Mars opposition tonight

[icytailmark]

dont forget its mars opposition tonight and its a full moon!!

[michaellxv]

Blue moon rising over Mt Lofty.

Just got back.:P

[erick]

Yep, went and found a lookout to the East and watched Blue Moon rise - and it was bright orange :D - heavy particulate in Melbourne's air tonight. Could only just make out the distant CBD buildings. My wife even came and looked at it through the 20x80s and said it was spectacular!

And as we drove home later Mars stood out well, not too far from the full Moon.

[mithrandir]

The clouds cleared here around 10:30pm. Since it had been raining for about an hour there was no real point in getting everything out.

Everything not washed out by the moon was pinpoint clear.

Mars was even noticeably red to the naked eye.

Maybe tonight?

[icytailmark]

i managed to view mars and saturn around 2am the clouds cleared for a few mins and wow they looked amazing.

[WadeH]

Scope collimated about the best I have done, skies 100% clear, good wine and wife with me. Great? No.

Seeing would have been 4/10 at best, even at second try at midnight. And wind gusting at 35km/hr to boot.

Oh well there is always tonight.

[richardda1st]

Hi Eric, I had really bad views of Mars and Saturn last night, I could not achieve a clear image. You would have had similar conditions as me. When you say "heavy particulate in Melbourne's air tonight" could that have been the cause. Mind you, to my eyes it was very clear.
Have been getting crappy views this last week or so.:confused2:

[pgc hunter]

Sounds like you're getting the usual Melbourne seeing :rolleyes:

Stars were scintillating quite severely last night, I was going to take the 10" dob out for a look at Mars and Saturn but decided seeing was probably poor, and your impressions confirm that.

Forecast not looking very promising.

[richardda1st]

Hope your right as I'm always fiddling with the scope to improve things, sometimes I think I'm just making things worse.

The stars seemed stable to me and not a breeze to be felt. I'm starting to think it's me and not the scope.

Time to trade in my eyes for a new younger set.:sadeyes:
If interested please refer to trade section.

[Liz]

Actually some blue sky amidst the cloud today ..... fingers crossed that I will see Mars tonight, though with the dear Moon very close nearby, it wont be a great telescopic sight.
Havent seen a star/planet all year so fingers crossed again :)

[supernova1965]

I am getting some glimmers of blue sky and Wednesday is supposed to be completely clear crossed fingers I don't want to jinx myself

[Liz]

:lol::lol: .... am quite excited about the scattered bluesky areas today :rolleyes:
Hoping it clears for you guys too :thumbsup: Mars will be decreasing in size now, so need to give it in before that. Mon/Tues/Wed may be good chances with no Moon ....:) thinking confidently.

[mozzie]

i to have struggled with mars the seeing hasnt been the best,struggling to see much detail.every 2 years at opposition i wonder why we view it,it can be a very disapointing sight.and our summer atmosphere

[Liz]

I know Peter .... we havent got a good opposition for quite awhile, but still being able to see Mars, and see some of its characteristic landmarks is a treat :) ..... its possible we will ne able to land and live on this planet at some stage ;)

[mozzie]

your right liz its still nice to see in the sky

[Liz]

Wow... just been for a wander outside ... Full Moon rising over Magnetic Island with Mars to the upper left, and Orion obove. A beautiful sight!! Took a few pics but wont do it justice :)
Back inside to the tennis, cricket and champagne :)
May post acouple tomorrow if worthy.

[erick]

I went for a search for a location to watch the Moon rise. Ended up in the Brisbane Ranges National Park, SW of Bacchus. A "lookout", facing East was marked on the map. A reasonable amount of dirt (very stony some of it) road to get there, but a fair tree cover made it difficult to get a clear view. But when I set up the binoculars I realised the reason for the location - the CBD is in the distance, and, in clean air would be a nice view. But not Sat night. The horseflies were thick! I put some repellent on and it just seemed to encourage them!

My wife was a bit nervous as we picked our way back out of the Park in the dark over narrow, stony and sometimes steep dirt roads.

[DavidU]

Well I got a new scope yesterday so the weather will be bad for some time.
Sorry fellas:D

[richardda1st]

We have been to the Brisbane ranges a few times, but never at night. Some of those tracks are narrow and steep for a 2WD, would not like to be there at night if the tracks are wet. But it's a nice area if you like the bush. I think one of the rough/dirt/rocky/corrugated roads through the park is called a highway, gota love it.




Dropping your scope on the concrete was an accident, was'nt it Dave.

[pgc hunter]

looking pretty good atm outside and no obvious short-term threats on the satpic, but every weather site I look up says clouds clouds and more clouds all night and for next 17.8 billion years... :shrug:


Yes 'coz clearly, Melbourne is not cloudy enough....

now make with the pics


:P

[pgc hunter]

hot and oppressive today, thanks to our dear friend Olga, lots of Cirrus moving in..... But looks good for some Mars Observation tonight.... assuming Olga doesn't suffocate us with her viel ;) :lol:

[Liz]

:lol: .... am glad Olga is giving you guys a visit, as she well and trulty outstayed her welcome up North Qld ;) .... hope she doesnt stay long though, and gives some much needed rain on the way.
It was clear last night about 9pm, so dragged my yet unused scope out the back, then 30 min later after aeroguarding and getting ready ... not a bloody star to be seen :sadeyes:
Skippy looks good for us tonight, but not many others on Eastern Aus.

[pgc hunter]

Hurricane Olga is not particularly welcome here.... however she seems to have made a meal of Lake Cullelulraine over the last couple of days, destroying the whole town with her winds !!!1
http://mildura.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/freak-storm-slams-town/1738413.aspx


So far, only some thin high cirrus to be seen here, but it's thickening :(