Ten Chain Hill October new Moon

[pmrid]

As mentioned in the Cambroon thread, the ten Chain Hill Obs will be the alternate site for Cambrooners and others wishing to enjor a good dark-sky site within a day's march of Brisbane.
The October dates will be 16th and 17th (the Fri and Sat).
See you there.
Peter

[RobF]

Time to start working on the wife..... :)

[AlexN]

:) Im in!!

Need more data!! :D :D

[DavidU]

Enjoy the dark sky's.

[jjjnettie]

I hope to make it Peter.
Might be buying a new toy this week, which means rain for full moon and fine again by new moon.

[[1ponders]]

Don't like my chances but I'll see how I go.

[pmrid]

Interesting choice of words!!!
Peter

[pmrid]

Crikey Paul. You've gotta make one!!
Peter

[[1ponders]]

I go back to work in a week and a half time for the first time since Astrofest. I kinda have the feeling I'll be a little bit snowed under. :doh: But if I can swing it I will get there.

Besides I'm sure there will be one or two there who will want me to run through my K3 drift align technique again. ;)

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I hope to be able to make it Peter, that's about all I can say at present.

I do look forward to catching up with you and others, we'll see how we go.

Steve

[drmorbius]

Having dusted off the telescopes for Barambah, I'm keen to keep the momentum going. Is there a spare spot for a camp trailer?

[jjjnettie]

There's lots of room for a camper trailer.
Pick a spot any spot.

[Davros]

Good to see you back on board Steve, I might try and make this one if the wife doesn't object too much, should have some new toys to play with by then as well.:thumbsup:

[pmrid]

Mate, the queue is already forming BEHIND ME.
Peter

[AlexN]

Paul - I think I understand how it all works... I may need to borrow your ToUCam off you though.. If I dont have one by then... :) I'm workin on that already! And I've already re-installed K3CCDTools on my notebook.. As soon as I get a ToUCam im in business..

[jjjnettie]

I'm always up for a bit more tuition. :)

[pmrid]

Good on you Steve. Bring the van again.
Peter

[pmrid]

Yep. Me too - but in addition to K3CCD drifting, I'm going to be lining up for some of your processing tips. Saw your M42 and was motivated to do a TenChain version. That and NGC 253 were last night's diversions. You'll see why I need guidance I think.
Peter

[AlexN]

once we get the rc ur and running i'll give you a quick run down on m42 processing i'll get a few good web links together for you too.. Should be able to get you started any how. Cant wait!

[jjjnettie]

That's a beautiful M42 Peter. Just got to concentrate on not burning out the Trap. An easy fix that one.

[AlexN]

ps - your 253 image is quite nice indeed.. I think it only needs the slightest little touch up and it will be a beauty!

[lesbehrens]

hi. i mite make it. have lots of q's for u all to help me with.
les

[RobF]

Gosh Peter, there's nothin' shabby about those 2!
I'd be very pleased with those. Agreed M42 could use some shorter images overlayed, but still great pics.

[adman]

I am fairly new to IIS. I live in brisbane, and am keen to get away out to the dark. I do not have a scope yet (well at least not one worth mentioning) - still in the researching stage - but leaning toward a 100-110mm apo refractor for visual and maybe later some imaging. I have not completely made up my mind and would like to have a look through a few different types / brands before deciding. Is this a good weekend to do that - would anyone be willing to let me have a peek through their scope, or will I just be getting in the way??

I bought a mount a few weeks ago that I pulled apart and regreased (an Orion Skyview Pro) because it was quite stiff in both axes - trying to balance it was almost impossible. The revamp went great - smooth and silky now. I am hoping to practice my drift alignment so I can take some photos with my piggybacked DSLR. If the dual axis drives i ordered from Sirius Optics show up - great - otherwise looks like I will be hand-guiding.

Am thinking of coming out for just one night - wife and three kids might balk at the second night.

Any objections?

Cheers
Adam

[RobF]

Weather permitting, I'm sure you'll learn heaps Adam. Nothing pretentious about IIS gatherings. Gear, family and questions welcome.

I best leave other comments to Peter, who has kindly thrown open the gates of his property for this get together.

[adman]

Thanks Rob

although I think for this time I may leave the family behind. Gear I have a little of. Questions I may have a whole trailer load.....

Adam

[AlexN]

Questions are very welcome! Definitely come along, bring what gear you have, im sure there will be plenty of people who'll only be too happy to give you a look through their gear...

Alex.

[adman]

Thanks Alex - your scopes look a little like what I am aiming for. I like the look of the WO triplets - have seen a couple second hand recently that have caught my eye. They seem to be the sweet spot for me in terms of cost and quality. Do you use your ZenithStar for guiding?

Adam

[AlexN]

Yea the ZS70 is the guider, I originally planned to use it for imaging and for guiding, as I had a WO Megrez 90 doublet as well. Now that I have the TMB triplet, the Zenithstar is purely for guiding...

The WO Triplets are sensational. Theres an FLT110 for sale at the moment on these forums that is a bargain!!

[adman]

Yep saw that one. I am trying my hardest not to buy anything before I have had a good look through a few different scopes. Very tempting though.

[AlexN]

yea.. good idea... i have been through a serious "gear junkie" stage recently. in the past 12 months i've had 5 different cameras, 2 mounts, and 12, yes... 12 telescopes...

Best to do your research, find out what you want to do, what interests you the most and then look through plenty of scopes... I'll say this, a 110mm refractor is not going to be awe inspiring to view through visually.. for imaging, that FLT 110 would be a dream... but for visual, its still only 4.5"... I had a Megrez 102 a while back, it cost me $1600, visually, it had NONE of the wow factor my $350 8" newtonian had.... if you really intend to use your scope visually and for imaging, I'd recommend something above 5", preferably 8" or 10"..

[pmrid]

Hello Adam. You're welcome to come up and enjoy the skies with us. One night or two - entirely up to you.
If you don't particularly want to bring up your naked mount (with or without drives), you are welcome to use one of mine. I have a 127mm refractor of a Celestron CG5 mount (manual only) that you can use. Plus, you can be sure there'll be no shortage of other people happy to share their gear and knowledge. There's a lot of skills that can be picked up by chatting and that's one of the great functions these loose get-togethers serve.
A couple of suggestions. Bring some camping gear. If you don't have or want to use a tent, then a sleeping bag. I have a fair-sized shed beside the Observatory and it serves as a workshop, cooking and catering area, and impromptu crashing spot. There is a big fridge there plus basic coffee/tea facilities. There is also a gas BBQ. Bring your tucker and favourite tipple to dispel the dew late at night. Above all bring your obvious enthusiasm and all will be well.
Peter

[adman]

Thanks very much Peter

I will bring my tent, and I will also bring my mount. I have a nasty department store refractor (cheapie celestron I have commandeered from my son) on it at the moment, but it is enough to do drift alignment with. Plus I also use it as a guider for longer piggybacked shots with my camera. I have bought a reasonable Pentax binocular - so I'll bring those up too.

Would there be any chance that your 127mm refractor might fit on my mount? It would be great to get something decent on there and learn a bit more about my own mounts particular characteristics.

Adam

[pmrid]

Probably. It has a standard dovetail on it so if your mount has that sort of top, there would be no problem. I have additional weights if we need them. I also have an old Canon 300D I don't use but which we could whack on the back of your Celestron if you want to do so short shots
I'll PM some directions to you.
Peter

[adman]

Yep - should fit. I also have an old 10D (circa 2003) - but I think that the chip in that one is a bit noisier than the later models. Will be interesting to have a comparison though.

[pmrid]

THE NEW MOON COMETH !!
If anyone needs directions, let me know. I'll see you all on Friday or Saturday - both nights open.

Peter

[bokglob]

Hi Peter, Very keen to come up,probably Friday night at least.Can't wait, THANKS Darrell:D

[jjjnettie]

It's Saturday night for me Peter.
Really really really looking forward to it.

[pmrid]

I was hoping you'd be able to make one night. Good news.
Peter

[jjjnettie]

Can't wait to give this new mount a proper run.
Desperate to get guiding.

[Tandum]

Looks like Saturday for me too Pete. Is there much smoke out there?

[RobF]

Still planning to be there Sat.
Martin (Bender) likely to come along too.

See you all then. Thanks again Peter!

[pmrid]

Hi Robin. No, the smoke seems to have cleared and the dust has gone also. Tonight is shaping up pretty well and all the signs are good for Saturday also. Touch wood.
Peter

[[1ponders]]

I'm in.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Peter I won't be coming for Friday night so don't wait up :lol:, Saturday is a big possible but not confirmed yet. Don may / may not make it tomorrow night as well. All I can say is we'll let you know.

Hope you and whoever is there tonight have a fabulous nights viewing!
:thumbsup:

[[1ponders]]

How about reposting the address and directions again Peter. maybe a map as well.

[pmrid]

G'day all - in response to requests, I'm reposting basic directions to Ten Chain Hill Obs.
If coming from the north, assume you can et to Kilcoy without directions. From Kilcoy, go south 25 km to Somerset Dam; continue through the village 2km and turn left onto Wivenhoe-Somerset Rd; follow for 6 kmand watch for the gate with the number 3336 on your left. It does not stand out - but that's deliberate.
If coming from western suburbs of Brisbane, get to Fernvale (and don't forget the pie shop there is a beaut). Keep going north through Fernvale by about 5km and turn right onto Wivenhoe-Somerset Rd; follow for 33-34 km and watch for the gate with the number 3336 on your right.
If coming from noerthen Brisbane suburbs, your best route would be via Samford and up and over Mt. Glorious. It takes me just on an hour to get from home to Aspley via that route. Get to Samford, take the Mt Glorious road and proceed through Mt. Glorious and down the back side of the mountain. It's a good sealed road but a tad winding. Keep going until you reach a T-intersection with Wivenhoe-Somerset Rd. Turn right and follow for 19 km until you see our gate number 3336 on your right side.

ALL: at the gate, You won't see anything from the road except our plantation of spotted gums. But if you follow the track from the gate back about 1 km through the plantation, you'll reach the sheds and observatory and will find the assembled masses.

Bring a tent or camp stretcher (that can be set up inside the shed I use as a common-room for visiting astronomers). There is a gas BBQ, fride, water and power with basic coffee/tea making etc. There is no loo as such in the shed but should the need arise, the house is 200 yards away.
Mobile phone is patchy and unpredicatable.
Bring tucker and drinks as required.
See you all later today.
Peter

[Tandum]

I came up today and seeing is excellent but it was a bit windy earlier. If your planning what to shoot, easterly targets need to be about 45degrees high or more else the lights from Brisbane will get ya :)

PS. It's also freezzing cold but no dew at all ...

[ozstronomer]

Peter,

Thanks for the info, Matt and I will be up today. Looking foward to catching up with everyone.

Geoff

[Gargoyle_Steve]

We can't make it after all Peter I'm sorry to say. Was looking forward to visiting you again, and catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

Wishing you all very clear skies for tonight!

[[1ponders]]

Aw Steve, that's a shame. Its nice an clear up here atm, bit windy but that's dying down since the suns gone down. We'll have to get you out home one night.

[jjjnettie]

Thanks again Peter for your hospitality.
After packing up early in a girly hissy fit, it ended up being a lovely night/morning after all.
Got my new mount guiding, thanks Gary for the loan of the QHY you're a champion. Didn't end up getting any images due to a mishap with my foot and the power lead. But....I should be right for my next run tomorrow night.
It was great to catch up with you all again.
btw, I've just finished digging in the first bag of do do's, my roses say thank you.

[RobF]

Yes - thanks for your hospitality again Peter. Was great to get away. Looking forward to seeing everyone again.

[Bender]

Hi Peter,

Thanks again for last weekend.Looking forward to the next time.

Martin

[jjjnettie]

So where are we going for next new moon?
I'd volunteer my place but there's only room for a couple of scopes.

[AlexN]

I'll see what I can organise JJJ... I might be able to gain use of 2 or 3 acres at Murgon next month... Pretty damn dark up that way.. Long drive, but worth it...

Otherwise I suppose we could all ask Mark if he wouldnt mind a whole herd of people coming out to leyburn.. :D

Failing both of those options, I call first dibbs on the 2nd best spot at your place! :D :D hahaha!

[jjjnettie]

You're always welcome to come on up Alex.

I wonder if we could gate crash the star party at Hazeldean Environmental Centre?
I'll ask around town and see what I can come up with.

[AlexN]

Im heading up to Peters place this coming weekend as I missed out last weekend due to family commitments and work.. I've got to help him out with a few things, and as payment for this I get use of the dark skies! :D YAY!

I've said it a million times, and im sure by now you're thinking that im the most un-reliable person on earth, but I will definitely take advantage of your offer some time soon... There is lots of data I need at the moment and I've discovered that I can not get it from home! Some time VERY soon!