Cambroon 8th March

[astroron]

:hi: The Cambroon AstroNight for March will be Saturday the 8th.
Here's hopeing for good weather:prey::prey:
Last month was a great success with 18 people and 11 scopes, with good observing for most of the night, the last three observers calling it a day at 04:00 Sunday Morning:)
I hope to meet some more of new members, there where about 4 or five last month:):astron::stargaze:
Ron

[[1ponders]]

:prey: for clear skies and no fog :P

[astroron]

Fingers Crossed Paul, I think we have had enough water for the time being:)
Now is the time for some Clear Skies.PLEASE:thumbsup:
Ron

[SteveB]

Ron, I am endeavouring to make it along this month and be one of the newbies. Missed out last month due to work so this time it is in the diary and so far nothing else on that day.
Is the property accessable for normal non 4wd's?

[jjjnettie]

I'm hoping to make it this time Ron.
Fingers crossed for clear weather.

[astroron]

:)

Look forward to catching up with you Steve:) there is no problem with normal vehicles, the ground was just waterlogged because of all the rain we had.
270MM for the monthe of January and 270mm for Feb.
We have had some nice dry days in the last fortnight so it is all OK:thumbsup:

[astroron]

HI Jeanette it will be good to see you again:)especialy with all the New Astro gear you've got;)
Ron

[drmorbius]

Sorry Ron, but I won't be able to make it this weekend :(. Hope you guys have a good one.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I'm afraid I'm also unavailable Ron due to the eternal curse of having to work night shift right across the weekend - so hopefully I'll see as many of you as possible at the Barambah Camp next NEW moon instead. [Edited : OOPS! :rolleyes:]

Hope you all have a great night at Cambroon this weekend!

[drmorbius]

Oh no... Did we make it the full moon???? :doh:

;) I know what you meant Steve :D

[astroron]

I am Sorry to hear that Steve , it must be the curse of the Full Moon:lol:
See you at Barambah
Ron

[joshman]

hey, i'll be there! all things going well!

and i've got batteries for my illuminated reticle this time!

[batema]

Ron
My friend Adam and I have not been to your place before and are keen to make it this Saturday night. I have the map from I think a previous night on how to get there so we look forward to fine weather and some good photos hopefully. Mark Bateman

[astroron]

:hi:All just remember just because there are clouds in Brisbane and on the coast it doesn't mean that it is cloudy at Cambroon:)a classical occasion was last Astronight when we had a good nights observing and they had crap weather in Brissie and the coast.;)
See you all this weekend:astron::stargaze:
Ron

[Zubenel]

Hi Bateman , There's a map at the top of the screen( star party's )which will get you there.
I'm planning on it. How much turf do I NEED TO BRING!!:whistle: Cheers Wes

[astroron]

How much turf do I NEED TO BRING!! Cheers Wes
Wes, There is only soil at the moment but it is fairly level, so bring a tarp to put down till the grass grows:D

[joshman]

i remember the weather the last time, it was pretty decieving.... let's hope for a fantastic night once more!!!

[[1ponders]]

Lookin' good. It's the start of a fabulous day here atm. Fingers crossed for clear skies tonight as well. I desperately need to to get out and test some equipment before I come over. It has been soooooo long.

[jjjnettie]

It's looking good for the weekend so far.
The temperature is really starting to drop at night now.
Don't forget your warm clothes.

[Spartacus]

Hi All,

Chris (Xeelee) and I will be there, might be a bit late but hopefully before sunset. We will stay all night, I think Chris is really keen to use the new DMK. So we are praying the mist stays away.
Cheers
Mike

[[1ponders]]

don't worry Spart. I'll keep the concrete pad nice and warm for you...........for next time :lol: :P

[joshman]

hahah, i plan on getting the concrete pad again this time :P first in best dressed i suppose :D

[[1ponders]]

You'd better get there early then, I only live 15km away :lol:

[astroron]

:hi:all it's a great night tonight, I think it will be the same tomorrow night:D
See you then:astron::stargaze:
Ron

[[1ponders]]

Ron do you want me come over early and bring that chainsaw ;)

[joshman]

hey paul, are you trying to sneak in on my spot?:P

[[1ponders]]

Don't worry Josh. There won't be any sneaking about it :lol:

[jjjnettie]

I thought it was "Ladies First".
I'll most graciously move your scopes aside and put mine on the pad instead.

[[1ponders]]

:lol:

[joshman]

oh noes paul!!!! maybe a team effort to hold the fort from the ladies???? then we can fight over the pad later?

