Pony Club Christmas party

[Rick Petrie]

Its that time of year again when we should get together for a Christmas Party at the Pony Club.

How about the saturday the 12th ????

Bring a plate of goodies and few drinks.

Most importantly a scope or two....

Who's in for this one ?

[Arthur Alchin]

Unfortunately thats the night of my Work Xmas Party and I supply the Karaoke/ Music equipment so i can't get out of it. Friday the 11th I am doing a night duty shift, not good either.

So I will have to send my apologies unfortunately.

[David]

I will be able to get there for the 12th, about time I showed face sorry my shadow, again after a Hell of a year healthwise. It will be good to see all the old shadows again

[Inmykombi]

Looks good to me, but I havent spoken to my wife as yet, so I dont know what else maybe planned.

heres hoping..

Update....I have checked and all looks OK, I just have a trip to Sydney to visit family then the night is mine......


geoffro

[Rhino1980]

Damn I'm gunna be in Ballina. Geoffro how's your arm going?

[iceman]

I *think* that weekend is ok? Have to check with my wife and report back. Almost every day from now until xmas is booked with something!

[gmbfilter]

Looking good
Cant wait

[jakob]

I hope to be there!
Looking forward to it.:thumbsup:

[RB]

I'm not sure I can make it yet, I'm snowed under with work.
If things change then I'll try and make it but it's doubtful atm. :(

Hope you all have a great time.

[GTB_an_Owl]

as i have had a little practice "drinkin" of late with my "ol starparty drinkin partner" - i will be there to make sure nothing is left in the fridge ;)

geoff

[xstream]

Hmmmm, You certainly did fill that recycling bin! :rofl:;)

[GTB_an_Owl]

what do you mean ME!
i was only helping - honest

i thought i did quite well for a bloke out of practice :D

but, yes - first time in a long while the bin was that full John :lol:

geoff

[Rodstar]

I'll try to get a leave pass for the 12th. We will have rels from the UK staying at that time, though, so that may complicate things.

I am not sure if the Mary Rose will have returned by then. IF she has, I will be pumped to take her out for a sail!

[gb_astro]

I am in for the 12th.

Greg.

[Inmykombi]

The arm is geting better thanks to the " Jungle juice" Phil gave me to slurp all over it.
It stinks like nothin I know, but works a treat.
its been three and a half weeks now and it getting better fast.

Thx Ryan.
see ya round sometime I hope.

[ausastronomer]

I can't make the 12th as I have a work commitment but I plan to head up there on the 19th if anyone else is going then. If not, I will go to Bucketty on the 19th.

Cheers,
John B

PS: Rod? I don't think Peter will be bringing our scopes up until Saturday 19th or Sunday 20th.

[Rodstar]

Yes, I spoke with Peter today, and the delivery is dependent on some other astronomy-related business involving the completion of mirrors by a certain highly regarded local optician. We are entirely in that person's hands.

PS Yet more mods are happening to the Mary Rose. It really will look like it has had a hollywood makeover! (I am even getting a Feathertouch focuser fitted).:P

[GTB_an_Owl]

Rod/John

i think you better extend an invitation to the pony club xmas party to a certain local mirror optician then - very soon !

geoff

[xstream]

:thumbsup: You won't be disappointed!

[Arthur Alchin]

Sorry to break the stream of thought but is it too early to talk about January yet with Allans suggestion for Dunedoo, its' only about 5-6 weeks away.

I have managed to request the 4 days off work for the Jan new moon (thu, fri, sat and Sun).

Everybody have a great, fun and safe Christmas and New Year and i will keep an eye on the thread (and the sky)

[sally1jack]

Will be there on the 12th, if the Mary rose is still in dry dock Rod i'll bring Optimus (thats what my kids call it ), it will be great to catch up with everyone, there is nothing like talking to silouettes, catching a few photons , listening to laughter while admiring the ever increasingly appreciated Cubian waft over the field :lol:

Phil :thumbsup:

[Redshift]

I hope to be there on the 12th, although at this time of the year who knows what could be on at short notice. A couple of friends would like to have a look through some big scopes - it's OK to invite them along?
Phil

[bones]

I'm looking forward to the 12th and should be there.
Here's to some clear skies. I'm sure we've all been missing them of late.

[Allan_L]

Hi Arthur,
Seasons Greetings !
Good News is: I have my leave approved for those days too. (Thu 14/1/2010 - Sun 17/1/2010)
The trip is definitely on.
Hoping for good tidings from the weather gods.

I will start a new thread for final details and acceptances shortly.
From memory, we had a few definites, several probablies, and about 8 tentatives.

I plan on coming to Pony Club this Saturday so may do some more planning then.

[airspaceman]

Hi all,

Saturday 12th sounds good, Hope the weather behaves its self.
What's the best time to arrive?

Cheers Andrew...:astron:

[iceman]

I should be there on the 12th!

Weather looks ok so far..

