Pony Club 12th March?

[gb_astro]

Looks like this Saturday night is possibly looking clear, before another week of cloud.
Moon not setting until about 23:25.
Anyone interested?

Greg.

[GTB_an_Owl]

i think you might get a few Greg


geoff

[Rodstar]

SWMBO is in hospital over this weekend, so I am unable to come, unfortunately. I hope those who can make it have a great night!

[gb_astro]

Not too serious I hope Rod?

Greg.

[Rick Petrie]

Hope all is well Rod.
I too can't make it this Sat as I will be in beautiful, bright downtown Sydney. All those that go, I hope you have clear skies.
Cheers. :)

[Allan_L]

If I get my new DOB :eyepop:

[gb_astro]

:welcome:

Greg.

[Rick Petrie]

OK Al, spill the beans, what are you saying, and give us size, type and brand.:question:
Is this actually a new scope for 'dob alley'?:thumbsup: Cool.:)

[Shano592]

If the weather is favourable, then I'll be there, grinding coffee.

[Allan_L]

OHH! OK!

Order placed.

6 to 12 weeks :(

16 inch
collapsible
goto
skywatcher

:jawdrop:

[GTB_an_Owl]

ordered how long ago ?

geoff

[Rick Petrie]

So we can now officially refer to you as 'BIG Dob Ally'?:lol:
WOW 16'' of shear power.
You might have to mount this one on your motorhome!:P
I think these scopes are heavy suckers.
Holding out this long on us you've probably been in gym training to build up the muscles for lifting so you wouldn't embarrass us all.
With a scope like this Al, you can lead us anywhere!:P
Good one.:thumbsup:

[Allan_L]

Today. :shrug:

Isn't Jakob's a 16 incher ?:question:
He seems to manage OK (or I thought so ) :confused2:

[GTB_an_Owl]

today heh!
and have to wait 6 to 12 weeks heh!

well - i hope you went to your doctor and got some ANXIETY pills Al

geoff

[Allan_L]

:lol::rofl::lol:

What exactly is your point, oh wise one ? :einstein:

[Arthur Alchin]

Deb is studying this weekend therefore i have to find something to preoccupy myself therefore i might have to resort to going to visit you guys. Oh well what can i say :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[gb_astro]

I think we are just amazed you could keep a secret so long!


Alan I think you are going to find it a bit heavier than Jacobs.
First you have the motors etc.
Then the UTA slides down on the struts towards the LTA for transport so you will have to lift them together, unlike Jacob's where the UTA and LTA come apart.

I finally found a German site that gave a weight for the SW16 GoTo:
Weight of the Rockerbox ... 55kg
Weight of the Tube ... 38kg

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p4671_Skywatcher-Skyliner-400P-SynScan---16--GoTo-Dobson-Teleskop.html

That's pretty heavy if it's right.

Your CPC1100 is about 30kgs without the tripod.

Greg.

[GTB_an_Owl]

the wait is gunna kill ya Al

(especially week 6)

geoff

[Allan_L]

Thats Funny !

GTB says the wait will kill me, ...
while ...
GB says the weight will kill me.
:lol: ;) :P

I guess either way I'm dead when Jo finds out :help:

Ric, can I keep it at your place ?
I hear the viewing from your front yard is to die for ... :rolleyes:

[Arthur Alchin]

can't sleep Allan?????????????????????????????? ?

[Allan_L]

You too Arthur ??????????????? ;)

[Arthur Alchin]

At Work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! YUK

[Rick Petrie]

That IS funny Al:rofl:
Yes, leave it at my place for a grabandgo.:P

[jakob]

Great news Al !!!!:thumbsup::eyepop::thumbsup::ey epop::thumbsup::eyepop:
Looking forward to see it.
(Are you travelling now?)

[Rick Petrie]

Imagine what he's gunna be if it's 12 weeks!!!!!!!:question::D

[Allan_L]

No, still at home.
Renovations being done and i am the bunny at home.

In 2 weeks we head off.
Probably SA.
Flinders ranges, Lake Eyre, Wilperra Sound, what else is there ?
Any Botanic gardens we pass and any Opp Shops will be mandatory stops for Jo.

Might even go via Great Ocean Road again (love that road).

Care to join us?
Probably leaving after voting.

