Cambroon - 29-11-08 & Astroron's birthday!!

[[1ponders]]

Let's see if we can break the record of number of visitor this time round and celebrate Ron's birthday (it's a big one ;) ) in style under some of the best skies in SE Qld. Bring something for the barbecue, bring along something nice to drink, bring along your tent and sleeping bag, there's plenty of room.

If you've never been to the Cambroon Dark Sky night that comes around each month, this is the time to come. If you are only an intermittent visitor make this your next visit. Get in before the Xmas rush. If you are a regular visitor, what can I say, you know how much fun we have and what great skies we get, so get on up here. :thumbsup:

[AlexN]

Im in! :)

Now.. to squirrel the friday off work to get a couple of nights imaging :D

[astroron]

Look forward to that weekend Alex:D
Might just find some time to get my web site up and running:P
:thumbsup: Ron

[AlexN]

Working on that right now Ron.. Don't tell Ron though, its a secret for his birthday :P :D :thumbsup:

[astroron]

:lol::lol::lol::lol:
Ron

[jjjnettie]

Sounds like it's going to be another fantastic weekend.
I hope to see you all there.

[RobF]

Hoping to get there if you'll let me in again Ron....:P

Just trying to get my ticket stamped by the wife....

[Tandum]

Me too, physio has sorted out my foot, leg, back problems :)
The weather forecast don;t look too good though :(

[AlexN]

As its been said a number of times Robin, Cambroon is not brisbane, brisbane forecasts don't usually apply to Cambroon...

More to the point, Where do you get 3 week forecasts from?? Do you have some connection to the sky gods you're not telling us about?? (If so, ask nicely for the clouds to go away! :) )

[astroron]

Look forward to catching up again Rob:)
Buy the wife a box of chocolates or some flowers;)
Ron

[Tandum]

Now why would Fairfax (http://www.weatherzone.com.au/long-range-forecast/28-day-rain/qld/southeast-coast) lie to us :)

[astroron]

Hi Robin, on the 25th of October we had a great night here :)
It was cloudy and stormy in lots of places:eyepop:we even watched one go by giving Maleny and Kenilworth a bath and leaving us with a nice clear night for imaging and Observing:astron::stargaze:
Look at this site on the day to see what weather is doing at Cambroon
http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=IQLDCAMB2.
Eventually it will be on my website:thumbsup:
Ron

[Tandum]

Cheers ron, I was gearing up to go to that one but this stupid foot problem ended up causing problems up my leg and into my back. Nothing a fist full of dollars at the physio can't fix and it did.

Your website ?

How many physios does it take to change a light bulb?
One but he has to check it out 75 times.

[astroron]

Robin, I have a web site which is in the throes of being upgraded:D
In the New year I hope it will be fully operational and with a bit of luck may even have a webcam as well :)
So as they say, Watch This Space;)
Ron

[Tandum]

Who's a lucky boy then :) I haven't done a web site in about 8 years. I was lucky enough to find a ready built imaging engine to wack on top of my work site for Astro Images. (http://www.celticcomputers.com.au/Astro/) At least I have a copy someplace when this system crashes :)

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I'm unable to committ yet Ron, but trying to make plans as best I can.
Especially since I have 2 new eyepieces that need a good test out under dark skies, though the 6mm TMB Burgess Planetary performed brilliantly on the moon a few nights back.

I haven't been to a New Moon Saturday at your place since March or so because of the way the weekends I'm rostered on keep coinciding with New Moon.... and due to someone suffering from Nomadis Greyitis.

Anyway - this will be my 4th Christmas with this company, and for the very first time ever the roster shows that I'm a chance of going to the company funded party, all food and booze laid on etc.

Of course you'll never guess which Saturday in late November that falls on this year....

:( :sadeyes: :mad2:

[astroron]

:hi:Steve I am sorry that it looks like you wont be joining us again this month:sadeyes:This will possibly be the last one this year as the next New Moon is on the 27th, the day after Boxing day and also the Christmas period, even though I have no plans at the present to be anywhere else but here,, so there is a chance of an observing night if anyone is interested:shrug:
I hope we can catch up soon :)
Ron

[AlexN]

Day after boxing day, Im in :) Cant think of a better Christmas present than a night of dark skies and good company! :)

[Tandum]

We're thinking of doing a cruise just to escape the xmas thing.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I'm not out of it yet Ron, but I can't confirm that I'm in yet either. I'd hate to miss out on seeing you for your birthday, and there's so many others that I haven't seen in ages either.

