ASV Xmas Star-B-Q 2011 - Lunar Eclipse Special

[Moon]

This year the ASV Star-B-Q will be held on 10th December at the ASV Leon Mow Dark Sky Site near Heathcote and will coincide with the total lunar eclipse.

Members and non-members are welcome, and all the usual Star-B-Q highlights will be there - Solar observing, Wine tasting, visit from Santa and BBQ catering by the local Lions Club.

More details available on the ASV Website homepage LINK (http://asv.org.au/).

James

[The_bluester]

I am aiming to be there for this one. I got to the Messier night but missed out on most of the daytime stuff. I hope to be there not long after mid day this time.

[mishku]

I'm heading up too - but do you think it would be too ambitious to drive back to town after the eclipse is over?

[The_bluester]

It is a bit of a hike, but when I was at the Messier night there were people heading off well into the early hours. At least for me I am only coming from about an hour away.

[rmcconachy]

In the wee hours of the night it takes me almost exactly two hours to drive from the ASV site near Heathcote to my mid/outer eastern suburbs home. The worst part of the drive is the first bit because you have to be wary of kangaroos (doubly so between Heathcote and the ASV site).

[Moon]

The safest thing to do would be to bring a tent. If you do drive and start to feel a bit sleepy, make sure you pull over to the side of the road and have a snooze.
James

[traveller]

I am planning to go with my son, hoping for better weather this time. See you all there!
Bo

[mill]

I'll be there on the day (maybe with my wife :) ).

[astro_nutt]

Definitely going to this one. Might try to do some deep sky during totality. If you're worried about roo's, buy a pair of roo whistles from Supercheap Auto for about $8.00.
See you there!!

[alistairsam]

I'm definitely going as well with the family, my astro gear and a tent.
I've never been before so am looking forward to meeting the crowd and trying my hand at some imaging.

[alistairsam]

Hi,

could someone post a link to the lmdss site from google maps?

[Moon]

The directions in the PDF you can download from the ASV website.
James

[The_bluester]

The weather is looking pretty threatening this weekend. Hopefully the outlook improves over the week.

[traveller]

Can't be, it will be the third time in a row for me...:stargaze::stargaze::stargaze:

[The_bluester]

The forecast looks a little more promising now. Hopefully it keeps on improving.

[traveller]

I have must a different weather forecaster Paul,
http://www.accuweather.com/en-us/au/victoria/heathcote/forecast.aspx
Rain, and more rain :sadeyes:
Bo

[The_bluester]

Still living in hope about the weather. I live relatively close to the site so I can afford to make a decision early in the afternoon.

I am really hoping to go and go early so I get a lot of the stuff I missed out on at the Messier night.

[mishku]

Hey Paul,

Any chance you want to let us know how it's looking on Sat arvo? (sure, I'll watch the radar, but I won't neccessarily believe what it's telling me!!) I'll be a last minute decision maker too :)

[The_bluester]

I am far enough over the dividing range to have completely different weather to Heathcote so I will be relying a bit on the BOM radar. but assuming it looks at all promosing I hope to head up early in the afternoon and will get on here via mobile (Patchy coverage but do-able) and report in on what the weather is looking like.

[traveller]

Weather improving.
Hope for some break in the clouds on the night.

[niko]

wishing you guys clear skies and especially Bo who was shorided in gumboots and waterproofs the last time I saw him trying to look at the skies above!

I'll be in nearby Newstead hoping for a patch or two between the clouds

cheers

niko

[GrampianStars]

Try here it's updated again mid afternoon
http://www.weatherzone.com.au/vic/north-central/kilmore
:cloudy:

[The_bluester]

Still living in hope.

[traveller]

Thanks Niko, fingers crossed for tonight.
Bo

[dannat]

I live closer than most, at the moment there is high leek cloud covering about 80% of the sky, with just patches on blue, I don't think it will improve significantly, a change is coming in slowly

[The_bluester]

No chance of a local update? If it looks really flaky I might sit it out at home and set up in breaks from the rain.

[The_bluester]

I reckon I have to call it. I am about 50k away and under total cloud cover with no break in sight. I have also got a crook 3 year old at home now.


Bummer, I was really looking forward to it. Hopefully we get some breaks in the cloud cover at home and I get to see at least part of the eclipse.

[dannat]

Yes we have just had a thunderstorm, heading towa heathcote it looks

[traveller]

I must be the rain maker/bringer. Went to Snake Valley, rained out, ASv, ditto :sadeyes:
Oh well, here come March.
There is a bright side of ASV though, popped out of the tent at 2am for a pee, Orion was high and bright between clouds. Had to get back to the tent to grab the glasses to see properly :)
Bo

[mishku]

Did many people head up in the end, Bo?

There were incredible thunderstorms in Melbourne last night - while I was disappointed that I missed the eclipse, at least the incredible storm cells compensated a little :)

[The_bluester]

But of a bugger. I was hoping to take a shot per minute through the scope and then animate the lot into about a one minute video.

Nothing but clouds all night in kilmore.

[traveller]

Had similar intentions with a borrowed D90, but forgot to bring the triod :rolleyes:



There was quite a lot of people and plenty of newbies too. Got to know a few ASV members, turns out my son goes to the same school as Barry Adcock's granddaughter. Small world.
Bo

[Richard Gamble]

Thinking of going to my first.....but in the end, the weather won!

[mishku]

Bo, saw Ryan in the ASV End of Year Slideshow :)