New moon and clouds

Lee · #1 24-08-2006, 05:25 PM

A new moon, going to a dark sky.... CLOUDS!!!!! I think the chances of rain are directly proportional to the effort you go in packing all your gear when going observing!

:tasdevil :

h0ughy (David) · #2 24-08-2006, 05:34 PM

its fine where I am - not!

Jupiter · #3 24-08-2006, 06:13 PM

Rain here

mickoking · #4 24-08-2006, 09:09 PM

I recently bought all my stuff back in. It clouded over before I had a chance to look at anything. Such is life

RAJAH235 · #5 24-08-2006, 09:19 PM

Hopefully it will clear by the W/E.

Hey micko, welcome to the 1K klub...Congrats..

L.

sheeny (Al) · #6 24-08-2006, 09:34 PM

Last night, all was clear... Great! Had everything packed in the truck. Looking forward to a night out with the scope knowing clouds and rain were coming...

I get out to my dark site and start setting up. Just the finest high clouds to the east over Sydney. That's OK, too much light to bother looking that way! Just keep an eye on it...

Get all set up...start drift aligning...Altair fades... oh no! Look up and sure enough, thin high cloud right across the sky.

Not to be put off easily, I continue drift aligning... can't see Altair with the naked eye, but I'm drift aligning on it! Jupiter is just a little glow through the cloud, but I persevere!

Just about got my azimuth spot on... Altair is just visible in the scope - I have to turn the reticle illuminator on an off cause I can't see it with the illuminator on!

Yeah, now what???

Jupiter is nowhere near visible so neither is any other star...

Oh well, pack it all up and go home...

Just get the scope packed up, when a clear patch develops to the north west... not enough to make me get it all out again though!!!

There's some message there... something about "character under construction"...

Al.

Lee · #7 26-08-2006, 07:02 PM

I got here on Friday afternoon, set up scopes outside, mainly to make sure finders were aligned and to cool.... clouds shot across instantly....
Got back from a job - clear skies about 80%.... cool, Dob ready - put outside on the grass, lined up on Sagitarrius (wanted to see Lagoon) - got it in finder.... cool, by the time I focused the EP - 100% cloud cover..... UNBELIEVABLE!
That's one of the hurts at 2000 feet - things change really fast!

Lee · #8 26-08-2006, 07:05 PM

Also, I forgot - this month the farmers/town can burn rubbish without a permit! Lucky I have a sense of humour! I'm sure they know I'm coming - the farmers must love seeing me and the scope - it means rain is on the way!- soon....

mattweather · #9 27-08-2006, 03:41 PM

GRRRRRRRR cloudy days and the moon is coming back to visable this week!

h0ughy (David) · #10 27-08-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattweather

GRRRRRRRR cloudy days and the moon is coming back to visable this week!

WOW

has the medication worn off,

that would have to be one of the sanest statements I have seen from you Mattweather,

congratulations!!!!!!!!! Please keep up the good work. And yes its typical wit the moon coming out, but get thee a hydrogen filter and thee will image through the full moon!!

sheeny (Al) · #11 27-08-2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plasmodium

by the time I focused the EP - 100% cloud cover..... UNBELIEVABLE!
That's one of the hurts at 2000 feet - things change really fast!

I hear ya, brother! I'm at 3000 (1100m actually). A sense of humour is important!

Al.

Lee · #12 27-08-2006, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheeny

I hear ya, brother! I'm at 3000 (1100m actually). A sense of humour is important!

Yep - when it's clear here it's AWESOME

, otherwise it is total mush.... like tonight, and Fri and Sat....

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #13 27-08-2006, 07:48 PM

I just bought my first scope this week... and have not been able to see a thing. Now I'm told it's going to be this way all week

Oh well.... time to watch another few episodes of New Gen...

Ric · #14 28-08-2006, 12:30 PM

Ah yes, clouds glorious clouds.
When I bought my new scope I was clouded in for a fortnight.
I think the clouds form inside the box your scope and lurk there until you open it. this also applies to any piece of new equipment you buy.
Just looked out the window at work and its clear, might have to set up tonight, probably just put the mockers on myself though.

cheers

ving (David) · #15 28-08-2006, 03:57 PM

lately its been either cloudy or i have been too busy... things are working against me. if the clouds stay away tonight i might have to miss coldcase

mattweather · #16 28-08-2006, 04:52 PM

Bad weather is expected to clear on Thursday and then good stargazing time afterwards

Jupiter · #17 28-08-2006, 06:26 PM

Perhaps if all farmers bought telescopes, there would be no droughts.

Starkler (Geoff) · #18 28-08-2006, 07:07 PM

Not one usable viewing night this new moon.

Melbourne has to be the most astronomy unfriendly location in Australia

mattweather · #19 28-08-2006, 07:11 PM

You know what, Melbourne is Australia's cloudiest city. Bad spot for stargazing

Lee · #20 28-08-2006, 08:19 PM

I spent a few reasonable viewing nights at home last week planning charts for the weekend at a dark site - it's even darker there when its cloudy!! I have learnt in this hobbie - never put off viewing until tomorrow if you can do it today.... it WILL be cloudy..... at least this week is moonlit.....