Looking for observation group, central coast

[Trent (Trent)]

Hey guys, my name is Trent and im what you would class as a newbie to all of this.
At the moment im looking for a observation group of good people around the central coast, NSW, to share my new found hobbie with and hopefully absorb up some valuable experience along the way.

Im quite an easy guy to get along with and would be very appreciative for any groups to take me under their wing.


-- Trent.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

G'day Trent,

We would be glad to have you meet with us at the Pony Club at Mangrove Mountain near Gosford around the New Moon weekends.
Although we havent been very lucky with the weather lately.

We have a good roll-up there usually, with a great bunch of people.

Just keep an eye out for the Pony Club OR Central Coast observing threads that will start up near the New Moon to check dates etc.

I guess Morisset ( I hope I spelled it right ) would be about and hour or so from the Pony Club on Wisemans Ferry Rd Mangrove Mountain.

Hope to meet ya there.

Geoffro. ( one of three Geoff's there so you cant forget our names ).

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Trent, You've come to the right place!

to IIS!

As Geoff said, keep an eye out in the "Star Parties" forum for the next central coast/pony club meet up. I'm guessing it'll be around mid-June.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Like others have said, Trent - we would love to have you along to the Pony Club. We are very laid back, and always look forward to the chance to meet with newbies who share the same interest in the sky.

Hope we see you in June.

[Trent (Trent)]

The pony club on the 20th looks good to me. At the moment im on using a pair of old 10x50 binoculers and a make shift tripod until i can decide on what telescope i will finally purchase, hopefully after this meeting i will be able to finally decide which one to purchase.

[Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin)]

Hi Trent

I am sure that if you go tho the pony club you will see quite an array of scopes of various sizes from the modest 8" that i have to the monster of Rods if he is there and everything in between.

I still can understand why Rod doesn't use it as a human cannon when the weather is not good for scoping hehehe.

Also there is a astro camp in a few months that iceman organises, keep the eyes open if your interested

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Trent

The pony club on the 20th looks good to me. At the moment im on using a pair of old 10x50 binoculers and a make shift tripod until i can decide on what telescope i will finally purchase, hopefully after this meeting i will be able to finally decide which one to purchase.

That sounds like a wise decision Trent.
You will certainly see an assortment of scopes there on a night with a good roll up.
20th June looks like its the date so far.

Here is a map that should help you find the place.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=26142


Geoffro.

[Trent (Trent)]

Originally Posted by Inmykombie

That sounds like a wise decision Trent.
You will certainly see an assortment of scopes there on a night with a good roll up.
20th June looks like its the date so far.

Here is a map that should help you find the place.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=26142


Geoffro.

Cheers for the map, will be alot of help on the treck to the pony club.
Hopefully i wont look to out of place with a pair of binoculars

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Hi Trent,
You will do well with Geoff looking after you!
Welcome!
To make you feel in place, I will bring my new binos along too!
Sounds like you are going the sensible road.
Talk to some of the regulars, look at different scopes, decide what you want to do with the scope, then decide.

I am still trying to work that last one out!

Cheers,
Look forward tochatting with you on the night.
Bring WARM clothing.

[Deeno]

You are more than welcome Trent. Feel free to bring friends.
Usually a variety of setups to check out.

Reckon it would take around half hour tops from Moriset.

[Trent (Trent)]

All your support has been overwhelming and very appreciated, its not often you get some a great bunch of people willing to help out. Ill make sure i introduce myself to each of you on the 20th ( Hope it doesnt get postponed due to current ****ty weather ).

Also was wondering, what is the start and finishing times?

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by Trent

The pony club on the 20th looks good to me. At the moment im on using a pair of old 10x50 binoculers and a make shift tripod until i can decide on what telescope i will finally purchase, hopefully after this meeting i will be able to finally decide which one to purchase.

Hi Trent,

Don't buy a scope until you talk to me first. I don't know what sort of money you were planning to spend, or what type of scope you are considering buying, but I have a 10"/F5 dob that I will be selling at some time in the very near future, that you should at least look at if visual observing is your goal. I would be happy to drag it along and let you use it and have a look through it.

