That's the way it is!

[ballaratdragons]

Tonight is one of the most beautiful skies I have seen in a long while.

The Milky way is so bright against the dark sky with the dark bands showing clearly, Scorpius and Jupiter make a lovely couple, the Coal Sack is jumping out in beautiful clarity. It is truly a sight to behold!!!

Crystal clear Stars everywhere. :eyepop:



How do I know all this?

Because I just had to go outside and put a sheet of corrugated iron on my sons window where his window just smashed because of the 90kph winds we are having right now, with 120kph gusts!!!!!!!!!!

We finally get a stunning sky and we are getting blown away! :sadeyes:

[danielsun]

Wow Ken!! I hope you guys get through the night o.k and without the roof ripping off!!
You guys sure cop some savage weather there now and then don't you.

[ballaratdragons]

Yeah, Daniel. It's coz we are exposed to the wind. No bush or buildings around to dissipate it.

But it's all heading your way too.

[erick]

It's blowing all the muck away before Friday night! I'm feeling positive about this Friday night at SVAA. Planning to be there! Cross fingers!

ps. right now we are about 30% cloud cover and the wind is rising!

[ballaratdragons]

Eric, Fridays forecast (so far) is for a clear day with rain later :(

[erick]

I was feeling positive about Friday :sadeyes:

Just looked it up for Melbourne - "Partly cloudy with a shower; winds gusting past 80 kph" Spoilt my hopes with facts!

[Ric]

Hang in there Ken, hope all goes well for you tonight. It's all calm here at the moment but we are expecting it to start to build up over the next couple of days.

I suppose if you were to get the scope out and manage to get an image you could start a new club "The Snake Valley Extreme Astronomers"

all the best

[ballaratdragons]

I still am, coz I know how crud forecasts change for the better up here :)

[Glenhuon]

Was beautiful here earlier, no wind, little bit of haze but best its been for a week or two, Had a 2 hour session trying out the new 80mm bino's and 150 newtonian but the dew beat me in the end. Forecast is not so good for the next few days but never mind, summer is on the way :)

[ballaratdragons]

Summer is on the way :cool:

Bushfire smoke, dust, heat-haze, Mozzies . . . :lol:

[erick]

I poked my head outside. Still some cloud cover and the wind is starting to rise! Time I was tucked up in my bed. STS118 will have to take off without me watching!

[Tamtarn]

Wind has picked up quite a bit here now Ken.
Just went outside to batten down a few things and move the car from the carport into the garage for protection.

Hope your okay and no more damage is caused.

David

[ballaratdragons]

We'll be OK thanks David. It is getting worse though.

Take care with tree branches near your house. I think we are in for a long windy night.