I arrived at the NAS viewing site Cook Park Shortland after viewing had well and truly begun, and with excellent viewing conditions. I felt almost like "Alice in wonderland" except the mirror was a reflector in a telescope! I was transported to much more interesting worlds in deep space with views of Sombrero Galaxy M104 , that looks like a version of Saturn but is really a tightly wound big- hubbed, dust-belted spiral galaxy about 40 million light years away.
Viewing was made all the more interesting as I traveresed my way to Ron's 12" Dob and viewed sights like the "Jewelbox" then on to viewing the "Jewelbox" again ,an open cluster about 7500 light-years with a central red giant which could be closely viewed through Eddie's huge 18". I noticed two faint shooting stars on the night and left just as the waning moon was breaking through the streaky horizon.
Viewing conditions were also great on the Central Coast last night, even from my backyard. Not a sign of dew to be seen, but as you observe HOughy, bloody freezing.
It turned out to be a very successful night but earlier on I was having some encoder problems actually I think it was just a lose wire on the alt encoder I fixed the problem, after that it was clear sailing.
A few of us turned up and I was happy see a person that Mike and I were talking to the previous night at the meeting. He was having certain problems regarding his telescope. I spent some time teaching him how to line up his finder scope besides other things. George also brought his 18" and there were plenty of telescopes to look through.
at 8.30 it weas 6.3 degrees
