Next Kulnura observing night

[iceman]

The next new moon is on the 30th December, which is a Friday night.

Usually we'd meet on the Saturday, but given it's new years eve on the Saturday night, I figured most people (myself included) would have other plans.

So we have the choice of meeting up on the Friday the 30th or the Sunday the 1st, as the Monday is a public holiday.

What's your preference?

I'm going away from the 27th-30th, but i'll be back on the 30th. It would take a little convincing to get up there on the 30th but it could be done, I hope :)

[atalas]

Friday the 30th sounds good to me dude ! :)

[RB]

Sounds Good.

[Muddy Diver]

I'd like to come up and see what these nights are about. Not sure if can definately make it though but just in case, can anyone offer directions or long lat numbers and how long do the viewing sessions last normally?

[Rodstar]

Name the date....I'm there! 30th sounds best (I wouldn't mind having the freedom to go a fireworks display with the kiddies if New Years Eve is avoided).

[iceman]

Turns out I can't make the 30th, we're staying 4 nights at Blue Mountains which means we get back on the 31st.

So the night of the 1st (Sunday) is all I can do.

Rod, what are you and the family doing for new years eve?

[atalas]

Hi Muddy,his a link dude http://www.iceinspace.com.au/downloads/kulnura_map.jpg .
You'll have to keep an eye on this thread cause dates can change on you mate .

[RB]

Muddy usually Louie, Gazz and myself stay up all night, finishing around 4am last time (from memory).

:)

[Rodstar]

I am happy to make it the 1st of Jan to fit in with Mike.

Mike, see PM re New Years!

[frogman]

hey guys whats wrong with the 25th ... the moons low below the trees as it is,..... and im sure it would free the 30 th up for family things........

[RB]

Only Christmas........

[seeker372011]

I think I'd like to come along on the 1 st if thats when you guys are going to be up there

[iceman]

I'll be there on the 1st!

[frogman]

hahahaha ...dumb ass.... oh well :D

[RB]

:lol:

If I'm free I'll come up to keep you company Anthony.
We'll have our own little obs-session.

:xmas:

[ausastronomer]

I will be there on the 1st.

Andrew Murrell and Hector are intending to be there as well.

I may bring my wife and son out for the 1st couple of hours of observing as they want to have a look through "Hector". They would probably have "disappeared" by 11pm and leave me to my own devices and telescope :)

I will also phone Daniel from Frontier Optics and Gary K and Mai from AN and see if they can get out there as well.

CS-John B

[Octane]

I intend on attending and meeting a few folks on the 1st. :D

Regards,
Humayun

[Rodstar]

Good on you, Octane, it will be great to make your acquaintance. Are you bringing your LX90? I notice that the LX90 is now being marketed in the 10" and 12" sizes I am intrigued to find out what differs between your scope and my LX200, other than the shape at the base of the fork!

[Octane]

Hi, Rod!

Yep, that's the plan; I intend on doing some observing. I would love to get tips off others as to how to go about setting up the scope properly. For example, how far apart the tripod legs should be, what height it should be set at, etc.

I got the 8" version as the 10" and 12" were a bit out of my price range. Also, this was my first telescope purchase so I wanted to remain a little conservative.

My SmartFinder snapped off the first time I put my telescope in the car. Anyone know how much they cost to replace?

Hope to see you then.

Regards,
Humayun

[iceman]

Hi guys.

Back from holidays. I'll be there tomorrow night.. Weather will be HOT! Hopefully also clear, though.

[Octane]

Hi guys,

What time do you generally start gathering there and setting up?

Regards,
H

[iceman]

Most people get there between 7 and 8:30pm.

I'll be there at around 8pm tomorrow, after the kids are in bed.

[Rodstar]

Other than for the potential for raging bushfires, the sky is looking promising for tonight?!

[iceman]

hmm yeh, except for this:

[Rodstar]

Bugger!

Still, you know what they say about weather forecasts.....expect the opposite....

[RB]

I'm gonna be there.
Bringing all the kids and relo's........ :rofl:





Just kidding Mike. :lol: :poke:


:D

[frogman]

hey guess what all ???? its 10:40 and my thermometer next to my van reads 43C
hmmmm.... aircon might be running all day i think
oh ... im not working today either (been given the day off) so who is coming earlier with a PST ?

[iceman]

Surely noone is playing paintball in this weather froggy?

RB the field ain't big enough for your extended family :)

[RB]

:lol: :drink:

[ving]

well, i was gunna come but it seems i have a dinner to go to :)
have fun guys...

