Australia Day Long Weekend

[astroron]

The next DARK weekend is the Australia Day long weekend of 24-26 this month
Perhaps you could plan to have two or three night of observing:astron::stargaze: and in the daytime take in the delights and fresh country air of the Upper Mary Valley.
Places to visit Kenilworth, for Cheese, Imbil for Buroomba Dam, and Kenilworth state forest and National park for walks and Swimming.
Or just stay put and Relax:D

[GTB_an_Owl]

you getting lonely up there Ron ? :whistle:

geoff

[Nightshift]

Well Ron, count me in for one of these days if the weather permits, we just hav'nt had good weather the last few times we tried. I'll choose the Saturday as my preferred option at this time.

Hope to see you then. Dennis.

[[1ponders]]

I'm in for a night or two ;)

[astroron]

Well Geoff I thought that if I offered more than one night thatyou might be tempted to get away from the smogg of NSW and enjoy the fresh air of the sunshine coast hinterland;)

[Rodstar]

Hope you fellas have some clear nights and can make the most of it.

I am heading up to Coonabarabran for the long weekend, hoping for some optimal conditions. Fingers crossed.

[astroron]

Rod, I hope you get Clear Sky's to give your 20" a good workout:astron::astron::stargaze::

[Rodstar]

Thanks Ron. Hope your 16" gets to stretch its legs too!

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Pleased to say that Joy and I will be coming out probably Saturday, set up the tent and do the sleepover thing (as per last months plan), will head home either late Sunday or Monday morning (Have to be at work 5pm Monday night).

See y'all there! ;)

[GTB_an_Owl]

one of these days Ron - one of these days

i wouldn't need much tempting i can tell you

geoff

[Tandum]

Seeing every time I've accepted an invitation, the weather has turned to crap, I thought I'd decline this particular invitation, which would ensure clear skys for all :)

[astroron]

So is that a Maybe:D

[Tandum]

Gezz ron ... don't make me hex it :) There's a cyclone forming in the gulf....

[astroron]

Rob We will leave it till closer to the day:lol::lol:

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Robin we should add that you DID come to Barambah last time, and the weather was nothing short of stunningly clear and spectacular for 4 of the 6 nights I was there (the other 2 were pretty good anyway by any other "obsereving night" standards, just less "stunning" than the other 4).

So a definite "Maybe" that is...... :P


... and Geoff, you really DO want to come up, we all know it, so why not commit now and we can all relax until Aussie Day weekend?
;)

[Tandum]

Damn steve, I just wanna remove the jinx, which may or may not be me and cambroon.

Looking at the maps ... the cyclone of the centuary is here anyway.

[AlexN]

I think of a better way to spend the long weekend.. I've got my car issues sorted, my spine is about 80% sorted (good enough to lug my gear around) all we need is cooperating weather...

Cheers,
Alex.

[lesbehrens]

hi. i try and be there one night that weekend. i have a work mate that is interested in astronomy too. i mite get him up there to.
les

[andrew2008]

Would love to try and make it up one of these weekends. Have fri & sat off over the long weekend too:-)

Wish i'd known about these sessions when i was living at Kureelpa, a few mins below mapleton, and struggling with my first scope.

[jjjnettie]

I hope to make it for Saturday night and if I'm very lucky, Sunday night too.
I've got a couple of new toys to try out.

[AlexN]

Hope to see you there JJJ.. I'll bring some Tequila this time... bring a the rest of that drambui (or however you spell it..) and we can have some fun even if the clouds invade!! :D

[RobF]

Looking forward to good weather and good company again too. Like Robin, I'm not saying NUTHIN about the weather beforehand this time.....

[jjjnettie]

I'll bring along some of my home brew. It's been aging now for nearly 7 years. Some of it should be pretty good by now.

[pmrid]

Hi Ron,
the worst thing about in-laws is that they choose to descend on you at the most inopportune times - like long weekends with dark skies. On the A-Day weekend I will be fending off a small army of the #$@#ds instead of trying Jeanette's home brew. Bugger!
Consolation is that my Obs should be sufficiently complete by then to at least allow some visual work. Scopes are in, roof and walls are on and I'm framing up windows and doors now.
Peter

[astroron]

Thanks Peter:)
Good luck with the inlaws:D
I hope you get plenty of time to observe;:astron::stargaze:
Catch up soon:thumbsup:

[spacezebra]

Hi guys

Im off to Mt Buller for the Oz weekend (outreach and personal observing) -Observing at this elevation (1,375m ) should make for stunning results:D.

Cheers Petra

[astroron]

:hi:Petra, I hope you will have a great weather weekend, as I hope we do:astron::stargaze:

[AlexN]

G'day Ron,

Just enquiring as to the weather forecast for your area this weekend??

Trying to decide what to pack, if the weather looks like it will be favourable, the C11 will be coming, if not, I'll stick to the little scopes.. I'd really love the opportunity to get the C11 out and give planetary imaging a go from your site.. I think being away from the pollution, all the heat emiting houses etc in suburbia could make for some great imaging.. Not to mention the difference in altitude... :)

Please do keep us updated as to what the weather is doing..

Cheers mate.
See you on the weekend :)

Alex.

[Buddman]

Hi Ron,

Mark (batema) and I are planning to come on Saturday and/or Sunday depending on the weather. Can't wait.

Adam

Hey, maybe we could get some image processing hints.

[astroron]

I hope to see you Adam and Alex, Bom Site site said Showers clearing.

