I am so **** off...

§AB · #1 28-01-2008, 10:51 AM

What happens in Melbourne 9 out of 10 times, especially when the seeing is good? You get clouded out ofcourse. Just after you set everything up. I know this crap happens to everyone sometime or another, but on this occasion I am truly pissed off.

Anyway, I was drunk but last night, Sirius was rock steady. Perfectly steady. And with the light surface southwesterlies flowing in the same direction as the high-level winds, I knew the night might be good.

Anyway, I left the scope to cool for about an hour and afterwards I observed the trapezium but the stars were completely distorted, flaring and unsatisfactory. So I let the scope cool for another hour while I went and grabbed my atlases, rug, eyepiece cases etc.

After a total of 2 hours of cooling I observed the Trap again, at 357x. I was pleased with the crispness of the focus, nice airy disks with only a small amount of 'play' in the diff rings and barely a hint of that flaring that occurs when there are tube currents. SO the plan was to observe some doubles until Saturn and the moon rose high enough. But in typical fashoin, I was CLOUDED OUT by that famous, exclusive to Melbourne **** that ALWAYS seem to glide off the ocean on the BEST NIGHTS

Tonight looks like it could be okay, with winds at 300mb and 850mb flowing in the same direction, if a little different in speed. Surface winds are expected to be almost non-existant.

goober (Doug) · #2 28-01-2008, 11:59 AM

Fingers crossed for tonight - I may pack up and head for the hills tonight. Moon may be up too early though.

Dennis · #3 28-01-2008, 12:20 PM

When I experience similar conditions, I use self talk to calm me down as I had previously found that far too many nights were spoiled by having my expectations dashed when the clouds came in, or a piece of equipment failed etc.

I now say to myself, almost mantra-like, phrases like the following:

“This is a hobby, something I have chosen to engage in for pleasure, relaxation, inspiration and to rise above the more mundane hours of daylight.
Don’t let the weather control my moods – just accept that some things are beyond my ability to influence.
I didn’t “own” the time that I had planned to observe so if it turns to mush, just let go. There is always tomorrow.
Don’t take it personally, nature is impersonal and isn’t out to thwart my observing or imaging session.”

Mostly, this seems to work quite effectively to the extent that I now end up retiring in a much calmer mood and definitely feeling less cheated. I decided I didn’t want to have any bad feelings following me to bed, after having spent all that money on astronomy equipment and software! After an initially slow start, I can now usually talk myself down quite quickly and effectively, feeling the genuine benefits of going to bed in a more peaceful frame of mind.

Cheers

Dennis

mick pinner · #4 28-01-2008, 12:35 PM

l take it as it comes, but it helps that l look at it as a hobby and not something l need to do. when the clouds roll in l then look forward to spending time inside with the wife.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 28-01-2008, 12:46 PM

What a blasted shame for you.
You have my sympathy.

§AB · #6 28-01-2008, 12:49 PM

When the Trap is crisply resolved, A,B,C,D nice airy disks; E and F tight points at 357x, it is not a night you want to see clouds.

I was far from calm that's for sure. One reason I'm NEVER calm when it clouds over is that here it seems to cloud over during the course of almost any clear night. And being in Melbourne, where 250 days of the year feature 75% cloud cover, the mere sight of clouds just infuriates me.

Aster · #7 28-01-2008, 01:01 PM

What gets me is the dozen or so trips backwards and forwards from thre garage to set it all up. Counterweights, Saddle, Scope, guidescope, garden table and chair, laptop, meters of cables etc. Balance everything, plug in all the cables, throw dustsheet over the lot go back inside and wait until it is dark. Wife says an hour later, Love, lots of clouds, pretty black coming in, you better put your stuff away.

NOW THAT REALLY P****S ME OFF.

4 Times in the last week.

Wouldn't be that bad if you only had to slide the roof back.......

§AB · #8 28-01-2008, 01:06 PM

^^ 4 times, that's infuriating for sure but very unsurprising given your Melbourne location. I dread to think what winter will bring.

At the moment it's nice and sunny, and the weather charts seem to indicate good seeing. Let's hope this cloud-free bliss will last long enough to see sunrise tomorrow.

Aster · #9 28-01-2008, 01:27 PM

Last Winter was GOOD, but then I didn't have a working scope

§AB · #10 28-01-2008, 01:49 PM

I dunno. From memory I endured one of the most foul, cloudiest and rainiest terrible winter I have ever seen.

Matty P (Matt) · #11 28-01-2008, 02:05 PM

If it's cloudy.... it's cloudy, you can't do much about it.

Patience is the key.

thunderchildobs · #12 28-01-2008, 03:26 PM

If you have the time / money / space build an observatory.
This allows to leave the scope set up and ready to go.

Or have a second / backup cloudy weather hobby.

Brendan

Ric · #13 28-01-2008, 03:39 PM

I've got beautiful blue sky and a light breeze at the moment. the problem is that it is 33 degrees an it will take hours for the mirror to cool down.

I suppose I'll have to wait and see how it turns out this evening.

§AB · #14 28-01-2008, 04:38 PM

perfect here aswell. Got 30ºC here but will leave the scope to cool for a good 2-3 hours.

No likely hood of cloud here tonight. Just hope the seeing will deliver and going by the charts, I expect it to be pretty decent.

leon · #15 28-01-2008, 05:30 PM

I know how you feel guys, but I no longer have that problem, a simple roll away observatory saw to that.

But having said that, many a good night has been spoiled with cloud and stuff. I just close her up and go inside, there is always another day, and the stars will be around forever. chin up. guys.

Leon

xelasnave · #16 28-01-2008, 08:09 PM

I saw the Moon at 8am yesterday or the day before thats my total viewing in about 6 weeks...or more.
What can you do.
Before I set up my shed I could drag the gear in and out 3 or 4 times during a night... part of the game.. you cant let it get to you however.
alex

goober (Doug) · #17 28-01-2008, 11:55 PM

I just came in from a couple of hours observing. Seeing is okay, so SAB should be out there pushing magnification with his super dob. Let's all talk about him while he's not here!

§AB · #18 29-01-2008, 09:08 AM

lol! Actually both the scope and I were hibernating throughout the night. I made a check of the likely seeing, using Sirius. Even near the zenith, she was twinkling a bit too much for my liking. So I figured I probably won't get views of Saturn and the moon that's worth makinmg several trips back n forth to get my stuff. The moon still rises far too early so observing Nebulae, clusters and galaxies still wasn't an option in the event of poor seeing.