:D

[[1ponders]]

I think it's probably getting towards time where we have a weekender at Ron's and put in a couple of more pads seeing as the imagers are starting to outnumber the viewers :D

Waddyareacon Ron? ;) Might slip in an observatory slab while we're at it. :)

[jjjnettie]

Look, I'll step aside and let you two fight over the slab.
My mount is so efficient it doesn't need a concrete pad to keep it stable anyway.:P

[joshman]

hahah, what is this 'cube' i AM intrigued.

the pad's mine this time! mwahahahahahha!!!!

and i'll be in for helping put in a few more imaging pads one weekend.

[jjjnettie]

The "Cube" in action.
Chair warmer optional.;)


PS the scope is level, the rest of the photo is crooked.

[[1ponders]]

:lol: Level...after how many reds.:lol:

[jjjnettie]

:whistle:

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Imagers outnumbering the viewers?? In ya dreams Paul! ;)
There's still a forest of dobs anytime you have more than 3 scopes out at Ron's place!


Anyway I'm sitting at work waiting for the reports - who went to Ron's, who didn't, and did you do any solo observing Ron even if no one else came?


Re the working bee to get things done at Ron's - if it's one of my weekends off I'll be there!
(Even though my dob don't need no fancy schmancy see-ment pad to work just fine)

:P

[[1ponders]]

From memory Steve there were about 10 scope and 20 people (approx) last night with the imagers winning out about 6 to 4 I believe ;)

Lets see, there was ME :D (at last) Jeanette at the other end of the table, Adam and Mark (newbies) Josh, Dave W and Chris and Mike (though I'm not sure what they were doing but I'm including them here to increase our sense of importance).

Visually there was Ron, Shaun and Michael (newbies), Wes, Maureen and clan, and another gentleman and his son (who I have shamefully fogotten their names) plus I think there were a few other wandering around. You know how it's like, your so busy getting everything right to collect that perfect photon on the chip you miss half the people getting around :lol:

[Dennis]

But……who got the concrete pad!:lol:

Cheers

Dennis

[joshman]

i figured i'd be kind enough and step aside and let paul get it.

age before beauty afterall :D

[Dennis]

Or, was it really a question of Ponders' ahem, wisdom in getting there 1st::whistle:

"There is nothing to match the exuberance of youth...except, of course, wisdom and treachery."
-- Bayushi Kachiko

[[1ponders]]

:lol:

At least it got used for the purpose it was installed for.......capturing some images :cool: :lol: :P :poke:

[SteveB]

I was a Cambroon virgin last night and a newbie to this site as well and I had a great time. After nothing but cloud in the afternoon I was so happy to see the stars come out and I was able to see the heavens through some decent equipment for the first time, I think we timed it well by shutting down at 11.30 because the rain certainly set in for a while.

I met some very friendly and helpfull people. Thank you to all who let me view the night sky through their scopes especially Wes (a wealth of knowledge), along with Shaun & his son plus I enjoyed watching Jeanette's tv show.

Thank you to Ron for being so hospitable, I hope I didn't wake anyone when I left this morning.
I learnt quite a bit in that short time and look forward to the next evening. I just have to convince the wife that I really really really need a bigger scope.:)

Thanks again
Steve B

[astroron]

A great turn-up with quite a few new comers :)weather was a bit topsy turvy, but ;lots of observing and imaging was done:D
Paul, Mark Coulthard plus father and son were the others you couldn't remember.
The Working Bee is OK with me if anyone want's to put in a concrete pad, there is four already, but plenty room for more and a bit more skyline now that the Cassurina tree is no more:D thanks Paul.
See you all in a month.:astron::stargaze:
Ron

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Sounds like a great night as usual, wish I could have made it! :doh:
Hope to catch up / meet you all again at Ron's next time around.
(Especially more Visual observers, to keep those imagers in their place!)
:P

Keep an eye on the threads in the "Star Party" area so you know when Ron next throws the invitation open again.

------------------------------------------------------------------

For the actual new moon weekend itself in April (Sat 5th/Sun 6th) some (many?) of us are going instead to an astro-event organised by Ron and a number of the Cambroon regular visitors - the Barambah Dark Sky Camp. Barambah is a REALLY dark sky site located NNW from Brisbane in the middle of nowhere. We were there in December and had a great weekend, this time around we've booked the facility from Saturday the 5th until Wednesday the 9th - that's a possible 4 nights of dark for those who are keen!

Everyone / anyone is welcome to attend, for as many nights as you like within that timeframe. Be aware that we have to hire the facility (which inc. dorm accomodation, well appointed kitchen, dining hall, etc) so it isn't a freebie to attend, but it certainly isn't expensive either!

I know many of the Cambroon regulars are going along, but for anyone else with an interest in Astronomy who want to know more, read about it here:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=28781
and
http://www.darkskycamp.org.au/index.shtml

If you do want to attend please complete your registration form as soon as possible.
(There's a number of people who have said they're coming but haven't registered yet, lease don't leave it until the last minute!)

Really do hope to see as many of you there as possible! :thumbsup: