How far have you driven to see Comet Lovejoy?!

[Grahame]

Thought I would post the question:

How far have you driven so far (including return trips) for a view of Comet Lovejoy?

I racked up my biggest today @ 600km round trip which I suspect ends my comet chasing, need a break :)

Total for myself so far is around 1200km, and i thought this Christmas break would be uneventful!

[Octane]

Oh, bugger. I chose the 500 option instead of 1,000.

H

[naskies]

On a whim, I decided to do a 900 km round trip overnight for my effort (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=84659)... so glad I did :)

I once drove 2700 km in three days (long weekend) with a mate of mine to see a large portion of Yosemite NP, Sequoia NP, and Death Valley NP - some beautifully dark skies there too.

I've been so impressed by the dark skies that I'm contemplating returning to Roma QLD this weekend to do a wide field sky survey of the summer Milky Way.

[jjjnettie]

So happy to have found 2 good, fairly dark observing sites only a few minutes from home.

[star1961]

Drove two minutes up the road to get clearer view and even though it's faded a lot I was extremely happy to see it!

[rogerg]

I have to admit I've been a little lazy and a little occupied with other Christmas stuff so have only travelled less than 50km. It's been easiest to do most my shots from home. I might travel in the next week to get it in much longer exposures once it moves from the Milky Way, wait and see how the comet develops in that time.

[michael_sa]

...need a "stepped out the back-door" option :thumbsup:
voted <50

[astroron]

Two trips of ten kilometers each way,but the best results are from my own place here at Cambroon even though the comet is fading fast, it is the best I have seen it .
Cheers :thumbsup:

[swannies1983]

I found quite a dark spot only about 15mins away. Have noted this for future reference.

[Rodstar]

Down to Terrigal Beach from Point Clare, about 20 minutes drive, about 20 kms. I do not have a clear view to the east from where I live.

[michaellxv]

Do share.

I went out past Murray Bridge last night. Nice skies but not a great place to setup regularly.

[WadeH]

I have flown 950km then bused a further 120km down a dirt haul road, then got up at 02:45 to see Lovejoy (this is one way!). Of course this was all part of my FI/FO for work, but I did see C2011/W3 so this counts, doesn't it? :screwy:

[rogerg]

:eyepop::lol:

[mozzie]

driven an hour odd north west of home to get away from coffs light pollution,up a dirt road on the back way to grafton,didnt see the house just up the road and the dog barked and barked and barked.thought the owner was going to come out and shoot me........:lol::lol:

[Kevnool]

3 kilometers for me thats enough to escape pesky street lights.
The view was worth it.

Cheers Kev.

[shelltree]

Just over 300km here! Drove to Currumbin and back with no luck. Drove down the road Xmas morning just to see it at 3am. Drove to Somerset Dam then on to Kilcoy and imaged all night long (and most of the morning) then drove all the way back home. Sooooo worth it! And more to come this weekend :)

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Hi,

I had to travel 4 metres to the onsuite and look out the window.

Lucky for me!

Cheers,

Justin.

[swannies1983]

I found a few dirt roads NW of Mclaren Vale. Big difference from Noarlunga.

[ballaratdragons]

:lol:

I actually Drove to my back paddock (was too cold to walk) and the Odometer didn't even tick over 1/10th of a k :rofl:

But at least I went to the effort and drove somewhere to see it :lol:

[Gem]

No long DISTANCE... but getting up the wife and three kids at 3:00am Christmas morning is a big thing!! :)

[Terry B]

Needs a "nil" option

[Peter Ward]

If "driving" an airliner counts... then about 12,400km.

[multiweb]

Did 400km today and back. Got what I wanted but it's bloody faint now. Got in the game too late. Still to process loads but it was a windy/painful experience. I got a few subs of close up on the grass. Rig tipped over. :P

[tonybarry]

About 500km round trip on the 23rd-24th (Sydney <-> Blayney, near Bathurst), when it was quite bright between 3am and 4am. Well worth the haul - Sydney has had very poor viewing of this comet.

Regards,
Tony Barry (WSAAG)

[colinmlegg]

Where did you end up Grahame? I went down Esperance way (maybe 1500 km)... got 2 nice nights of comet viewing so gotta be happy. Drove xmas day with my wife...benefit of no kids or relos in the state ;)

[michaellxv]

Going to bed before 3am Christmas morning is a big thing :P.

[bartman]

I guess when you have clear skies....no need to travel.....
Please do not take that the wrong way.
In my efforts, I tried a few angles from several rooms at the Resort I work in. After some disappointing angles, I was about to give up when I walked past one of the rooms I didn't even consider.

Worked out to be the best angle and nobody in the room!
Hence my shots as previously (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=84488&highlight=comet+swan+valley) shown .
Cheers
Bartman

[danielsun]

I think we have been totally rolled here in Melb. I have had the camera ready to go and every morning been staying up or waking up and it has been nothing but clouds at my end! :(

[ballaratdragons]

Been fairly clear here each night lately Daniel :)

[Jen]

I still havnt seen it :(
Been too busy with family in Melbourne and the weather there has been crappppppppp :rolleyes: Now that im back home i might get a chance to see it if it is still visible that is :question:

[shelltree]

Another trip to Kilcoy and back again on Friday night/Saturday morning. Still trying to recover... :zzz2:

It is sooooo faint now. Even on Friday night I could barely see it. And half the time I wasn't sure if I could see it at all or if I was just humouring myself :lol: Still showed up in 30 sec exposures though but it has really faded a lot.

[stardust steve]

On the morning of the 24th of Dec, i drove straight past a good viewing spot( i discovered that spot later) on my way to find another good spot. Realised i needed fuel, drove and got fuel. Finally found a good spot at 4.30 am, got out the car and nearly fell over. I looked straight up and there it was. Comet Lovejoy in all its glory. Was able to get some ok images. Was unable to get back out to view it due to clouds for the next few days, by then it had faded remarkably. It was a sight that i will never forget :D

[naskies]

Steve, I agree that the naked eye view around Christmas was incredible.

Since Christmas Eve, I've driven around 2600 km on three separate trips. I need :help: :screwy: I have a lot of buses to catch to start my carbon offsetting...