Unfortunately I was talking a while ago at work rather loudly that I hadn't been able to go to any of the previous 3 Christmas Parties because I had always been rostered to work ... they sent an email around asking who wanted to attend the party, and when would we be available. This was of course about a week before the Cambroon invitation came out ... and so now the party is scheduled for Nov 29th.

I KNOW where I'd rather be ....
:astron: :stargaze:

so let me see what I can do.

[Xeelee]

I'm in. No more school, tests, anything. Just looking forward to more observing. :D ;)

Hope to see you all there

Chris

[jjjnettie]

LOLOL
Like the new avatar Paul.
You're looking wild and wooly!

[[1ponders]]

:lol: That's copyrighted to the h0ughenator; "The Ponders Nebula" (do a search) taken through a UHC filter I believe at duckadang......last year????.

I think it ages me though. :P

[AlexN]

hehe.. I took a few shots around the house through a Ha filter a few weeks back.. they were. Odd...

[pmrid]

I'm new to Cambroon but would love to discover it's dark skies. May I join the procession for the 29th? I'm busting to give my new and greatly simplified rig an airing. After having scored zero at Barambah recently, the Gods owe me one.
Peter

[AlexN]

Haha peter... Barambah defeated a lot of us imagers... Jeanette powered on and did us all proud :)

Cambroon has always been nice to me! technical problems minimal, rarely end nights due to cloud.. (touches every bit of wood within reach)

[Dennis]

Ahh, a big birthday for Ron eh! I don’t know what’s in the drinking water at Ron’s place, or whether he has inherited some special genes, but the young fella just seems to defy ageing. Each year he rolls up at the Qld Astrofest, he looks just like the last!:shrug:

C’mon Ron, what’s your secret?;)

Cheers

Dennis

[jjjnettie]

Hi Peter,
It'd be great to see you up there too.
I'll bringing up my new, more complicated set up as well, but still bringing along old faithful, just in case.

[astroron]

Thanks Dennis :lol:I have to stay the same so as you can recognize me;) as we only catch up once a year:thumbsup:
Ron

[AlexN]

Dennis, You planning on making the trip up to Cambroon?

[Dennis]

Hi Alex

Thanks for the encouragement Alex; the spirit is willing, the mind strong but the flesh is weak! :(

This last 18 to 24 months or so, I just haven’t been able to muster the grunt to pack the car for one or two nighters. I think that I’ve been so thwarted and disappointed with the vagaries of the weather the last couple of years, that I’m really feeling quite jaded about the whole packing up, up-packing, setting up, tearing down, re-packing and unpacking process.:shrug:

I hope you guys and girls have a great time, I seem to have lost that simple awe, innocence and sense of adventure. It sounds a little weak and whimpish I know, but that’s just where I’m at right now…:(

Cheers

Dennis

[astroron]

Just a thought Dennis , I wasn't at Astrofest this year so there must have been another young looking oldie that you thought was me :rofl::rofl::rofl:
Ron

[AlexN]

perhaps a clone? or an evil twin! :)

[Dennis]

Yes – your larger than life presence was sorely missed, not to mention that unique, Liverpudlian talent of telling story after funny story, in the wee hours, over a cup of coffee and Paul’s sticky date pudding!:thumbsup:

Cheers

Dennis

[Tandum]

I'm with dennis here. There is just so much stuff to packup and move for photography, that I can hardly fit it all in the car. I'm bringing the old heq5 to this one and crossing fingers that it works ok. A mobile dark site kit would be ideal.

I'm looking at selling off the Statesman and getting a Z3. All this crap will never fit in the passenger seat :)

[Tandum]

Found it ...
Here is the v6 Z3 (http://www.carsales.com.au/Tig/UI/CSPhotoSlideShow.aspx?p=11658837&s=11658837,11658830,11658834,116588 31,11658827,11658836,11658833,11658 828&vehicle_id=5882751&Silo=1000&StockImage=False&PortalID=240481) I have been looking for.
Isn't it a ripper, 130Kms and Baby Sh_it Yellow.
Of course it will be the wifes car ;)

I am also looking for a sub $2K car for the boy. Needs to have rego and RWC. Anyone have one?

[AlexN]

You'd never fit the 12" newt in that :P

I vote a commodore station wagon, tons of space, doubles as a bedroom at astrofest/darksky camps and half the price of Z3

[jjjnettie]

Fishing for compliments?:P

[[1ponders]]

:lol: Why, have you got one for me? :lol: :P

[AlexN]

You look much better than in your avatar!? Is that what you're after?

