SPSP in Memoriam

[Retrograde (Pete)]

The 28th annual South Pacific Star Party should have been this week but like so many things it has been cancelled due to the pandemic (SPSP is normally my main opportunity each year to get out under dark skies and away from the city lights).

Here is some previously un-processed and unpublished data from SPSP 2019 to mark the occasion.
This was from the Friday evening when we got a brief patch of clear sky before the cloud rolled back in. I rushed the framing on this as I knew the respite from the clouds might be brief (it was) and left it clicking away on the Vixen SP mount whilst I played with the polar alignment of the big mount and scope. Didn't quite get what I wanted but I think it's still a nice, and not often imaged, part of the Milky Way from Scorpius to Ara.

16 x 90 second un-guided sub-exposures with a modded Pentax K-5iis DSLR and Samyang 135mm lens.

Bigger (2K) version on Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/full/dva7rm/0/?real=&mod=

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Retrograde

The 28th annual South Pacific Star Party should have been this week but like so many things it has been cancelled due to the pandemic (SPSP is normally my main opportunity each year to get out under dark skies and away from the city lights).

Here is some previously un-processed and unpublished data from SPSP 2019 to mark the occasion.
This was from the Friday evening when we got a brief patch of clear sky before the cloud rolled back in. I rushed the framing on this as I knew the respite from the clouds might be brief (it was) and left it clicking away on the Vixen SP mount whilst I played with the polar alignment of the big mount and scope. Didn't quite get what I wanted but I think it's still a nice, and not often imaged, part of the Milky Way from Scorpius to Ara.

16 x 90 second un-guided sub-exposures with a modded Pentax K-5iis DSLR and Samyang 135mm lens.

Bigger (2K) version on Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/full/dva7rm/0/?real=&mod=

Very nice wide field shot mate and thanks for the nostalgia...let's hope Wiruna can reopen soon for those who rely on it for some dark sky time...and SPSP can run next year

Mike

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Very nice wide field shot mate and thanks for the nostalgia...let's hope Wiruna can reopen soon for those who rely on it for some dark sky time...and SPSP can run next year

Mike

Thanks Mike!

Yep - missing a star party is a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things of course but lets hope the pandemic is resolved sooner rather than later and life can get back to normal for most.

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

I recognize that! There's the Prawn at the left, and zeta scorpii, and the cluster NGC 6231 between them.

Lovely.

M

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

A lovely widefield vista Pete. Thanks for the memories.

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Originally Posted by Placidus

I recognize that! There's the Prawn at the left, and zeta scorpii, and the cluster NGC 6231 between them.

Lovely.

M

Thanks Mike!

Yep spot on - & of course a single, lonely, dragon at lower right (definitely not fighting with anyone )

Originally Posted by Ryderscope

A lovely widefield vista Pete. Thanks for the memories.

Thanks (again) Rodney!