Unhappily some of us are unable to make the upcoming get together at Marks place this weekend. It sounds like it will be a great turnout.
All is not lost though. If you are free the following weekend Astroron has opened his back yard again to anyone who want to come up. That's Saturday the 1st of October.
Those coming:
astroron
[1ponders]
nicko?
Nightshift
jjjnettie
Last edited by [1ponders]; 28-09-2005 at 11:55 PM.
Put me down on the list as well.
Hubby is going down to Brissy for the Grand Final on Sunday. I figure Saturday can be my day. It should be a good night.
Will you be able to pm me with the address/mudmap?
We had a great night last night. It looked a bit sus in the afternoon but after the sun went down the skies cleared beautifully. A bit jumpy but lovely and clear. Ice inspace member there were myself,astroron, jjjnettie, nightshift, nicko and Zubenel. There were also a number of other friends of astroron's and Zubenel's there as well. I think it totalled around 12 or 13 people, snome total newbs to looking through scopes.
There was a wide variety of scopes available for viewing. Nightshifts etx-90, Tim's 8" GSO Dob (which had 5 or 6 people lining up to look at the veil (with filter ? ) at one stage), my 8" sct, jjjnetties new 10" dob, Zubenels 12" ?, Ron's 16" truss and Peters? 17.5" truss. Plenty to go around.
It was pretty much a night of "Let's see what we can find." with most of us hunting down various galaxies, planetaries and favourite nebs.
One of the most intersting part of the night was nightshifts modified webcam for imaging. Rip the outsides of and stick it to the imaging port of the etx with blu-tac. worked a treat.
I didn't worry about doing any imaging Tony. Just happy to look around the place. Pretty good skies Tony. Certainly less light than Marks place but not quite as dark as Duckadang. Nice open clear skies with low hills surrounding blocking out the worst of any remainign light from the coast and Brisbane. Its a nice site.
You should come and have a look at my dark skys! LOL
The evening started rather sadly, when Ron told me of Erwins passing. I think that most of us dedicated our nights viewing to his memory.
My observing schedule was based on two articles I had recently re-read from Sky and Space, Nov/Dec 2004. The first was written by Ian Sansom called Star Hopping, and the other called Blowing Bubbles a Wolf-Rayet Star Tour by Andrew Murrell and Ian Sansom. More on that later.
The evening started with Venus then a disappointing Jupiter.
Followed by Omega Centauri, 47 Tuc, M8, M20, M17, M16.
Ngc 288
NGC 55 and NGC 253. Paul guided me to these two. But due to the social factor I couldn't spend as much time there as I would have liked. ( I can stop talking when I am on my own LOL ) Both top my list for further observing.
Andromeda M31, M32 and M110 knocked my socks off. It was my first time seeing them with a big scope when reasonably high up in the sky.
The dew by now was dripping of our gear. Hair dryers couldn't keep up with it. Some felt it wise then to pack up and go home.
Those of us who stayed were treated to smorgasbord of galaxys in and around Fornax. I had pictures in the magazine of what I should be looking at, and I wandered from scope to scope comparing.
Ron was my lecturer for the night. I learnt about the nature of Wolf-Rayet (pronounced Rayay, not Rayette) stars. Once Canis Major has risen, Ron keyed NGC 2359 into the Argo Navis, swung the dob down to Thors Helmet, just as the fog was rising up to meet it. But I can look for it at home now I know where to look.
Again, I learned more at this Star Party, than I could learn in months mucking around on my own.
Thanks for inviting us to your place Ron. I enjoyed myself immensely.
Just a few shots taken by a new astronomer on saturday.
sorry for the delay but I don'thave a digital camera so Gabrial was an angel and took some for me.astroron
Heres is some other Pics that Gabriel sent me which I don't think have been posted.I have yet to learn the finer points of setting my details on the post eg. stamp of details and personal photo etc. Just need to poke around a bit!!Or maybe someone could enlighten me!?? 10" home built.F5.1. Rich Field.Computer guilded by ECU.
Tims 8"GSO which I helped his wife to buy as a suprise birthday prezzy did have its first outing under dark sky's. I thought the line up was impressive to see the Veil Neb. using Pete's 27mm Nag and o3 filter to get most of the eastern then western parts in the FOV was well worth the wait!!SOmething he couldn't do with the 30"!!!I couldn't reach focus with my 10". Not enough intravel.Does this mean I have to redesign???
Sorry if I raised some dust whilst digging out the new pad . It will hopefully be done in a month of two.
It was a good night and it is great to to see a good roll up . Thanks Ron.
Cheers Zub.
I just reread Pauls post on the night at my place and the 17.5" truss scope mentioned was Jasons (argonaut) not Peters, Peters is the 30" which was on show at Duckerdang.astroron
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So which BIG scopes will be out there this weekend?
astroron
ROn's Place 1 OCT.
Just need to poke around a bit!!Or maybe someone could enlighten me!?? 10" home built.F5.1. Rich Field.Computer guilded by ECU. 
