A bad case of Wind.

[Ric]

No, not what your thinking.

The skies were clear from horizon to horizon last night and I was very optimistic of a great night out. I was just about to start the focussing procedures and begin imaging when the wind arrived. Not a breeze but a steady 20kph with 30kph gusts.

The upshot being that it became impossible to focus accurately let alone attept any imaging, the stars looked like they were doing some type of stellar rap dance all over the monitor.

I continued on for another hour hoping that it would die down but to no avail the wind was here to stay for the night. In the end I packed up empty handed and frustrated.

It's another clear day again here but the wind is still hanging around.

Cheers

[Zuts]

I went out last night, first time in weeks. The day was great, not a cloud in sight. Full moon but who cares, no clouds at 9pm. I went out spent two hours setting up and the clouds moved in. Unbelievable.....



Paul

[Ric]

I think that sometimes we need constitutions made of stone to put up with all that this hobby can throw at you.

But when we get a good night they can be so spectacular that it makes it all worthwhile and we forget about the duds.

Cheers

[Matty P (Matt)]

Originally Posted by Ric

No, not what your thinking.

The skies were clear from horizon to horizon last night and I was very optimistic of a great night out. I was just about to start the focussing procedures and begin imaging when the wind arrived. Not a breeze but a steady 20kph with 30kph gusts.

The upshot being that it became impossible to focus accurately let alone attept any imaging, the stars looked like they were doing some type of stellar rap dance all over the monitor.

I continued on for another hour hoping that it would die down but to no avail the wind was here to stay for the night. In the end I packed up empty handed and frustrated.

It's another clear day again here but the wind is still hanging around.

Cheers

I was out under the stars and a full moon last night. There was no cloud and no wind but something didn't feel right. No wind + No cloud = Bad

Everything was set up ready to go. I plug in the camera and slew the scope to Saturn. It felt just like any other night but when I tried to achieve focus all I got was a BLOB with rings. The seeing was so **** that even the moon looked like a BLOB with craters.

What can you do?

[Ric]

Wonderful stuff weather, isn't it

And we are at it's mercy

[xelasnave]

Good to get out there Ric and experience even they are bad I feel...

I have had so many things to put me off the game I can not believe how I have kept at it...

stupidity is my only excuse a smart man would have put the axe thru everything...

but when it works it is so good and the fact is you gotta keep practising with the gear so when its good it can be very good.

Anyways the problem will blow over
alex

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Was very similar here last night, Saturn looked not bad through the 25mm eyepiece, but anything higher was just a blob. Pretty breezy too, took some pics of the moon, but you could see the wind induced movement on them during stacking.

Bill

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I set up all my gear in the front paddock, anticipating a nice couple of hours imaging before the moon came up.
I took a few avi's before going in to watch Kath and Kim, came back out afterwards and it had clouded over comletely.

According to BOM we have showers increasing to rain overnight.
Rain for Monday.
Rain for Tuesday.
Rain easing Wednesday.

I might take up knitting instead.

[§AB]

All these stories sound so familiar. Often it would be cloudy for a week, then a clear night comes along but ofcourse a wind picks up which makes Hurricane Katrina look like a baby's fart.

Oh and don't get me started on the whole "set up 10" dob, atlases and sketchpad - go inside for 5 seconds, go back outside to full overcast" routine.

[vash (Ashley)]

I went to a mates place and we set up a slide down the hill into a kiddie pool. Still overcast. Plus rain for a few days here as well.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

At Astrofest a couple of years ago.
My son was with me, we'd just climbed down the ladder of one of the big Dobs and thought we'd compare the view with a smaller 22" Dob. By the time we'd crossed the field, all of 30-40 mts, it had clouded over completely.
Just like that.

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Oh!

I thought that this thread was about Baked Beans! Whoops.

Cheers Petra

[Ric]

Originally Posted by spacezebra

Oh!

I thought that this thread was about Baked Beans! Whoops.

Cheers Petra

Fried onions & artichokes are a far more potent mix Petra

Who knows it may even help to vaporise the clouds

Cheers