You may not want to buy second hand, but I can tell you this scope is an absolute cracker. I have spent a lot of time and money fine tuning it and baffling it to get it to perform at a premium level. It has an outstanding mirror in it. Enough of our "old" central coast observing group have used it to know how good the views are with it and how well it performs. Several times people have been "blown away" with the planetary views, particularly of Jupiter, in it. I wasn't going to advertise it for another couple of months, but if someone local wants to buy it, I would consider selling it now, as I would prefer to sell it to a Central Coast/Newcastle local. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and the only reason I am selling it is that I have 2 new scopes arriving soon. I have custom made 10" and 14" scopes, both of which will arrrive in August. The only reason I am getting a new 10" is that I need a truss scope not a tube scope, so that I can transport 2 scopes at a time. I need to do this as a 3RF volunteer. I haven't even thought about a price, but the Argo Navis, Encoders and mounting hardware are worth about $1,000 so maybe something between $1,500 and $1,800 would be what I would ask. A couple of hundred $$$ isn't going to change the course of my life, so I am flexible on the price. What I want to do is sell the scope to a local who is going to use it, because it performs too well to sit idle in a shed or cupboard.

If you or anyone else wants me to bring the scope along with an interest in buying it let me know. The 18" Obsession will still be in sick bay for June new moon, so happy to drag the 10" er along if someone is considering buying a 10" dob.

Cheers,
John B

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Originally Posted by Trent

....Also was wondering, what is the start and finishing times?

Hi Trent,
The idea is to try and get there before sunset to get your bearings, allow for set up etc. so these days that would be around 4:30 I guess.

You can go whenever you like, both times I have been there I left with the diehards around 4am. Depends on conditions I guess.

But people come and go prety much any time.
We have a club house for coffee whenever. (Don't picture anything grand in that... but its cheap .

Look forward to meeting you.
Dont spend all your time in with John B in DOB alley, SCT's have something to offer too ...
But John B is certainly a good person to chat too, and any gear he has is going to be pretty darn good!
I am even slightly interested in getting a DOB myself

Cheers
Allan

[Trent (Trent)]

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

Hi Trent,

Don't buy a scope until you talk to me first. I don't know what sort of money you were planning to spend, or what type of scope you are considering buying, but I have a 10"/F5 dob that I will be selling at some time in the very near future, that you should at least look at if visual observing is your goal. I would be happy to drag it along and let you use it and have a look through it.

You may not want to buy second hand, but I can tell you this scope is an absolute cracker. I have spent a lot of time and money fine tuning it and baffling it to get it to perform at a premium level. It has an outstanding mirror in it. Enough of our "old" central coast observing group have used it to know how good the views are with it and how well it performs. Several times people have been "blown away" with the planetary views, particularly of Jupiter, in it. I wasn't going to advertise it for another couple of months, but if someone local wants to buy it, I would consider selling it now, as I would prefer to sell it to a Central Coast/Newcastle local. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and the only reason I am selling it is that I have 2 new scopes arriving soon. I have custom made 10" and 14" scopes, both of which will arrrive in August. The only reason I am getting a new 10" is that I need a truss scope not a tube scope, so that I can transport 2 scopes at a time. I need to do this as a 3RF volunteer. I haven't even thought about a price, but the Argo Navis, Encoders and mounting hardware are worth about $1,000 so maybe something between $1,500 and $1,800 would be what I would ask. A couple of hundred $$$ isn't going to change the course of my life, so I am flexible on the price. What I want to do is sell the scope to a local who is going to use it, because it performs too well to sit idle in a shed or cupboard.

If you or anyone else wants me to bring the scope along with an interest in buying it let me know. The 18" Obsession will still be in sick bay for June new moon, so happy to drag the 10" er along if someone is considering buying a 10" dob.

Cheers,
John B

Hey john, I would be very interested in checking it out.
We will talk more in a few weeks time or feel free to email me at:

dusstie@gmail.com

- Trent