Snake Valley Astro Camp

[Louwai]

I figured I may as well jump in.
The SV camp was / is great. Unfortunately I could only be there for Friday & Saturday nights. Looking out the window now I wish I was still there.

I must admit I was a little concerned driving from Melbourne on Friday afternoon. In places the rain was so heavy I had to pull over. Not to many stars out tonight I thought to myself. Was even contemplating heading home (for the 2nd time, but that's another story)

6pm Friday night it was almost 100% cloud cover.
9pm & the sky was as clear. Not a cloud to be seen.
11pm & it was full cloud cover again.
1.30am the sky was clear once again & stayed that way for the rest of the night.


Saturday night could not have been better. Cool & clear.
I saw objects with my little C8 that I thought I would only see with a larger scope.

I got to check out a 13mm Ethos. WOW!!!!! I know what I'll be buying next.......

Absolute credit to all organisers.
Fantastic turnout. Great range of different scopes. As someone famous once said..... "I'll be back"!!!!!!!

[night-vision]

As Louwai has already said it was a fantastic weekend,

Sticking it out through the cloudy periods on Friday night was well worth it for those that braved cold and dew as it was clear from 1:30am onwards, I'm glad
I was one of those as I saw Saturn as well as many others for the first time.:thumbsup:

Saturday night was just awesome, clear and crisp, pity my eyelids gave out at 2am, 4 hours sleep from Friday night caught up to me.


Also thank you to Bryan and Trevor for putting up with my n00b questions all weekend and helping with my equipment. Thanks guys.

Louwai I've already started looking at a Ultra Wide EP / Feathertouch focuser and dew heaters/controller on the net.:)

Thanks to Ken and all the other organisers and sponsors for a great weekend.


Ps I still havn't figured out how to roll up that laptop hutch thingo :rofl:

[Starkler]

Once again I enjoyed myself catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. I got to give the SDM a good workout and saw many many galaxies that I had not seen before :)

Thanks to Ken and Darren for once again organising yet another successful astro camp.

[iceman]

Great shots, Geoff! Looks like Anthony's scope has grown a few more wires! :)

[Dave47tuc]

Hi all,
Great weekend:thumbsup: Great to meet and catch up with fellow observers.
No doubt Ken will post the full story of the weekend.
Big thank you to Ken (thats him in the photo:whistle:) also Darren and all the sponsors.

A few photos. Geoffs SDM is :eyepop::eyepop::eyepop::eyepop:

Chris's WO110 is :eyepop::thumbsup: I hope to have one one day:rolleyes:

More reports will follow and story of the SV100 with photo's from Ken.:)

[niko]

Well, I had a fantastic weekend. Very relaxing feel to the whole camp. Great location, great bunch of people and some terrific dark sky after a shaky (read - torrential) start to the weekend on Friday!

Terrific to get the opportunity to meet a few faces to the names often seen here, see a huge range of scopes, eyepieces, nifty l'll gadgets etc.

A huge thanks to Ken, Darren and all the others for organising a great weekend and the local ladies for a great meal on Saturday night - next year I want the job of cleaning up the trifle bowl!

Also, a personal thanks to Darren, Ken, Daniel, Andrew, Martin, Eric, Dave, Barb & David and others for their personalised help with my new scope and the many stupid questions.

The offers of help, advice, invitations to view others scopes, laptop setups etc was so genuinely given and very gratefulle received.

Daniel, got the scope setup in the backyard on Sunday night and managed a pretty good polar alignment and then dift aligned - not perfect but pretty good, and I couldn't have done it without your pateint help on the weekend.

Am heading up to the photo shop to pick up the photos from the weekend (yes, I'm still using FILM!) and will post if any are any good.

Will definitely be putting Sanke Valley camps in the diary and I urge others who considered attending this one to come to the next one - IT WAS GREAT!!!

Nick

[h0ughy]

mmmmmm some nice gear there - and a garden gnome

[janoskiss]

Hope you do, Dave! Looking forward to seeing it on IceTrade! :whistle:

I could only stay the one night Friday but had heaps of fun. Was good to catch up with regulars and meet some new people too. Nice to try out the new TV Ethos - it is the perfect EP - easily the best ever TV EP!

[niko]

Here's some more photos

niko

[niko]

and some more

[xstream]

Anna and I had a great weekend as usual, it's always good to catch up with old friends and make new ones!
Thanks Ken, Darren and Dave a great job as per usual guys.

I've added a few of my happy snaps and the obligatory group photo of course.

