Kulnurra Observing 3/12/2005

[ausastronomer]

Hi all,

We are having another observing session at Froggy's place, this Saturday 3/12/2005.
The address is "THE PAINTBALL PLACE" Greta Road Kulnurra. (Just off George Downs Drive)

So far the likely attendees:

John (ausastronomer)
Narayan (seeker)
Louie (Atalas)
Mike (Iceman)
Daniel from Frontier Optics.
Andrew (Rocket Boy)
Ed (Orion)
George
Gaz (Cahullian)
Anthony (frogman)


Anyone else from Ice in Space or elsewhere that wishes to attend is more than welcome. We normally try to arrive 10 mins to 30 mins before dark but anytime you can get there is fine. Last to leave is normally between 2am and 3am.

Anyone that is thinking of coming please indicate with a reply post so that I may update the list of likely attendees. The Newcastle boys as usual are more than welcome. Ed, George and Wayne get ur butts down here :)

Froggy, pls inform the boss and make sure we have the green light :)
Andrew (Rocket Boy) don't forget the new TOA 130, I am sure it will love my 10mm Pentax XW stuck in its throat :)

CS-John B

[sheeny]

I think the technical terms is... bugger!

I was looking forward to getting up there to meet a few of you guys and learn what I can, but I'm tied up with family committments. Maybe next new moon?

Al.

[ving]

have to ask the boss...

[seeker372011]

if the weather holds I'd hope to be there...

there are a bunch of guys at my work who have just formed a star gazing group-with two exceptions they are all complete newbies and have never looked through scopes..dont think they are keen enough yet to travel to the central coast but would it be all right for me to extend an invitation to them, if any one is willing to make the effort?

[iceman]

That'd be great Narayan! And of course the next step is directing them here ;)

[wavelandscott]

Sorry guys...I'll be on my way to Japan for a week of meetings...at least that means it will be clear skies around Sydney (since I'll be gone)...

[ausastronomer]

Guys,

Unfortunately Andrew can't make it due to work commitments so we will be without "Hector" on this occasion.

CS-John B

[RB]

Yeah John I'm gonna try and be there.
Looking good so far.

:prey:

[iceman]

Narayan how many of your workmates might come?

I guess we need to be considerate of the hosts and if too many people rock up he might say "find another place".

[seeker372011]

how many will show up? I really don't know since I havent even asked -actually no one may show up..the group has about a dozen members I believe..just a few people with an interest in skywatching who are getting together..I dont even know them myself..I talked to the prime mover yesterday for the first time and he had just bought a club telescope from Bintel , a 70 mm refractor and was trying to get more people interested in the hobby..havent invited anyone yet, and the reason for asking was just to make sure there was no awkwardness
Narayan

[iceman]

I'm quite sure I *saw* that guy buy his telescope at Bintel on Monday while I was in there!

He was talking to Mike about the club he's organising and bought a small skywatcher or meade refractor.

He was talking about giving observing certificates etc, sounded like he was getting into it pretty nicely. Invite them along to the forum!

[ving]

yes, invite them here! :)

[cahullian]

I'll be there if the weather is good. I haven't had my scope out since before the Snake Valley camp. Just a s well Hapkido is an indoors training activity or I would be bored out of my wee mind. I still haven't tried out my new Telrad that I won. No one buy anything new until after the weekend.

[Orion]

Sad to hear that John, I was hoping to have a look through it. The 18" will have to do this time.
Are you and Andrew coming to the AstroCamp in Jan?

PS: George says that he has finished figuring Andrews 14", If you could pass that on. Thanks.

[ausastronomer]

Ed,

I phoned Andrew and told him to contact George about his 14" mirror. I am going to Lostock for sure, Andrew is a maybe because of work, I will talk to you on Saturday about it.

CS-John B

[RB]

:(

Clouds and wind up here.

:sad:

[ving]

i figured as much... clear tomorrow aparently.

[seeker372011]

looks very unpromising as of now (1300 hours)

[seeker372011]

ok this one is just to reach the 1000 post mark..not with a bang but with a whimper :jump: :cheers: :clap: :party2: :party: :violin: :lol2:

[ausastronomer]

I am at Bateau Bay which is about 20km East of Kulnurra and it doesn't look all that good as a couple of you have mentioned. A lot of patchy cloud and pretty windy. I will post an update at 4:00pm but it this stage it looks like I could be watching a movie with my wife tonight and scoring some brownie points :)

CS-John B

[h0ughy]

if it goes ahead guys enjoy. I just got out of the mater Hospital this morning from a back spasm ast night. I can't drive, i can't lift anything, and if I was to put the express on a tripod, I would be castraited!!!! Not fair!!!

[RB]

Have a speedy recovery Dave.

