Time of Year & Atmospheric conditions for Observing?

[Davekyn]

What time of year favors atmospheric conditions for Observing? I have lost interest this winter in observing due the weather conditions in the south East of Queensland. The stars seem to twinkle too much of late and I just seem to be having bad luck with clouds as well. It’s either one or the other. I love camping in the cold! & thought winter was the best time to observe but must say I seem to be miserably mistaken from my point of view at this time.

Just curious, is there a favorable time of year for Observing at all? Dew control seems pointless if you can’t clear the sky?

Cheers.

[astroron]

Dave this year has been a particularly bad year for astronomy,but hopfully as we get deeper into winter it will improve.
Keep your chin up.

[iceman]

ditto to Ron. Feb-June used to be the best conditions around here for imaging, but this year has been terrible!

[glenc]

David, take a look at clear and cloudy days here http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_041103.shtml
July to Sept are usually the best in Toowoomba. At Dalby it is normally good from April to Oct.

[Davekyn]

That's great to hear! When I say I am losing interest, I think it’s more a case of simply being upset, as I never realized how much I would actually miss star gazing. Usually its only for a week or so, but yea!...of late I am wondering what I can do whilst the weather decides to keep my scopes at bay. Now that you guys have lifted my spirits, I may look into soaking and rinsing my Dobs mirrors. Boy I miss those sights.......there is just so much I am yet to see.

Thanks for the encouragement......chin up :)
Ps thanks Glen........over my download limit and still waiting for that page to load...thanks for the link.

[DavidTrap]

I know what you mean - earlier this year I was finally in a financial position to buy a computerised GOTO scope, which I had been thinking about for 10+ years. I joined an astronomy association and have been eagerly awaiting the chance go out to their dark sky site, but each New Moon the clouds and the rains roll in. Getting pretty frustrated!!! I'm hoping that when the weather finally improves I will still have the interest to get back into Astronomy after many years away!!!

David T

[jjjnettie]

The weather has been extraordinarily bad for astronomy since before xmas.
Looks like we'll be getting some good viewing in soon though.
Just in time for QLD Astrofest!!:thumbsup::D
49 sleeps to go:P

[astroron]

I resisted setting up this afternoon as I had a feeling it was going to cloud up:(
I had tea and went outside and sure enough it was completely clouded over:cloudy::cloudy:

[seanliddelow]

Perth, Western Australia has been quite good with the weather. We had the dryest autumn on record and possibly the driest winter on record. April and May were really good for observing. Its starting to rain again but the clear Winter nights offer a great view of the milky way with nice cold air.:P

[pgc hunter]

Here in cold and cloudy Melbourne, it's basically like this season by season:

Summer: occasional bushfire smoke, but clearest time of year with possibly "best" seeing (by Melbourne standards that's 2 arc sec or worse).

Autumn: total write-off thanks to the Defartment of Suckholes and Embers (DSE)

Winter: Best transparency, but heavy dew and cloudy/foggy 99^647654765468554685545 x 99996889645790098694% of the time

Spring: Is a pretty name for winter.

And my opinion of 2009, the International year of Astronomy?
How bout the "international year of cloudy weather and crap seeing". Much more fitting eh?

[Alchemy]

i dont hink any particular time is good for melbourne, its very changable here so good nights roll around occasionally, unfortunately the stable weather in autumn brings on the burning off , so that ruins that.

[seanliddelow]

Perth has a 40% chance of rain this winter :)
Summer is not that good as it has a lot of mozzies:mad2:
Autumn and Spring is better:)