Or maybe we could meet up with you somewhere? :rover2: :rover2:

[Rodstar]

Yes and no. Hysterectomy, unfortunately. It is a routine procedure, but is a major operation requiring lengthy recuperation. She will not be too well for 4-6 weeks. I am gearing up for a very busy time managing the family.

The surgery actually took place today, the surgeon was very happy with how things went, Nina was pretty uncomfortable tonight, but heavily sedated.

Rick - thanks for your thoughts, too.

[GTB_an_Owl]

thats good news Rod
hope Nina progresses well and the kids are not too much trouble

geoff

[Arthur Alchin]

a couple of quick questions: Is it cold enought yet for the freezer suits? ( maybe i sould put it in the car just in case).

Secondly without the clubhouse how are we off for power? Do i need to bring the generator up for the evening?

[Rick Petrie]

Are the cost of renovations inversely proportional to cost of new scope,eh Al???? :P (first law of accountancy);)

[Allan_L]

:lol::lol:
I don't remember studying that law at Uni.

More like the law of survival..."Store up for thyself brownie points whensoever thou canst, For thou art likely to need them one day soon"
(like in about 6 to 12 weeks :) )

I imagine it will be a challenge to hide a 16 inch visitor (even if it is collapsible):question:
:lol:

[Rick Petrie]

It'll be like the 'stork' arriving again with a new baby....(for Al):lol:

[gb_astro]

Arthur 18 deg min predicted for the night.

There was no 240V last month.
I dont think anyone missed it.

Greg.

[GTB_an_Owl]

not likely to be power available Arthur

you will have to rely on batteries or the generator i am afraid

and yes - probably not cold enough for the suits just yet

but i would certainly be packing them for Wiruna (SPSP)


geoff

[Rodstar]

Thanks Geoff, much appreciated.:thumbsup:

[gb_astro]

Mr Owl, are you comming? Allan?
Otherwise I do not think we have a committed keyholder yet.

Greg.

[GTB_an_Owl]

i'll be there Greg if the weather plays fair

and i am keeping a very open mind despite the prediction

geoff

[Allan_L]

I am planning on coming too.
I will bring the little mount for you to assess.

Having second thoughts of being a DOBber.

Need convincing

[Arthur Alchin]

Each "action" has an equal and opposite "reaction"

Well Allan if the purchase of the new scope is the "action" I can hardly wait to see the equal and opposite "reaction" (if necessary i will supply the bandages,first aid kit, plaster of Paris and crutches etc). :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[bahoogas]

Arthur,

I think we work at the same place....

[GTB_an_Owl]

sky looking promising here at terrigal this morning

geoff

[Shano592]

Weather forecast is good for the evening too. Looks like I'm in.

[Rick Petrie]

Plans have changed for me and am now likely to make it tonight for a while, may have to leave a bit earlier than usual though.:thumbsup:
See yaz all.

[Mars]

I would like to be there with some new gear tonight, so long as the weather plays ball.

[Shano592]

Moonset is 11:26pm, for those looking to avoid moonshine ... it should be quite nice after midnight.

[Zincberg]

I will be there for sure, 3:20 and the sky is looking great at wyoming. charging up the batteries as we speak.
See you all there.

[Rick Petrie]

Latest is the chance of an early thunderstorm but should clear after that???
Still be there though.
Hope the grass has been cut?

[gb_astro]

Suddenly heaps of cloud on the satellite image.

gb.

[Mars]

I'm packed (with new gear.. zero leftover space in car and no room for even a single passenger)... but weather is concerning me now.

It's quite cloudy and even starting to sprinkle here.. I don't really want to make the long drive up and back if it's only going to thunderstorm. Any more updates in the last thirty mins?

[Zincberg]

hmmmm?
being the "forever optimist"... http://weather.news.com.au/satellite/nsw/
Shows it being ok...and skippysky has it all clear. Snowcover looks good, and http://www.theweatherchaser.com/maps/?lat=-33.33859556582091&lon=151.1571979522705&zoom=16&bg_layer=auto&fg_layers=map&
looks all clear for now too!

[Mars]

OK thanks Andrew for the positive. Guess I'll head up and really just hope for the best!

[Allan_L]

Van is packed.
Fridge is cold.
Sun is shining.
Ready to go.

