Finally a clear night in Sydney, I'm stoked!

[Noidea]

WOW! That's all I can say. I had some friends over for a BBQ tonight and I think they thought I was a bit rude because I kept sneaking outside to look at the sky. I explained that it's the first clear night we have had in Sydney for weeks but I don't think they quite understood.

Using Stellarium to guide me and binoculars, I saw Mars for the first time. I'm sure I have seen it 100's of times in my life, but to be able to positively identify it gives it new meaning.

When my guests left I got my ebay junk 3" reflector out and saw Saturn. It was only small but once it my scope stoped shaking, I definitely saw the rings. I'm super keen now, I can't wait until I buy my new Dob next week. I even got my girlfriend interested, she was blown away by Saturn, until tonight she showed no interest in my new hobby.
:party:

[acropolite]

Saturn certainly has appeal, for some reason the ladies love it, HRH Liz is the same. :D

[Wombat_In_Space]

Saturn dose seems to have that effect on them, I know SWMBO prefers to look at saturn and jupiter, everything else she has no intrest in.

[Noidea]

OH, how cool, now Jupiter is up, but I need a better scope. This is cool! Now I can see what all the fuss is about. Pity about this bright moon, but I won't complain, best night for weeks. I notice this forum is a bit quite tonight, I suspect it's good viewing all around.:stargaze:

[cahullian]

I agree...great night for the big planets.The Cassini divide was clearly visable in my 8" with the 9mm ep. I was doing a wee jig and it wasn't pretty...good thing it was dark and I was on my own. lol

Gazz/Irish

[RAJAH235]

Now that would have been a sight to behold.... a mad Irishman doing the jig, in the middle of a paddock,(or his backyard), @ night, under an almost full moon. Why don't you have a pic or 2? No tripod? No timer on your camera? The truth now! :P :D L.
ps. Fairly clear down here but lots of cloud drifting thru spoilt it.

[iceman]

I was up most of the night imaging Saturn and Jupiter. Excellent night, great transparency and seeing.

[RAJAH235]

Lucky b. :P We considered ourselves fortunate to get 30 or 40 frames of M42 & Saturn between the clouds. Not a good night. :D L.

[acropolite]

Same here for a couple of hours, the best seeing I have had in 9 months, clouded over an hour after the moon came up.

[ving]

sweet! glad to hear ppl enjoying them selves

[RAJAH235]

perhaps tonight may be a tad better.:D L.

[DRCORTEX]

It's a nice feeling when you can say, "Yeah, that's Mars, Yeah, that's Saturn" - my two favorites Sirius and Beetlejuice ( haha ).

ciao

Lance

[Noidea]

Hi Lance, It might be some time before I even know what Sirius and Beetlejuice are, let alone quote it, Lol! Shouldn't be too long I hope. I must say beatlejuice sounds more like a movie staring Michael Keaton than a constellation or star. Regards

Paul

[DRCORTEX]

It's even worse when you go to a "viewing", and they can just stick a finger in the air, and say - "yeah, it's over there", and behold, that's exactly where it is.

Got my first sight of Saturn on saturday night - number 1 in my book so far.

The next evening, my son said, : "Thought you said you knew where Saturn was"

I just hooked a finger over my shoulder, bit like an old western, and said, "Yeah, it's over there pilgrim ( Haha - John Wayne with astro attitude )

Very cool.

Hard to balance viewing with conversation on the night - highly recommended.

Regards,

Lance