[xstream]

Oh, and I nearly forgot!
Here are a few snaps from the Snake Valley's production of "Swan Lake" :P

[Louwai]

I never realised I looked that good on the dance floor. Could be a new career :eyepop:

[bird]

The camp was great, a big Thank You to Ken, Darren and DaveG for all their organising. I met a lot of new faces this time around, and seemed like there were more tents and scopes in the field than I'd seen there before.

Looking forward to coming back again next year...

cheers, Bird

[anthony2302749]

Hi John

Good to see that you got a shot of me at my best:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Anthony

[OneOfOne]

Had a great time! Sorry for leaving so early this morning before anyone was out of bed...had made a deal with Mitch if he got ready early enough we would go to Macca's for breaky! He was already packed when I went to bed at 1:30.

[Astroman]

LOL, good meeting you there, love the scope. :)

[Rob_K]

Yep, a great turn put on by Ken, Darren & the rest of the SVAA. Only sorry that I just had one evening there (Mon), and missed the 'madding crowd'! Still, met a couple of new faces, and caught up with some old ones (in the sense of "met already", not "OLD" of course! ;)).

Thanks one and all! :thumbsup:

Cheers -

[erick]

My first camp - are they all this good??!! Many thanks to Ken, Darren and others involved in organising everything. I had a great time, meeting people, seeing equipment, observing new objects and trying new things. Here is the obligatory "pelican shot" - taken afocal with a little point and shoot digital through one of the barrels of my 30x100s! Looks like a spycam :lol:

[danielsun]

Another great camp and a special thanks to Ken (Ballarat Dragons) Darren (Wombat in space) and Dave(47 Tuc) for putting an excellent camp together!!:thumbsup: It was great to catch up with everyone again and see some new faces too. I have got lots of pics but i'll just post a few for now and also got some reasonable deep sky shots to go through.

[danielsun]

And a few more.
The last shot is the moon with Jupiter.

[robin]

Glad you guys got some clear skies & it looked like a great turnout. Would've loved to have been there again this year but my mother is battling the 'C' word & had a big operation the week of starcamp. Next time for sure.

[erick]

Phil W’s binoscope:- Yes, 47 Tuc takes on a whole new life through these – mesmerising.

TeleVue Ethos eyepiece:- That sure is different, but I’m not sure I want to give my neck and back that much exercise to observe through an eyepiece. I cannot see the edge of the field without significantly moving my head from side to side and up and down.

Extra inches:- Compared 12” GSO to my 8” GSO on a few targets. Sometimes much better, sometimes much of a muchness.

First prime focus images captured with my little Logitech webcam:- After mods some months ago, I could finally test it out. I reached focus with 2 mm to spare! Great! Images the crescent Moon – now can I stack and process them?

The return of Saturn:- Beautiful on Sunday morning in what looked like good seeing to me. Lovely steady image, rings closing up, some moons were visible to me.

E & F stars in the Trapezium:- First observation - I picked them up sometimes over the weekend!

Saturn (Planetary) Nebula:- Located and observed for the first time! Definitely a PN, but couldn’t verify the lobes.

Stellarium:- Having it running on my computer (with effective red perspex shield) for the first time while observing. Very useful. I found it taking precedence over my star charts.

Watching Bird in action with his system:- all calm and his apparently effortless actions belies the degree of technology, preparation and experience combined in his imaging sessions

Jupiter:- Observing, then walking across to look at Bird’s laptop screen and seeing the surface markings just as I observed them.

Faint open clusters:- How do you find them?? – it’s all stars up there!

The Sun:- not a spot in sight. Tested adding a yellow filter so when I show people later it will be an expected and acceptable yellow colour!

Sounds:- Some mounts grinding away, others whisper quiet. A gentle murmur of voices. Frogs, crickets, birds, fish splashing. The distinctive sound of Bird’s filter change. Piano practice from the rec room. The gentle snoring from some tents.

Equatorial Table meltdown:- In my excitement to get started, connected the crocodile clips the wrong way round – apparently it’s red to positive and black to negative! Blew the protection diode in the speed controller, followed by the wires overheating and molten coating being dropped over everything (it peeled off!). Thank goodness I had a spare diode (thanks Darren for confirming the problem) and my soldering gear, so it was repaired the next day after a visit to Dick Smith for more wire. Also added a cigarette lighter plug to ensure correct polarity! Got it running the next night. Sort of worked following a rough south align and level – well, east and west targets were the best. But I need to have that motor turning very slowly – it seemed to turn over successfully at that low speed, with the table fully loaded with the telescope.

Temperature change:- Going to sleep early morning around 2 deg C – waking up sweating profusely at 10am in a closed tent with the sun beating down!

Lack of spousal observation:- Eat what I wanted, when I wanted and throw my clothes all over the floor of my tent! Snore as much as I wanted (sorry neighbours!)

