Any current Central Coast events?

arc4ne (Kev) · #1 26-11-2012, 09:08 PM

Hi All

I'm new to the forums and just wanted to know if there are any current meetups on the central coast that accommodate complete beginners?

I would love the chance to meet some experienced Astronomers, and perhaps learn a thing or two.

I plan to buy an 8" Skywatcher this week (this will be my first Telescope) and would love any help/guidance that anyone has to offer.

Thanks for reading

~Kev

bones · #2 27-11-2012, 12:42 PM

Hi Kev, welcome to the forum. There's a bunch of us who meet at the Mangrove Mountain Pony Club around the weekend of the new moon each month, but this may be subject to factors beyond our control such as weather or if the Pony club has a function on. There's a sticky to it here on the forum.

The next new moon is Thursday 13/12/12, so I imagine that there may be interest for either the Sat before and/or after i.e. 8/12/12 and/or 15/12/12. I cant make the 15th due to other commitments (that's why I'm not starting the thread for it). This next meeting may also be the Christmas do as it may be the last one before Christmas.

Keep your eyes peeled to this section of the forum and you should soon see when someone starts the thread for the next Pony Club meet.

Cheers

Tony.

arc4ne (Kev) · #3 28-11-2012, 03:16 PM

Hey Tony,
thanks for the reply! I'll keep my eyes peeled.
I thought around Christmas people might have other things to attend, but I look forward to the next meet up

Kev.

Allan_L (Allan) · #4 28-11-2012, 04:12 PM

Hi Kev,
Welcome to IIS
and congratulations on your recent purchase.

As Tony said, we will try to meet on a saturday close to the New Moon (weather permitting). And yes, newcomers are welcome (and encouraged).

But if you are like me, and would want to give the scope a test run, and you want some company/support, you can bring it for a ride to my place this weekend (or whenever) and I will help you with things like alignment collimation and generally setup.

With the moon near full, it will be tough to see too much DSO. But the moon will be there, and maybe we can have a look at Jupiter and the Orion Nebula.

I am located about 30 minutes north of you. Between Wyong and Toukley.
If interested, PM me for details.
If not, hope to see you at the Pony Club in December.

Cheers
Allan

Rodstar (Rod) · #5 28-11-2012, 09:45 PM

Hi Kev,

A big hello from Point Clare, Central Coast!

Others have mentioned the Pony Club gatherings at Mangrove Mountain. You will see now that a thread has started for the December gathering - check it out, and hope to see you there!

cassiej (Cassandra) · #6 04-03-2013, 06:18 PM

Hi everyone,

I have just discovered the wonderful world of astronomy and have purchased my first 6" Meade telescope. I am a complete newby and really don't know all that much about what I'm doing!

I also live on the central coast and live at Erina.

I would love to attend these meetings at Mangrove Mountain! Can someone give me some insight into when there may be a next meet?

Kind regards,
Cassie

Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin) · #7 04-03-2013, 06:36 PM

Welcome to the astronomy community.

There will be a pony club night coming up either this weekend coming or the following. There is a group of us going to Chaffey Dam this week if its up your alley. Going for 4 nights, 5 days

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #8 04-03-2013, 06:44 PM

Hi Kev and Cassie,
All are welcome at Central Coast get together's . If I spelled that correctly....

Keep and eye out for any thread that says PC....Pony Club.....or Central Coast etc....
Some of us also sometimes go away on Camping trips for around 3-4 nights away if we can. Group sizes vary from 5-10 of us or so.
We are a friendly bunch, but some of us look better in the dark....

Geoffro.

cassiej (Cassandra) · #9 04-03-2013, 06:46 PM

Hi Arthur,

Great to meet you! Thanks for getting back to me. Well I'd love to attend the meeting for sure. What are the details? Usually Fri or Sat night? times etc? I'm assuming everyone brings there scopes?!

Chaffey Dam sounds intriguing. Where abouts is this? And what days?

cassiej (Cassandra) · #10 04-03-2013, 06:48 PM

Hi Geoffro!

Thanks for your input also! I am definitely going to try and make he meeting. Looking forward to it. I've had my telescope for a while but I've put it on a standstill because I don't really know what the hell I am doing, so I'm looking forward to learning a thing or two

iceman (Mike) · #11 04-03-2013, 07:03 PM

Hi Cassie

Have you seen the IceInSpace AstroCamp coming up in April? It'd be great if you can attend!

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/iisac

Heaps of Central Coasters there.

cassiej (Cassandra) · #12 04-03-2013, 07:17 PM

Hey Mike nice to meet you!

Totally just checked out the AstroCamp and I'm definitely there. My boyf and I are frequent the Huntervalley as well as Wollombi Valley heaps so we are well versed in the area! Looks like it's going to be loads of fun!

Although, I just looked at some pictures of previous years and I don't know how I feel about bringing my measely little 6 or 8" or whatever it is telescope out when everyone seems to have mother telescopes!!

haha.

Oh well you gotta start somewhere I guess!

absolut (Rob) · #13 05-03-2013, 06:18 PM

Hi,

Never fear about the size of your scope!
I have a 90mm refractor and I'm going to my first IISAC this year.
Just taking the plunge!

Worst case senario you get to spend a few hours/days with nice people while building a shopping list, reevaluating your income, and planning your own observatory

I do wonder if there will be some sort of "initiation" though!

cassiej (Cassandra) · #14 05-03-2013, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by absolut

I do wonder if there will be some sort of "initiation" though!

Hahaha goodness I bloody hope not! I hate being put on the spot.

Forgive me, but what's a 90mm refractor??! I am so new I dont understand what that is. I do understand what the refracter part is but the 90 mm?!

Larryp (Laurie) · #15 05-03-2013, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassiej

Hahaha goodness I bloody hope not! I hate being put on the spot.

Forgive me, but what's a 90mm refractor??! I am so new I dont understand what that is. I do understand what the refracter part is but the 90 mm?!

90mm is the diameter of the objective lens

cassiej (Cassandra) · #16 05-03-2013, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larryp

90mm is the diameter of the objective lens

Thanks Laurie!

You going to IISAC? And do you go to any local meetings?

Larryp (Laurie) · #17 05-03-2013, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassiej

Thanks Laurie!

You going to IISAC? And do you go to any local meetings?

Not going, Cassie-work commitments. I do belong to Sutherland Astronomical Society.

Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin) · #18 05-03-2013, 08:12 PM

Between Nundle and Tamworth, people started arriving today, will be leaving to come home Sunday. Between 15 and 20 people expected at various stages. Do need camping gear, there are toilets and showers there, closest pub is 14 Kim's away.

About 4.5 hrs from the central coast. There will be some neweys there with their new scopes , I look forward to seeing through some of the smaller aperture scopes, particularly the refractors

absolut (Rob) · #19 05-03-2013, 08:27 PM

Hi,

I'd love to come and see Chaffey dam again (it's been 25 years for me)...
I just hope they have cured it of the algae problem since then!

Unfortunately I'll have to wait for the next one, stuck with double shifts at work for the next week and a bit so I can't get away.

Is Chaffey an annual event or will their be other Chaffey event(s) later in the year?

Rob