[AlexN]

Showers clearing is semi-promising (said whilst touching as much wood as possible) :D

[RobF]

Looks like Sat evening best chance?
I've got all my fingers crossed too and would love to come if weather behaves.... :prey:

[jjjnettie]

I think I'll come up regardless of the weather Ron. If you don't mind.
It's good to sit back and have a chat.
BTW I got those blue cold bag esky thingies for you and have to bring them up.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Sorry Ron but Joy and I won't be making it to you place after all, my son really wanted to stay with me for the weekend as well. They aren't children for ever, and ever hour I get to spend with him is precious. Hope to catch up with you soon regardless.

[lesbehrens]

hi. is the weather fine enough to come up? its still cloudy at kilcoy. i would really like to come up as i need help getting started with my astrophotography.
clear Sky's
les

[RobF]

No offence to the great hospitality and company, but doesn't look like I'll be coming given current cloud and forecasts this weekend. Doesn't mean I haven't been looking forward to it like crazy for months now though now I know how good you've got it Ron!....

[lesbehrens]

hi. any luck with the weather up there? well i hope next one is clear. i hope to be there next month.
clear skies
les

[astroron]

We will have a bit more open sky the next one, weather permitting:) Thanks to Paul( 1 ponders) :thumbsup:
I have a clear view of the South Celestial Pole as a number of intrusive trees have bit the dust :D

[RobF]

I'll certainly be counting the days until Feb too Ron. Looking at the satelite pics for yesterday we only seemed to be within 200-300kms of the edge of the cloud. Was out the back of Stanthorpe today, and speaking to a local heard how "beautifully clear" the sky was last night. :sadeyes:

To top it off - "Oh, we could see that storm and all the cloud to the north".... :rolleyes:

Sigh - you did say its the wet season....

[astroron]

We have just on 150mm of rain this last three days at Cambroon :(More than anywhere else within twenty kilometers:(but it filled up all the tanks and dams so the farmers can at least be happy for a little while:P
Hopefully this will clear in the next couple of days:lol::lol::lol:

[jjjnettie]

There ended up being quite a few of us (9 all up) there by late afternoon, and we enjoyed drinks and a good chat before the traditional Cambroon BBQ.
After everyone else left, Ron and I stayed up till 2am watching NASA dvds.
Paul came back around 9.30 the next morning and wowed us with his deforestation skills.
I took quite a few piccies of the process, I'll post them at a later time.
Thanks again for the hospitality Ron.

[astroron]

As Expected Jennette, weather did not improve :( so Maureen and others who where coming decided not to come:(
I enjoyed the drinks and DVD's:)all that I have to do now is clear up all the deforestation refuse Paul left for me:P
:thumbsup:

[[1ponders]]

Any Lumberjack photos yet? ;)

[jjjnettie]

Yeah yeah yeah, I've been working the last 2 days and haven't had time to even look at them yet.

[jjjnettie]

Here's a couple of photos plus a tiny .gif of the first tree coming down.
The majority of the photos just showed the backs of your heads and
I much prefer to see your faces.;)
If only I could get the Lumberjack song out of my head.:rofl:
Once you launch the .gif, the noise goes away.
I'll work on the next animation tonight.

[astroron]

Well done Jeanette:)I like the Animation:D

[[1ponders]]

Love the animation, but my the others make my butt look big. :lol: :P

[h0ughy]

LOL a true artist at work !!!!!



Lumberjack Song

I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay.
I sleep all night. I work all day.

Mounties : He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.

I cut down trees. I eat my lunch.
I go to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.


Mounties: He cuts down trees. He eats his lunch.
He goes to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays he goes shopping
And has buttered scones for tea.

Chorus : I'm (He's) a lumberjack, and I'm (he's) okay.
I (He) sleep(s) all night and I (he) work(s) all day.

I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.

Mounties : He cuts down trees. He skips and jumps.
He likes to press wild flowers.
He puts on women's clothing
And hangs around in bars?!

Chorus : I'm (He's) a lumberjack, and I'm (he's) okay.
I (He) sleep(s) all night and I (he) work(s) all day.

I cut down trees. I wear high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra.
I wish I'd been a girlie,
Just like my dear Mama (or Papa in later versions)


Mounties : He cuts down trees. He wears high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra?!

Chorus : I'm (He's) a lumberjack, and I'm (he's) okay.
I (He) sleep(s) all night and I (he) work(s) all day.

Yes, I'm (He's) a lumberjack, and I'm (he's) ok-a-y.
I (He) sleep(s) all night and I (he) work(s) all day.

[AlexN]

Should be a nice view of the LMC/SMC just after twilight now... Those trees were right in the way before :)

Good going guys.

[jjjnettie]

It looks pretty good to me Paul.;)

[[1ponders]]

:work::party::work::party:
Reminds me of the Village People
:rofl:

[RobF]

Is there nothing that man can't do?!
Seemed pretty resourceful with an imaging rig, but very businesslike with that chainsaw Paul!

[[1ponders]]

:lol: Thanks Rob. I have a bit to do with chainsaws at work, and I'm pretty ....pedantic .......some of my students think excessively so...others think that I walk with permanently puckered buttocks.... about workplace OH&S. After having my right hand go through a 9 1/4" Makita powersaw when I was 19, I realized pretty quickly that bits of sharp metal going in a generally circular motion can take alot of flesh out in a pretty short period of time.

[jjjnettie]

Ouch!
How long did it take you to recover from the accident Paul?

[[1ponders]]

Three and a half months off work. The worst part about it was I'd spent nearly $600 (circa 1980) the night before on a new stereo system for my F100 and I couldn't do anything for months because of my hand being encased in plaster. I also spent about 4 grand on alcohol at the Royal Mail in Tewantin at the same time. :lol: Loved that Bundy Rum pain killer. :lol:

[astroron]

Loved that Bundy Rum pain killer
Now he loves Bundy Ginger Beer:P