.
The only light source I can see is a single small house 100m or so behind me, no street lights visible, but it is on the side of Wisemans Ferry Rd. I imagine there wouldn't be too much if any traffic after dark.
Will go twiddle my thumbs for 30min and see how it looks when dark.
Brad

Update:
Stayed till 8.20pm, mozzies are an issue here. Only light source was the house behind me which was only an issue when looking to the NW ie Orion, 2 houses about 1km away across the water and a green channel marker about 500m away, but I could hide that behind a tree.

You can see to the S to NW but only above about 50°.

Light pollution I would describe as minimal with maybe a very small glow from the SW, but hard to tell as it wasn't completely yet. Clear outside rated the location as a Class 3 Bortle, appeared better than out the front of the Pony Club.

With my unaided ageing eye sight I could just make out the Jewel Box Cluster, Orion Nebula and the Coalsack Nebula. With my 10x50 Binoculars they all looked stunning (except Coalsack which, well kinda looked like nothing). I also could also see Omega Centauri, Southern Pieiades and I believe Lambda Centauri Cluster and numerous other fuzzy DSO that I had no idea what they were.

Google Earth gives the location as -33.46501083,151.11277507

Brad

[Shano592]

Hi Brad,


Welcome to IIS.


Yes, when the horsie folks are about at the Pony Club, we tend to make ourselves very scarce. They have right-of-way there, and we have no need to make waves with them. As you have noted, there are definitely other locations to get a look in. The Pony Club's biggest advantages are its lack of trees, and height above sea-level.


I have thought of locations like Spencer and surrounds, but it is very low-lying, and as you have noted the views are limited to higher angles in the sky. Also, passing traffic can quickly ruin your night vision.


It is certainly a fun hobby, but it is easy to be sucked into Gear Acquisition Syndrome...


Definitely keep a watch on this thread. Now that the cooler months are coming, viewing will improve dramatically. Hopefully by the winter, more Central Coast and Sydney PCers will be back into things. The Pony Club really is a good night when there are upwards of 10-15 telescopes in the field.

[Carlz]

Does the pony club still go ahead? I haven’t been up there since 2015. Not sure how it works these days?

[scuba_nomad]

Hi Calrz - great to see your message. Unfortunately I can’t help but would also like to find out what the situation is with regard the Pony Club. I’m very new to astrophotography and am keen to join others. Hopefully somebody will come back to you with some info soon. Cheers

[astropolak]

I think Covid killed off the remaining interest in PC.

Perhaps we can resurrect it and refresh the membership ?

I have a key (I think I do anyway) and intend to go this Saturday if there is any interest from other stargazers.


Joe

[Shano592]

Hi Joe, Carly, good to see that you're still around.


I was looking at possibly going this weekend, but unfortunately I'm out of contention due to prior commitments.


Nothing has really changed up there, except for the sky glow creeping in a little more from NW Sydney. It's still a nice night under the stars, though.

[RB]

I might be able to make it this Saturday Joe.

RB
:)

[astropolak]

Hoping to be there at 6PM tonight.

[astropolak]

Great night

Light pollution is a problem, could not see the Magellanic clouds but still 10x better than observing from home.
Happy to report all my equipment still works and I still enjoy using it.
Some hillbillies have put a huge camp fire next door so we had to wait for it to die to continue observing. I must have spent an hour looking at Omega Centauri. Earlier we had a glimpse of Venus and Mars...

Really enjoy the binoviewer and my 20mm Ethos with or without 1.4 reducer

I will keep visiting the site as its the closest dark site within an hour drive from me.

[GTB_an_Owl]

who was with you Joe?

geoff

[astropolak]

Hi Geoff
I took my illustrous wife. She did appreciate the happiness the freezer suits can provide at a night like that. The next day she went shopping for one and came back with some lousy substitute. Nothing works like the original article.

Joe

[GTB_an_Owl]

:thumbsup:Yep your right there Joe