[Rick Petrie]

Should be OK to arrive around 7.30ish.
Some may be there earlier though.:thumbsup:
Weather so far looks to be really promising.:prey:

[sasup]

is it cool for new guys to rock up on this night?????

[airspaceman]

Thanks Rick,

Cheers Andrew.

[GTB_an_Owl]

it most certainly is sasup - it most certainly is

hope you can make it

geoff

[sasup]

ok thanks Ill be there with bells on

[norm]

I'll be there, if I'm not too buggered from Luna Park in the morning :lol:

Cheers, Norm

[sasup]

Can anyone help with directions and its a 7:30 start ? Thanks

[GTB_an_Owl]

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=26142

this link should get you there sasup

geoff

[Arthur Alchin]

Have a great time on Saturday night everyone, wish i could be there but can't be in two places as once. Watch out for the constabulary on your trips home.

Will keep an eye out for the new thread about the January trip to Dunedoo

[Octane]

Looks like I'll be there... imaging!

Who's going to get there the earliest, and, what time? It takes me a little while to, you know, set up... :P

Regards,
Humayun

[GTB_an_Owl]

i should be there about 6-30 "H"

geoff

[sally1jack]

I have just been informed that i'm to attend a xmas party on sat night !!!!!!!!:mad2:, so i will be there but not until later about 11.30

phil:sadeyes:

[sally1jack]

mr owl has the mystery of the warming oven been solved ???:shrug:

[GTB_an_Owl]

not to my knowledge Phil - we can use the oven like we did the other week

no matter what time you get there - we will wait for you - promise

7timer is saying we are in for a good nite - hope so

geoff

[Allan_L]

I will try to bring something other than party pies or sausage rolls this time if you like Geoff.
Maybe frozen quiches, just for variety.
Any other suggestions?

[gmbfilter]

I'll bring some samosa... meat and veg !
+ wild turkey
+ have tasted some nice ciders lately bound to room somewhere

[GTB_an_Owl]

might pay to bring a ground sheet to-nite for under your scope

i don't think the grass will have been cut

the pie oven is back

geoff

[Allan_L]

Like the missing gnome mysteries ???
Did we get any post cards from Ireland or anything ?

[gmbfilter]

PC had a working beee last weeek weee should beee okkk

[GTB_an_Owl]

Thanks Geoff

geoff

[gmbfilter]

And thank you Geoff

[airspaceman]

I'll be there arround 6:30 to 7. The weather looks good
see you all there.

Cheers Andrew...:thumbsup:

[Octane]

I'm in Sydney. Will be leaving for Pony Club in an hour or so.

See you boys, then.

Regards,
Humayun

[jakob]

Me too!:D

[bones]

Hi all
Weathers looking great for tonight. About to get ready to pack in a short while. See you all soon.;)
Tony

[sasup]

Hello all, first let me say a big thank you to the whole gang up at the pony club last night, You where all very welcoming and I had a blast. I hope H is not still up there trying to get his scope just abit closer.:D
Also a big thanks to the guy with the 12 inch lightbridge, ( sorry im bad with names). It was nice to be able to have a look at the scope I picked out before I put down the two grand. I should have my new toy this week and will post photos. Great night guys...:thumbsup:

[Allan_L]

You're very welcome SASUP.
Nice to meet you. (I have the 11 inch SCT nearest your car)
Hope to see you back there again soon.

YES.! A Great night !
I actually didn't leave until dawn.
Saturn was magnificent around 4.
And that crescent moon was breath-taking.

Then the fog came - perfect timing :). :bowdown:

Car unpacked, now what.
Maybe some daytime Moon observing.

Maybe next week guys!
If not, a very Merry Christmas to all.:xmas::reindeer:

[iceman]

I had a fantastic night - thanks for the great company amongst friends.

Such a beautiful night - pretty steady seeing, reasonably transparency, not a cloud in the sky.

A friend of mine from school, Chris, who I hadn't seen in 10+ years, came along and I think he enjoyed what he saw.

Thanks to Greg for sharing the views through his lovely 14.5" SDM.

My 40D had its first light - I haven't looked at the images yet, but everything pretty much went to plan, guiding included. The lens fogged up and I lost about 50 minutes worth of exposures, that was the only problem. But I didn't get upset about it, it's been 2 months since I've been out under the stars so I enjoyed it all the same.

Look forward to catching up again soon.

[Redshift]

Great night last night. Thanks for welcoming the wife to the PC. Pity I had to go early - just as well the wife was there to keep me awake at the wheel on the drive home. :driving:

Thanks to Rick and Jacob for collumating my scope - that made a difference. :thumbsup:

Thanks Tony and others for some fine views through your scopes. :astron:

And thanks to Greg for revealing the true meaning of life (37) .:cool:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. :xmas:

Phil & Vicki

[bones]

No worries Phil, it was good to see you up there again. Hopefully Vicky had an appreciation for what a lager apeture can do for your observing.

