First Clear Sky - WITH ICE!!!

[ballaratdragons]

We finally have a clear sky!!!!!

First one in over a month!
I set the scope up around 4pm for a looooong cool down, ready for a great night trying astrophotography.

As the sun set I saw the beautiful Saturn/Mercury/Venus conjunction organising itself for Sunday and took a pic without the scope but it only showed Saturn! (pic in other thread). A wonderful sight with naked eyes though!!

Once dark fell, and with a very wet dew covered scope, I tried Joop with several combinations of EP's and Barlow. The seeing was really bad due to the fog settling in. I could not get a good pic through the foggy atmosphere and every star was twinkling madly. However I did include (below) the largest pic I have taken of Joop ever! It was a 9mm Plossl.

I then waited patiently for old 'Lunar' to rise so I could try some wide angle shots Mike suggested and that was when I noticed that the water on my OTA had frozen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My OTA was completely covered in ice! No wonder I was shivering. I took the thermometer outside and within 5 minutes it read minus 3 degrees.

But I was determined to get these Wide angle Lunar shots! Below, next to the fogged out Joop close up, is the Moon-rise through fog and with a frozen Scope.

I quickly packed up and headed inside to thaw out!

Sorry for the bad quality but I wanted to post my first close-up of Joop and my first wide-angle Moon!

Enjoy! (or not)

[[1ponders]]

Good onya Ken. Is that a ...whrr.... buzz ....click I hear coming :P

[RAJAH235]

You're on your way Ken. Up, Up & away............ :stargaze: :D L.
ps. How's the new 'dog'????

[ballaratdragons]

Paul,
It would be nice, I have to admit. Maybe next year If I can save the dollars.

Laurie,
Every time I try to download, the pooter freezes. I will have to wait for the new pooter or till this one is fixed! Woof woof!!


p.s. I don't know how our European & North American/Canadian friends view in below zero temperatures all the time. Damn cold!!

[h0ughy]

nice to see you dedicated to your passion, and probably stuck to the scope with the ice! :D it has been raining off and on with heavy showers and a roaring southerly. Hope to have some clearer skies for the conjunction

[acropolite]

Kodak Rules huh Ken....:camera:

[h0ughy]

koldak :cold: cameras rule, just ask him, none of this ccd gizmo cooling for ken, just pure natural way :D

[RAJAH235]

Completely off subject, BUT 'KODAK' have closed 'all their stores'. I think only head office is avail. Did it before EOFY so as to write it off, or something like that, according to a nearby shopkeeper. Went to my local store today only to find it gone!!!! B%42@#5(Y digital. :D L.

[ballaratdragons]

Oh No! Not Kodak.

Gee, I'll HAVE to get a Hanimex now! or a Fuji disposable!!

Houghy, I don't know about 'dedicated' in this weather! But I really did want to take advantage of the first clear sky in a long time. Terrible seeing.

[acropolite]

Like most companies nowdays, kodak are probably headed down the track of only supplying others with product. Film is almost dead and that's where Kodak made most of their money.

[Orion]

Way to go Ken. :thumbsup:
So in temperature like that you don't worry about the hairdryer to defog the mirrors you just use a ice pick!

[Robby]

Good to here of another hardy ice observer...
Last year I was observing when I noticed Ice on the OTA. I wasn't actually feeling the cold, but it was definately there when I wipped my forehead and scrapped the ice off my eye-brows! :cold:
Cheers

[ballaratdragons]

The frost was so thick last night it was still there when I put the new white lines on our Rugby League field today at lunchtime!!!! Thought the sun would have melted it by 9am!

Going to be the same tonight and I want to look for comet Temple. Oh well, I suppose it adds to the challenge.

[atalas]

Well done Ken give me more!

Louie :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

I had every intention of going scoping again tonight but the Rugby League was on and by the time it finished 15 minutes ago everything outside is frozen again.

No way am I setting up now. Definately will Sunday night if the rain stays away still!

I know, call me a woos!

[h0ughy]

What's a little bit of ice to a big tough Astrophotographer such as yourself. But then you do own a kodak :D

Freeze frame :rofl:

[ballaratdragons]

Thems fighten' words hUoghy!

Plus, I don't want to freeze my nuts off my telescope.

[h0ughy]

Oh I see you and Mr Acropolite have attended the same school of ellocution! :rofl: Now since the upload images are buggered at the moment it will have to be a duel at 500000000 electrons............ :scared3:

[ballaratdragons]

Everything is buggered in this site at the moment!!??

Hehe, I loved your reaction to his spelling of your name I couldn't resist! Think yourself lucky he didn't put Hooey or Pooey or something worse LOL.

[h0ughy]

Yes I am afraid I have been called most varaitions in the book, None of which were very original. BTW in the cricket Aus is 0-58 in the 8th over.

[ballaratdragons]

Houghy,

Will you stop following me from thread to thread! Your making me nervous.

[h0ughy]

You can run but you can't hide....................... :evil2:

[ballaratdragons]

Yes I can! I simply click on 'Log Out'. But knowing my luck, you'll be here to haunt me when I come back in.