[frogman]

oh ving you fairy..... blow it off ... tell them you have an emergency meeting at Kulnura and that you HAVE TO GO !
:) im sure well catch up again one day ! ! enjoy your dinner !~

[iceman]

Sorry to hear it vingy.

With any luck, the change won't come through until late, hopefully we'll get a few hours in before it clouds over.

[iceman]

latest update:

Just depends when "tonight" is.

[seeker372011]

dont think I will be able to come along tonight..two very late nights in a row and i am done for..signs of advancing age and general decrepitude I suppose..see you all in february

did get some observing done from Linden on Friday night till about 2 in the morning...my son and I were the only people there though except for one gazillion mossies

[atalas]

Hi Narayan, did you get any imaging done ? hope so ! bummer you cant make It tonight .
See you in a couple of months I guess .

[Orion]

I am planning on going, not sure wether to bring the telescope or not at this stage.

[frogman]

What happened last time you didnt bring it Ed ?

[Glenn Dawes]

Hi Guys,

I'm a bit uncertain about this bushfire activity tonight. My wife just heard the M3 is closed going north around Gosford.

I think I'll head up the mountains tonight instead. I'm sorry I'll miss meeting you guys but there will be other times.

Regards

Glenn D

[Orion]

I know Anthony........ (I'm so confused?) :lol:

[frogman]

Guys.... If/when you come tonight... i will run the power coed out and have it ready there for you ... HOWEVER
The RFS has just declared a section 44 (emergency thingy) so if im not here it means im off fighting the fires...
YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME to observe... i wil be back......and i will join you all....


Anthony

[ausastronomer]

Anthony,

Is the smoke likely to be an issue at Kulnurra ? I am about 15kms north of Gosford and the smoke around Gosford and the ridge is very heavy.

CS-John B

[atalas]

Guy's If there's bush fires around the skies will be crap ! have to think about this one ?

[frogman]

I dont see any smoke at all at the moment John
beautiful clear (****** hot) blue skies.

[frogman]

i dont think youll be able to get to us Lou
the F3 and the old Pacific were blocked ! dont know if they still are !
but clear skies

[iceman]

The fires at Woy Woy/Umina area look pretty bad.

The southerly is not due in Sydney until 9 or 10pm, so we should get clear skies at Kulnura until at least 10:30/11pm, hopefully.

[iceman]

oh i'm guessing Hector (Andrew), Gary and Louie won't be there due to the fires.

Andrew lives at Umina - I hope his house and family are safe!

[iceman]

Just heard the F3 is now re-opened.

[Octane]

Guys,

What time did we finish yesterday?

I just got home, and it's a quarter past 4 in the morning. I think I've just driven 5 hours.

I started driving on that road after Pete's Ridge Road, and a policeman was trying to redirect me to Gosford. He said the F3 was blocked.

I asked if there was any way back to Sydney, and he said I could go up to Cessnock, find Putty Road, go through Windsor and Colo Heights.

I took his advice. I performed a U-turn, filled up at the twin Caltex and away I went. However, I avoided Cessnock and went straight to Maitland, headed towards Singleton, and then took the Golden Highway/Putty Road to Windsor. Then, finally back to Rooty Hill.

Thank God for my Navman GPS.

It was so awesome to meet you guys. You're all a very helpful and friendly bunch. Muchly appreciated.

Regards,
Humayun

[iceman]

lol oh my H, what a marathon drive home! I left at 11pm, and heard on the news that the freeway was blocked from Ourimbah to Hornsby. I wondered how you'd get home. When I got off the freeway at Ourimbah there were loads of cars pulled up on the side of the road waiting it out.

Great to meet you too, H..

All in all, the night was fairly good (although hot) until 10:30pm when it started clouding over thanks to the Southerly. Anthony scared everyone into packup mode telling us that the dark patch above the trees was rain coming! Never seen people pack up so fast :)

Of course it wasn't rain! Darn you Froggy! :)

I didn't do a lot of observing, did some comparisons of the UO Ortho HD 7mm to Louie's 7.5mm Tak LE, but spent most of the night playing cameras with RocketBoy. That 20da is AWESOME! Can't wait to see the results of the widefield shots you took.

I'll process the ones I took in the next few days and post 'em up too.

Great to meet everyone again, see you in Lostock in less than 4 weeks!

[RB]

Glad you got home safely H, we were worried about you.
It was nice to meet you.

Ice-Dude-man your plateform Rocks..... :lol: .....pardon the pun.


:drink:

[ving]

glad to hear it wasnt called off. :)
sounds like you guys stiil had a good time.... wasnt that southerly great!!!