Eric :)

[janoskiss]

Ken & co, Did you guys manage to get that rotten spotlight turned off after the first night??

[erick]

Yes, Steve. Ken made various phone calls, the result of which was Powercorp coming and extinguishing it on Saturday.

[Louwai]

That must have been mine you heard Eric. My poor old CG-5 is overloaded to buggery. ;) It makes some strange noises.
I must admit, it's a hell of a lot better since Martin did a job on it for me.

I'm thinking of a CGE. I saw a nice one on the field. I wonder if it would be missed.:whistle: Maybe if I remove the owner he won't notice.........

B

[danielsun]

Who..,this guy.. Trevor... Naa he won't notice..:lol:

[Stephen65]

I could only make the Sat night but I had a great time, was nice to put some names to faces. Highlights were seeing Bird's wire-festooned planetary newt, the 15" SDM and Phil's 10" binos. Also very kind of Phil to lend me his Ethos for an extended evaluation in my FLT132 but I fear its an experience that may end up costing me $800...

For a refractor freak it was nice to see the range of medium and small size refractors, both achros and APOs, from the very nice ZS110 down to Cameron's exquisite little Tak 66 fluorite.

[PhilW]

That eyepiece has hitherto only been used in reflectors, & I was grateful for the opportunity to look through a scope with a lens up the front.

I enjoyed the sheer diversity of the instruments on the field: from the perfect Tak 66 through to the majestic SDM 15", with every kind of optical train & mounting imaginable. My thanks to Ken & the crew for a most enjoyable weekend. I did have my doubts as I drove up in torrential rain, but they were erased as the clouds rolled away. I still can't quite figure out how Bird gets all his equipment packed into his car though - a failure of spatial imagination on my part.

Phil

[erick]

Here are some photos - from a little point and shoot.

[erick]

Some of the folks, leading, relaxing and tossing!

[erick]

From covered to getting ready to Observe!

[ballaratdragons]

Hi everyone, and thanks for the thanks.
I would've been sunk if it wasn't for the great assistance from Darren, Angus and Dave. Thanks heaps guys :thumbsup:

I've only just managed to get myself together, so sorry for the late posting. I am suffering what I can only call 'Post-Event Exhaustion'.

I finally got away from the Camp at 6:30pm on Tuesday after having to semi-pack, race into Ballarat for a Centrelink appointment, return to continue packing and Camp cleaning, then return again later to search for my glasses! Yep, I have lost my glasses.

A big thankyou to the ladies of the Snake Valley CFA Auxilliary for another fantastic Saturday Night Feast. CFA recieved $250 from the Feast.
Also a huge thankyou to Evelyn (SVAA Treasurers wife) for the fantastic deserts and Pavlovas. The whole lot was a tremendous feed for $15 and we were still eating the left-over roast meats and deserts right up until Monday lunchtime!!!!

Anyhow, report time!

This Camp was our largest to date, and also the one that gave us more sky time :)

On Friday, the Camp was preceded by a fantastic afternoon Thunderstorm right over our heads (I ordered it to clean the sky for us ;) )
Just as sunset approached the curtains drew back and revealed the magnificance of dark country sky.

As reported by others, almost every combination of scope, mount, and imaging device was represented. The Dining room was converted into a processing factory with laptops madly stacking and processing images not long after they were captured, then returned to the field to soak up more photons.

I personally couldn't go 4 nights without my whole imaging outfit, so I dug up all my underground cables, pulled my control room apart and took everything including the built-in desk!

Many familiar faces, and lots of new ones made the whole event a great success on the social side of things, and the great sky made the Observing/Imaging side a success.

The Astrophotography Exhibition/Competition was well represented with all manner of images on show.

The BINTEL shop was also a big hit, thanks to Anthony for setting it up for 2 days. Many items were purchased.

There are so many great things to say about the 5th Snake Valley Astro Camp I could go on for ages, but rather than waffle on, I will let the others continue with their posts.

A very big Thankyou to our November 2007 Sponsors: BINTEL, M.D.A.M. Imports, Australian Sky&Telescope, MyAstroShop, & Dave Girling Tent Supplies.
Also thank you to Greg (taminga16) for the donation of the Boxed Presentation Wine which was also raffled off (Chris didn't get a hang-over).