What time are people hoping to get there?
Before Sun set?
Before moonset?

NEW equipment?
Oh well there goes the skies ;)

Arthiur,
I have 2 of your guinnesses on chill for you :)

[Rick Petrie]

Thunderstorm activity usually clears after dark ......Doesn't it Mr Owl????:juggle::poke:
Ill be there about 6.30ish.

[GTB_an_Owl]

yes it does Rick

looks like a good nite up here

geoff

[GTB_an_Owl]

a study of the MSLP tells me the thunder clouds will be gone about 9pm

and a clear nite after

geoff

[GTB_an_Owl]

car packed - only need refreshments now

geoff

[Allan_L]

I will be there before 7:30

[GTB_an_Owl]

8 scopes and ten bodies - not bad for a half moon nite

clouds went away as expected by about 10pm

but the DEW got us in the end
packed up around 2am

geoff

[Allan_L]

WOW !
What a wonderfully unexpected great night of amateur astronomy.

although the dew was there from early, some of the best viewing I can remember.
Got to bring a 5mm to sharp focus on Saturn (first time for my f/10).

Saw some fine detail not expected (the dot in the middle of the Ghost of Jupiter)

thanks to Rick for numerous views of his newly re-morphed DOB
thanks to Patrick for views through his new baby (which as it happens I was trying to adopt at the same time).
thanks everyone else for great company and conversations.
(sometimes I forget this is what I like about our astronomy meets most).
Who needs more aperture when you got friends around to share theirs.

Still waiting the first words from joanne....:confused2: ... to see if I am in trouble. Certainly think my brownie point pot is low, at least.

cheers till next we meet :hi:

[gb_astro]

Yes thanks all for a good night.
Saturn was the best I've seen for a long time.

Greg.

[Shano592]

It was a good night, but the dew was crazy.

It's good to see that Saturn is opening the rings up to us again... a great sight.

[Rick Petrie]

Glad I went last night as we all had some good seeing.
Views of Saturn were excellent at different times and my highlight was observing the very prominent storm adjacent to the dark cloud banding.
Ghost of Jupiter was good Al, as you have said, and also the Antennae galaxy(Ringtail) was quite vivid. Plenty of other greats also.
Welcome to the world of dew Patrick! Sad it caused you grief on your first light experience. Happy to be of assistance in the exercise of collimation, anytime.
Thanks to all for another great evening.:thumbsup:

[Mars]

Thanks again Rick for spending quite some time perfecting the collimation on my scope. You should be commemorated!

Shame about the excessive dew up there, especially since I don't really have much of a problem with it at home, though I guess I'm not usually up that late. I'll definitely need to visit Bintel to get some dew-busting gear before SPSP, and maybe a higher power eye piece for planetary and smaller objects.

I'm so pleased that the skies cleared and we were able to get some decent viewing in on Saturday. It's been cloudy every day before and every day after here in Sydney. Still waiting to get my scope out at home to see what the views will be like from my light-polluted end of the world.

Speaking of which, how do you find the Astronomik UHC filter? I was looking at it recently in the hopes it might help improve views in suburbia.

[Rick Petrie]

Commemorated!!!!! :rofl:
Thanks Patrick. I'll take that as a compliment.:P
The UHC filters are best used for bringing out nebulosity in subjects such as Eta Carina Nebula and Orion Nebula and some planetary nebulae. Will not enhance other deep sky stuff such as galaxies or clusters. Stars, planets,clusters and particularly galaxies, as you know, are best viewed under dark skies. Other filters usually used for enhancing planets.
Cheers mate and hope you get that dew prevention up and running. If you need any further info, give us a buzz.:thumbsup:

[Allan_L]

From now on, it won't be the Pony Club.

It will be the Rick Petrie Commemorative Field. :thumbsup:

Now we just need an appropriate plaque maker.

Hi Patrick,
You can buy specific Light Pollution filters that specialise in eliminating the light frequencies emitted by some street lighting and some even reduce moonglow.

But remember, all filters (and any glass for that matter) reduce the amount of light that gets through to your eye.

[Rick Petrie]

Ok.. with that, I will now open a philanthropic society and a benevolent fund for the promotion of astronomy on the Central Coast.
All donations will be gratefully accepted.:P