A world first for Bird

[Quark]

Hi all,

Wasn't sure where to put these images, if I have done the wrong thing then I apologize.

Image 1: Bird with Lady Bird (Lesa) watching on, assembles his equipment at the start of the week , oblivious to the enormity of what would follow.

Image 2: Following the history making achievement of being the first person on Earth to ever directly observe and record an impact on Jupiter or for that matter any member of the Solar System. (Note that the SL9 impacts occurred behind the limb of Jupiter.)
My wife Cheryl had just brought us down some very nice hot cups of coffee.

Image 3: Later on the impact day, Bird with his equipment, taken in between all of the national and international calls. I intend having a plaque made and placed where Bird made this historic observation.

[jjjnettie]

What an amazingly surreal time for all involved!!

[h0ughy]

classic moments

[bird]

...what can I say to that... Leisa's only comment about the "lady bird" bit is that she now feels red and spotted lol

cheers, Bird

[leon]

Great stuff, Mr and Mrs Bird, and what a machine you have.

leon

[StephenM]

Nice set of images documenting the occasion, Trevor. Must have been a great experience to be part of it!

Cheers,
Stephen

[Quark]

Well.....in my defense, she did wander around Cheryls garden taking photo's:rofl:

[DavidTrap]

I think you should at least ask him to chip in for cracking your observing pad with the weight of his rig!

DT

[tonybarry]

Mr. Wesley's scope looks to be one fine piece of engineering. And pointed in the right place at the right time.

Regards,
Tony Barry

[michaellxv]

It's amazing that his rig stays upright. It just doesn't look like it should.

[allan gould]

Amazing dedication and a great feat for any amateur (if you can call Bird that).
What's next ?

[iceman]

I love the 2nd one, it looks like the scope comes out of the cardboard box :)

(moving this thread to general chat)

[AdrianF]

What say we all head Birds way so he can show us how it's done?

Adrian

[Liz]

Thanks for that Trevor!! Great pics and story. :)

[Quark]

Arrrrr....... the cardboard box!!!

This was actually a critical piece of kit.
The first morning with Jupiter Birds laptop was more or less swimming in condensation. We remedied that with this custom fitted laptop anti condensation system, worked like a charm.

Trev

[lacad01]

Thanks for posting that. Amazing kit, well done on the results! :thumbsup:

[Suzy]

Thank you Trevor for that wonderful account. :thumbsup:
It must have been so incredibly amazing to be part of it all. Don't forget the plaque!

[gary]

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for posting the snapshots!

When Galileo first observed four stars moving about Jupiter through a homemade
telescope in January 1610, he established a new precedent for observational
astronomy. Four hundred years later, Anthony's determination, technical
skill and observational astuteness follow in the tradition of Galileo himself.

Best Regards

Gary & Mai
Mt Kuring-Gai NSW Australia 2080

P.S.

It was great to catch up with you again at Ilford.

[astroron]

Hi Trevor, It was a great story and a little piece of history in the making:thumbsup:
I hope one day to call in and see the plaque and observe from the same location, you never know the discovery bug just may rub off:P
Regards

[JD2439975]

"The first person on Earth to ever directly observe and record an impact on Jupiter"

A worthy reward for your hard work & dedication Anthony, well done. :thumbsup:

[Vartigy]

Fantastic work champ.
Was reading the online news today and felt proud knowing that another aussie has made a great contribution to international science.

[bird]

Thanks everyone... I'm still getting the kinks sorted out in the system I'll be using on the big trip in a month or so, it was a very good experience to be at Trevors with that gear and see what did and didn't work...

With luck it should go smoothly over in WA. Just have to sort out some good weather and seeing... we'll be in Exmouth from August 8 until September 24.

cheers, Bird