A BIGGER thankyou to all who came (pity they all didn't make the group photo). Without you, it would be very dull sitting in the field all by myself! :thumbsup:

Winners of the raffles, comps etc are:

Door Prize- Angelina
SV-100 - Eric & Anna
Counterweight Toss - Mick
Raffle - Mill
Raffle - Chris
Astrophoto - Peoples Choice - Eric
Astrophoto - Judges Choice - Eric

See you all at next March or Novembers Camps :thumbsup:

Some images:

1. My cable digging exercise. I was determined to Image.
2. My control Room set up INSIDE my tent.
3. The Astrophotography Display
4. Eric with his Peoples Choice & Judges Choice winning images

[ballaratdragons]

Now that I have given my report, I hope all the folks out at VicSouth had a great time too. Apparently the skies were good for them too.

Hard to beat an Astro event in Australian dark skies, whichever one.

Just a few more general pics from Snake Valley :thumbsup:

1. Eric - SV100 winner, presented by dave 47Tuc
2. Anna - SV100 winner, presented by dave 47Tuc
3. A pic of Camera-mad Daniel
4. Eric setting up
5. Chris hiding

[iceman]

Excellent report and pictures, everyone.


I know what you mean - it really does take it out of you. Such a relief when it's all over.

But then you gear up again for next year :)

[OneOfOne]

Guys, I seem to have left something behind when I left Snake Valley...has anyone seen my mount? I am sure I packed it....:shrug:

[Dave47tuc]

Hi all,
A big well done to those who took part in the SV100. :)
Congratulations to Eric and Anna for being the winners of the SV100 challenge.:thumbsup:

My thanks to Steve Massey from My astro shop for sponsoring the event.:thumbsup:

Many thanks to the SVAA (I'm soon to be a member:))
Also the ladies of the SV CFA great food on Saturday night.

Great photos guys thanks for posting them.:)

Also john thanks for the entertainment chasing the Moon, it was very funny.:lol:

[Louwai]

Sorry Trevor, haven't seen it :whistle:. But if I do come across it, I'll make sure it still works OK until the next time we meet.:thumbsup:

Unfortunatly I don't think I can make it to the next couple of SV Camps, so "if" I happen to find it, you might be waiting a while until I can get it back to you......;)

[anna]

I really enjoyed doing the SV100 challenge Dave. It was a last minute
decision to do it, and I'm so glad I did. Not only did I come away with a beautiful new book to add to my collection, but I also got to see some
objects I hadn't seen before.

[erick]

Many thanks Dave, for your efforts and support of the Camp.

I've just sent an email of appreciation to Steve M. (Edit: and he has promptly responded. Nice guy! Quick, everyone buy something from My Astro Shop!)

Eric :)

[Astroman]

I kept the SV100 list, I hope to photograph some of the objects on it. Makes a good project.

[DougAdams]

Great shots - I recognise a few of those faces! Looked like a great event.

[Ric]

Loved all the pictures, it looked like a great time was had by all.

I'll really have to get a star party one day, they definitely look like a great social gathering.

Cheers

[goober]

Sounds a great meet. Err, how many snakes do you usually find in Snake Valley?

[Tamtarn]

Congratulations to Eric and Anna winning the SV100 and Eric winning the Astrophotography Competition :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Here's a few candid shots

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[mill]

Except for me?
None at all :P

[mill]

As soon as my membership with mpas is finished i will join the Snake Valley mob.
At least you can talk #@%@% and laugh till the tears come out of your eyes:rofl:

[ballaratdragons]

Only the occasional one that you would expect in any country town. Snake Valley is named after the winding shape of the creek 'snaking' through the Valley :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

Someone who attended Camp has left behind a Milk Crate containing plastic containers. Whoever the containers belong to, I will post them onto to you if you can identify them.

They were in the Milk Crate on the bench next to the fridges :thumbsup:

[33South]

At last some time to sit and type, another great event thanks Ken et al.:thumbsup: It was good to catch up with some "old" friends and meet some new ones. As usual special thanks to John and Anna for their mobile hospitality, and to Dave for his informative eyepiece chats and allowing me to try his LVWs in the ZS110. And no its not for sale even though I now need some cash to buy new eyepieces.

Two memorable moments was seeing Uranus in the SDM and Dave's excitement at seeing the Airy disks around both "Cats Eyes" with the 110 and his 3.5 LVW

Pictures of some wildlife
1) cormorant, pelican and swift
2) purple swamp hen
3) black swan and swanlets
4) orange banded CGE

Cheers

[Dave47tuc]

Who me excited:rolleyes: Funny how the little things can please some;)

Great to catch up with you Chris :thumbsup: That ZS110 is one fine scope.
I said to my wife I found my new scope ! her responce like hell you will buy one, said somthing about kids school etc:sadeyes:


[QUOTE
Dave's excitement at seeing the Airy disks around both "Cats Eyes" with the 110 and his 3.5 LVW
[/QUOTE]