Just need to throw in my 2 cents worth! Huge thanks to Rod and Anthony for their company. I had a great night. The place couldn't be called a 'great' site, but it's certainly a 'good' one, which I think would be much improved under a completely cloudless sky. As Rod said, the clouds went crazy reflecting the lights from Sydney
.
It's an excellent open area that's nice and flat with good, relatively unobstructed views of the horizon. It could easily accommodate quite a few people (what's the collective noun for a bunch of mad amateur astronomers? a cluster? a galaxy?) Very sandy, so if you have a dob you'd need to bring along a tarp or something to put over the ground (won't you Anthony?
). It's easy to get to and doesn't require a packed lunch! (just a six-pack)
Finally got to start putting the Meade QX 26mm and 20mm thru their paces. So far I'm very pleased with their performance on an SCT. Unfortunately I don't think we had the chance to try them out on Anthony's faster dob... something else on the 'next time' list.
It was interesting comparing the three scopes. Aperture certainly 'rules' when it comes to really faint objects, like Cent. A. And the detail through Rod's 10" with the OIII on Eta Car was brilliant! I was also impressed with the views of Jupiter thru Anthony's 12.5" dob.
The double Rod referred to was Antares. A bugger of a thing to resolve at the best of times, but a real buzz when you do.
I had to use my LX90 the 'old fashioned' way 'coz I couldn't get portable power organised in time! That's since been remedied and looking forward to the next time!
Mike, sorry you couldn't make it, but glad to hear the kids are on the mend.
...and finally... Anthony, the eyepiece is yours whenever you're ready.