It was good to catch up with some familar faces again, and meet some new ones. (Who who was the clean shaven bloke with the hair cut that looked like Mr Owl? :lol:)

The weather last night was pretty good. Seeing was the best I've seen up there for quite a while - very steady. Shame about the bit of dew that started to fall after 10pm some time. It was such a slow formation that I didn't really realise how much there was on the corrector plate till I took the sheild off to pack up.:doh:. In the end I was glad to get some sleep :zzz: , but couldn't get enough as had to get up at 6:30 this morning. Till next time we all make it.

BTW, for those who I showed that tight globular cluster NGC2808 in between Eta carinae and tarantula neb, here's an image of it on from the web that gives it some pretty good detail. They say there's some 1.2 million stars in it.
http://www.astrosurf.com/antilhue/ngc2808.htm
Merry Christmas to all. :xmas: Have a safe new year.

[GTB_an_Owl]

you'll cop it Bones - you'll cop it.

a great nite and roll up for our xmas party

a bit too good a nite actually
a hard decision whether to eat,drink and socialise - or sit at the scope
i tried to do a bit of both

heaps of food (that we never got to eat) thanks to all bringing a plate and gmbfilters afternoon leftovers from another function.

sorry i missed meeting you sasup - hope you come up again now you know where we are.

NOW Phill - smart move bringing the missus to look through the bigger scopes - hope it works :thumbsup:

a Merry Xmas to all

geoff

[Rodstar]

Thanks to Greg for allowing me to comandeer his SDM scope!

And thanks to all for the usual astronomical/gastronomical bonhomie.

Merry Christmas to all. See you in 2010!

[gb_astro]

Thanks everyone for a good night.

As Geoff says the main problem was deciding between eating and socialising or observeing.
That 37 asterism sure is weird, especially seen correctly orientated left/ right and up/down.
Thanks Rod for some of your other personal favorites.
Good to see Redshift back again and newcommer sasup.

Will not be there next week so Merry Christmas,

Greg.

[gmbfilter]

Seeing just kept getting better
Left Alan to close up after watching Saturn for a while...probably as good as i have ever seen it!

Even in his finder scope view was fab.

[Arthur Alchin]

Again sorry i missed it, woud have enjoyed it more than the work Xmas party. Anyhow can't cry over spilt milk.


2010: New noon Sunday 5th Dec 2010, ? Christmas party Sat 4th 2010: will be there next year with bells on.

[Shano592]

Yes, would have been nice to attend. As it was, I managed to get some viewing time around 3:30am on the balcony at home, under pretty dark skies.

The Pleiades were sensational, I have to say, and finally getting a look at Mars through the 6-inch scope, was definitely a highlight of the night.

I agree with earlier comments ... the crescecnt moon was spectacular ... I was able to see the whole sphere, with the minor Earthglow coming off of it. Awesome.

Merry Christmas all ... keep watching the skies!

[Satchmo]

I was going to come up too, but my van developed a steering problem that morning. The sky looked sensational from Berowra.

[gary]

Great to read that everyone had a great time at the Pony Club!
i was hoping to get out there but other commitments meant that it could not be so.
Once again, Happy Birthday to Rod and it sounds like the family lunch the other day
was a good one.

If we don't see you all next weekend, we'd like to wish everyone all the best
for Christmas and the New Year.

Best regards

Gary

[Octane]

Sorry for blinding you all by taking the wrong exit on my way out. I was quite out of it by that stage.

I managed to get an hour's worth of data on Orion but gave up as I was developing a migraine that was making me feel rather nauseous, after having had a rather crappy weekend due to family issues. That was the longest and most painful packing up I have ever been through. It was such a relief when I got everything in the car that I just keeled over and rejoiced in having successfully packed up.

Happy holidays, all.

Regards,
Humayun

[GTB_an_Owl]

good to see you got home ok "H"
we were all a bit worried about your trip home

geoff

[Octane]

Geoff,

That's the first time I've screwed up exiting the Pony Club. We've all had a bit of a giggle at others doing circles in the past, but, now I know how it feels. :P

Once I sat down, wound the window down and got some of that fresh country air, I started feeling better. By the time I got to my mate's place and walked up six flights of stairs, I was so buggered that as soon as I hit the pillow, I was out. :)

Regards,
Humayun

[Kimbo]

Hi Guys,

Sorry I couldn't be there on Saturday it sounds like you all had a great time. I had a Xmas party that night at ... wait for it ... my local Dog Park!! I had promised to take my scope to celebrate the Year of Astronomy & I couldn't back out. I was amazed how good the sky was for suburbia, I even managed ro show them a reasonable view of M42. I also managed to stop all the dogs from peeing on my tripod!

I hope to make it next time,

Merry Christmas & a happy & safe New Year to you all. I hope santa brings you lots of items from your 'Wish List'.

Clear Skies,

Kim

[Shano592]

There was a lot of meteor activity that night, too. I must have counted at least 10 flares (that I saw directly), in the short amount of time that i was looking.