[astroron]

:hi:Peter, it will be great to catch up with you again:) Fingers crossed for good weather:D:thumbsup:
Ron

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I'm coming after all Ron, it took me a while to figure how to make the right decision, but I'm giving the work party a miss after all.
(They made it so you had to respond to an RSVP to go - easy, I didn't!)
:thumbsup:

I'm just REALLY hoping that it's decent observing weather now for that weekend, but even if it's not I'll be there. It's just not right to let a birthday celebration pass by, is it?

Looking forward to seeing you again too Peter, and Alex, and Robyn, and Paul, Jeanette, etc - who else is coming?
Randall, Dennis(the 'nightshift' version), Wes, William, Maureen, Terry, John, etc, etc - where are you guys? Time to get on board the train!

;)

[Tandum]

I'm supposed to be picking up the kids post shoolies from the GCoast that day but I'm sure I can get out of it now that the wifes car is back from the pannel beaters.

[jjjnettie]

I'll be there rain or shine too Steve.

[astroron]

Great news Steve and Robin and Jeanette:) it will be good to see you all again:D
I mowed the grass last week and it has rained nearly day, so it looks like I might have to go over it again before next Saturday:(
I think it will be a good weekend Weather, Observing and Social wise ;)
Ron

[jjjnettie]

I might come up a bit early so I can go for an afternoon dip at Little Yabba.

[astroron]

:hi:Jeanette, we should have another new female member joining us from Pomona:)
We are gradually getting more female members:):)which is a Good thing:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Ron

[Nightshift]

hi Ron, Steve and the gang,

I would love to come but alas, Ron shares his birthday with my very soon to be 10 year old daughter. She is having a sleepover party with 6 of her friends and "Mum" decided she needed help with that. hmmmmm, lets see now, a night of observing in the tranquility of Rons vs a night of terror and torment with 7 10 year old girls, its a tuff decision but my wife made it for me, there was no getting out that night for me. Sorry.

Happy birthday anyway Ron, your sleepover sounds like more fun.

cheers, Dennis.

[Xeelee]

Sorry guys, I won't be able to make it for Ron's birthday. I'm going to schoolies and we've been delayed a night due to some problems :doh: and have been offered an extra night at the end of our stay. That ends up eating into IIS for this weekend.

Chris

PS. Have a good time and Happy Birthday Ron!

[Davros]

Okay i am going to have a crack at this one. its been way too long away from dark skies. I have the same drama as Steve but i will gladly ditch a chrissy party. Not my scene. Hope to see you all there.
cheers
Mick

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Great stuff Mick, it's been too long, I can't even remember what you look like in the dark, let alone broad daylight!
:lol:
Seriously, will be good to see you again.

Sorry to hear that you can't make it Dennis - both of you Dennii that is of course!

Chris I'm always sorry when a chance to spend time with you and Mike is missed, but this IS your 1 and only Schoolies week (you did pass everything, right ;) ) so have a great time mate, enjoy yourself.

(Would LOVE to be a fly on the wall at your place while your away, listening to Mike and your mother wondering what you're up to, etc.)
:eyepop:

[Zubenel]

Hi All ,
HMMMMMM , Just read the blurb , all three pages reads like days of our lives :P. Who goes where and who is going to what Christmas party or not , or Skoolies or can or can't pack the car ( was that a BM) or not...:lol:
Would love to be there for Saturday night but am working Sunday so Could we try for Friday night. Make it a 2 night event???
Cheers Zubenel
Happy Birthday to Ron , Happy Birthday to Ron . Happy Birthday to Ron.Happy Birthday:thumbsup::eyepop::rofl::lo l:;):P:D:):hi::welcome::(:sadeyes:: mad2::shrug::help::rolleyes::screwy ::scared::doh::whistle::nerd::innoc ent::bashcomp::windy::rockband::ato m::xmas::gamer::reindeer::astron::s unny::rain::love2:

[jjjnettie]

Well, I've got dramas now.
My little red wagon is broken:(
I hope to have it back by the end of the week.:prey:

[[1ponders]]

That's no good Jeanette. Hope it's all up and running by the weekend.

[AlexN]

Agreed! Just wont be the same if you don't make it! :)

[pmrid]

Let me know Jeanette because I could pick you up on the way through from Somerset Dam since I will have to go right past Mary Smokes Rd on Saturday (assuming the clouds don't open of course). I was planning to take my old motor-home (if Cambroon protocol allowed it and assuming the road up to Malaney off the Peachester road isn't too steep for the old girl) - so there would be plenty of room for your gear.
Peter

[jjjnettie]

Thanks Peter.
I appreciate that. I'll PM you if I need to.