[h0ughy]

the back or the attempted castraition??? :lol: I will try to have a peek through the mirk at the moon and venus! :)

[RB]

Ha :lol: which ever comes first !!!!! :rofl:

[atalas]

Cloudy in Sydney at the moment , what's It like up there ?

[ausastronomer]

I am gonna pull the plug guys. Its 70% cloud at the moment and very windy. It will undoubtedly clear at some stage of the night but it could well be am, tomorrow is supposed to be good. Next meeting should be 1st Sat in January.

CS-John B

[frogman]

Beautiful not a cloud in the sky

what time are you all turning up ???

Or will i be observing by myself ????

Anthony

[frogman]

The wind has picked up in the last half hour and it looks like its bringing the sydney cloud over to us.... its still nice and blue BUT there are fast moving coluds zipping past every now and then......
Your call boys
johns out
houghy's out

[Orion]

Anthony,
I might not bring the telescope the weather doesn't look to good but what I will do is come down for a drive and give you some Teflon. You never know we might be able to fix your telescope and do some observing tonight (weather permitting)

[Orion]

You told me about your back last time I seen you I didn't know it was that bad.
I hope you get well soon mate!

[frogman]

That sounds mighty cool.... If i am not here i will have driven down the road to pick up some chinese for dinner !
Anthony

[RB]

If you guys come up I'll come just to catch up but it doesn't look good for setting up.
Let me know who'll be there.
Louie I have PM'd you.

It'll be good just to catch up. I'd like to meet Orion (Ed).
What's ICE doing?

[seeker372011]

looks very windy, and heaps of cloud here..dont think it is worth driving up tonight.I'm bailing

[frogman]

but its beautiful
soft fluffy clouds... nothing ugly would you like me to take a photo ?

[frogman]

photo

[h0ughy]

i would love to be there anthony! I Can't drive at the moment to be there, :) so keep me posted with a few photos thoughout the night! ;)

[frogman]

IF anyone turns up !!!! no problems but i wont be taking photos of me in bed if no one does (turn up i mean) i have never taken photos like taht before so i wouldnt know how they would turn out :smile:

Anthony

[iceman]

Can't come, inlaws over for dinner.

[frogman]

I will post some pictures of the latest MOB to my dab.... you are all missing a beautiful night out here ppl.

Anthony

[cahullian]

Anyone out there Anthony? I would make a late drive if people have turned up.

Gazz

[frogman]

Ed and his trusty side kick are here but no scopes other than mine

[h0ughy]

I hope they fix your problem and that you get some quality viewing in guys

[frogman]

mars is beautiful but it would be nice if i had something between my 4mm and my 12.5 mm. !!!!

[atalas]

Bummer ! well have a good night with out me guy's and I'll catch up next time .

[h0ughy]

Sorry my 9mmT1 nagler is tucked up in bed

[RB]

:(

Well we'll have to catch up @ Kulnura next time guys, it turned out to be a nice night afterall.
I managed to snap some images here at home and I'll post ASAP.

Till next time.

:sad:

[seeker372011]

just had a quick 15 mins with the 20 x80 binos..still thin cloud and my target for the binos tonight-the Helix-completely obscured

better to the South though

[Orion]

It tuned out to be a nice night after all, considering the wind and the cloud earlier on in the afternoon. I should've brought my telescope along, if only I knew it was going to clear up. :confuse3:

The modifications to Anthony's dob went well. We took some pics documenting the modification and he will post them later on today. For Anthony there was some getting use to the telescope. No more pushing with two hands or putting the shoulder in to it.

We had a great time looking up at the night sky it was nice to see a dark sky for a change. The Orion neb looked stunning as did the Tarantula as well as many other objects in the sky. George pointed out that we could see Andromeda low towards the north so we went to the middle of the paddock and finished the night looking at Andromeda.

I've learnt something last night (actually it's happened to me twice now) the weather could be lousy here in Swansea and great in Kulnura. I will be taking the telescope next time even if it is a bit cloudy down here. ;)

[atalas]

Glad you enjoyed the night Ed! :)

[Rodstar]

Yeah, sounds like it was good, Ed. I would have been there, but had a wedding reception to attend in Sydney. I am keen to do some viewing in the days around New Year as I will be on two weeks annual leave at that time. Lets hope for some clear skies and no bushfires!

[frogman]

should i strt a new post with the mods or just add them in here ??? im not very good at doing write ups.... if you would like to ED ?!?!?!?
i will upload the pictures .... let me know where you want them Mike !?!?!?!?

Anthony

[Orion]

It might be an idea to start a new post in the Equipment Discussions section. Just upload them and I'll give the explanation. :thumbsup:

[Orion]

Or maybe ATM and DIY Projects, sorry Anthony!