A clear night for Sydney!

[iceman (Mike)]

Finally, they don't come often lately but we've got a clear night in Sydney/Newcastle area tonight!

The seeing doesn't look very good, so i've been doing some deep space imaging, doing cluster NGC2451 and the neighbour NGC2477. I've finished that run, now waiting for NGC4945 or NGC5139 or the jewelbox to clear the trees.

Transparency hasn't been very good though, not helped by the moon, but also not helped by the abundance of moisture in the air. The new dew strap for my ED80 kindly made for me by Ian Ogilvie is getting a workout!

I'm not sure when sleep will come tonight.. I want to get up early (or stay up) to image Jupiter, but the seeing isn't looking good and I do want some sleep at some time

I hope the rest of you are out amongst it!

[coldspace]

I just had about 1 hr here in Brissy till the clouds rolled in. Managed to get Saturn, Mars and M42. Now to some internet.

Matt

[xelasnave]

Is it clear outside? With all my gear problems I did not even look.
Up home a couple of nights ago I got up about 3 am went outside and it was clear as..went in had a cuppa to wake right up went out again and complete cloud cover..in about 10 minutes.you gota be quick it seems.
alex

[koputai (Jason)]

Just came in after two hours. I've mounted the green laser (thanks Fahim) on my old Autostar Meade DS mount and now I can find things much easier, just follow the green line!
As you say Mike, the transparency is pretty attrocious, but we are desparate aren't we. Boy it's cold out there too.

Cheers,
Jason.

[iceman (Mike)]

Sure is a cold one.. i'm in my freezer suit already.

How did you rate the seeing Jason?

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi Mike

Hope you have a great night/morning.

T-Shirt weather here in Albury - just bino-ing at the moment.

Cheers Petra

[iceman (Mike)]

hmm some cloud coming in from the south/south-east now.

It might force sleep upon me.

[koputai (Jason)]

How did you rate the seeing Jason?

Well I don't know the correct way to rate it, but basically here in Northern Sydney I'd rate it as 'crap'. The air just looked very thick.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Moonboy (Gus)]

Its not that bad down here(Mildura). Its a little bit hot, But still no clouds.