[astroron]

Would love to be there for Saturday night but am working Sunday so Could we try for Friday night. Make it a 2 night event???
Cheers Zubenel

You are quite welcome to come up Friday Wes:)
Weather permitting:D
The forecast doesn't look promising, but we wont know till the day:shrug:
Ron

[AlexN]

Put me on the weather notification list for Friday please Ron...

I finish up at work at mid-day on friday, so if it looks promising by then, shoot me a PM, And I'll be there by 2:30 ~ 3pm! :)

Cheers Alex. (Ps. Website - 97%~98% complete.. Will need to take more photos this weekend.. Hopefully with a good turnout!)

[Zubenel]

HI Ron ,
ok option B. I have Monday off and the forecast is saying that it will fine up so Sunday night might be a goer??:)
Just got another Laptop computer and am hoping to have the usb rs232 do dad going by then which would be great.
Cheers Zub.

[Davros]

Supposed to be clearing Saturday for a fine Sunday in Brissy so fingers crossed for clear skies at Rons.

[RobF]

I'm putting in my apologies.
Feeling pretty crook today - off to the Dr

Happy Birthday Ron - sorry won't be there.
Perhaps next time.

Rob :(

[AlexN]

I too must regretfully inform everyone that I wont be making it.. Had a rather serious back injury at work today... Rather immobile at this point... Lugging around an EQ6 is out of the question.. as is walking more than 10m at a time.. :(

[jjjnettie]

Sorry to hear about that Alex.
Terrible news. I was looking forward to seeing you this weekend.

You don't have to bring the scope along you know, just a comfy chair and a pair of binoculars.

[AlexN]

It would take me 45 minutes to walk from my bed to my car at the moment.. Not to mention the car trip wouldn't be the most fun...

[Davros]

Hows the weather forecast looking up there?

[jjjnettie]

The car is packed and I'm about to leave.
To those who are making the trip, see you up there.:)

[[1ponders]]

I'll be there at about 4:00ish.

[Davros]

Just had a look outside, those clouds look here to stay harrumph I dont think i am going to drive up unless this weather clears. :mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2 :
I was looking forward to this. :mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2 :
Hopefully those up there will find some sort of patch of clear sky. And Happy Birthday Ron.

[[1ponders]]

I must say it was an unusual night last night. I arrived at Ron's at about 4:30 and as it has been for the past few days it was cloudy. And it didn't get any better as the evening went on. Peter, Jeanette, Ron and I sat around chatting for a few hours, Ron put on the barbecue and we chatted some more. :P At about 7:30-8:00 I decided to head on home as I only live about 15 min from Ron's place. It was still totally clouded out plus we'd had the odd spit of rain.

After being home for about an hour I took the dog out for a walk and looked up. Lo and behold the clouds had parted. Parted!!! The sky was pristine. :eyepop: It stayed like that for the rest of the night.

I hope the guys had a great night and made the most of it. :thumbsup:

[RobF]

Anyone viewing on Sun night? I'm feeling a lot better and would love to visit if your still about and "open" Ron?

[[1ponders]]

I think Gargoyle_Steve and Zubenel are heading up that way Rob.

[astroron]

Rob, as Paul said Steve and his group as well as Wes are coming up:)
So you are most welcome:thumbsup:
Ron

[RobF]

Great - look forward to it later then.

R

[jjjnettie]

Happy Birthday Ron!
As Paul said, last night ended up beautifully.
I packed it in earlier than I usually do though and spent some time just looking up, spotting sporadic meteors.
Tonight will be the night though. It's promising to be very clear. Wish I could be up there to share it with you all.
Thanks again for the hospitality Ron.

[pmrid]

Big thanks Ron. Hope I didn't wake you and Jeanette when I took off Sunday a.m.. I'm up with the birds rain or shine and waited a couple of hours but there was no sign of you guys emerging so I headed home. Thanks for your hospitality and great views through your 16". We went from miserable to gob-smacking in about 30 minutes.
Peter

[pmrid]

Hey Paul,
sorry you wern't able to stay Sat night and enjoy the show. Thanks specially for helping me get my ToUCam set up and for the offer of that pier tube. I look forward to working it into my new obs.
cheers

Peter

[jjjnettie]

Last night was a pearler!!

[astroron]

Thankyou Jeanette and Peter, I am glad you enjoyed yourself's it was great to have your company and the weather gods where kind to us in the end.
I hope we can catch up again soon.
Ron

[Tandum]

Sorry I didn't get there Ron. I got stuck down the Gold Coast picking up schoolies and dealing with the aftermarth (read that as spot fines). Didn't get back to Brissy till early evening.