ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Crescent 8.2%
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04-01-2010, 04:32 PM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 5,005
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Blue Mountains, Katoomba Airfield- January 16'th
Happy New Year everyone!  
Katoomba Airfield is available to us for this January New Moon for Saturday the 16'th.
It will be an interesting night as a local Radio Ham bash will also be happening. Their event will go over into Sunday so a few will be camping over night. Rod tells me that they will be set-up on the far side of the airfield to us behind the bush separating the two runways. Now we'll have light and radio evidence of ET!! 
As I suggested in the last thread for the Airfield, the road leading to it DID get seen to by a grader. Nice smooth run all the way now. No evasive action needed to avoid pot-holes,  .
As usual, the Beer fee applies. Please.
Hope to see you there,  .
Mental.
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04-01-2010, 07:32 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 336
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Hopefully I should be there!
Rob
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05-01-2010, 08:28 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Killara, Sydney
Posts: 4,147
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I'll be there, weather permitting, with scopes this time.
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06-01-2010, 10:29 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Port Macquarie
Posts: 51
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If weather is good we both will be there as last time. Thanks once again for your organisation. Les and Deb
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06-01-2010, 11:10 AM
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The sky is Messier here!
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Darwin
Posts: 2,587
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Booked in the calendar, hoping the weather is good 
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07-01-2010, 02:03 PM
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Resident Rigel fanboy
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 538
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I'll be there with a couple of buddies, we originally planned on going to the Hargreaves lookout but this sounds way better!
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07-01-2010, 11:02 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Killara, Sydney
Posts: 4,147
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I'll be in Blackheath (in the Kanimbla valley) Saturday evening (9th), will take a scope in case it clears - nothing wrong with third quarter as far as I'm concerned. Could meet up if anyone else feels the urge; Hargraves would be perfect as it's up the hill from where I'm staying.
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08-01-2010, 10:13 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 41
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We'll be in Blackheath on Saturday 16 January and would be interested in joining you at the airfield if the weather is good.
Ken and Bronwyn
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08-01-2010, 10:56 PM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 5,005
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The more the merrier!
Even if you don't have a scope, or are tyre-kicking for a scope, come have a squiz.
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09-01-2010, 11:47 AM
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rookie skywatcher
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 9
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Oooh - I think I want to come along to this. I'm getting a few new bits and pieces to bring along and try. What time will you all be convening?
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09-01-2010, 11:50 AM
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rookie skywatcher
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 9
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I'm not familiar with the "beer charge" can somebody enlighten me on the etiquette? Is it "BYO beer and then some to share" or is it "bring funds for pre-bought VB?"
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09-01-2010, 12:51 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 336
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We all pitch in for a case of beer for the owner of the Airfield. Sort of like an entry fee.
More people, less charge I guess.
Rob
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10-01-2010, 09:20 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Killara, Sydney
Posts: 4,147
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Just returned from a nice weekend away in the Kanimbla valley, the valley west of Blackheath and west of Hargraves lookout.
While tiny black flying bugs were in plague numbers at sunset, after having dinner and a shower I returned to the scope when things had cooled off to find the bugs were gone and had a very pleasant time there. On both nights the seeing round midnight was pretty good, maybe 8/10 and quite dark, distinctly darker than last time at Katoomba airstrip. An interesting experience but Hargraves remains better (no plagues of bugs).
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11-01-2010, 09:15 AM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 5,005
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Quote:
Originally Posted by En1gma
We all pitch in for a case of beer for the owner of the Airfield. Sort of like an entry fee.
More people, less charge I guess.
Rob
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That's it,  .
Wavy, I've only been to Hargraves once, and then it was amazing too. It might be that Hargraves may have the edge on the Airfield, but the viewing area is much more difficult to get to: a 50m soft gravel path from the car park as the cars cannot be close at hand (the viewing area is all gravel too), and the site is exposed to any type of wind. I'm quite happy with the Airfield.
It would be interesting to do a direct comparison, going to one site and then the other. Best way to tell. The are only a couple of km from each other in a straight line, but closer to 10km by road.
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11-01-2010, 05:01 PM
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Resident Rigel fanboy
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 538
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BOM says rain all week!  Hope they are wrong.
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14-01-2010, 07:37 PM
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Quick look up
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: avalon beach sydney
Posts: 455
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eeeer
I heard rain on and off all week. I have not even had a chanse to try the scope. 
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15-01-2010, 11:01 AM
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Resident Rigel fanboy
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 538
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Same here! I want to try out my autoguiding
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15-01-2010, 11:48 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Killara, Sydney
Posts: 4,147
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Alex,
To compare the darkness of Hargraves vs Katoomba... I'd do it with a camera like my little LX3 taking 2 wideangle shots of the sky horizon to zenith, for 1 min at f/2 at each site. The difference in sky brightness should be readily apparent on the camera.
Might be a good opportunity to use my panorama head on the tripod and make some complete 360's or stitch as a cubic VR... Hmm.
Anyway I'm very glad I went last week as tomorrow night will be clouded out for sure.
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15-01-2010, 05:54 PM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 5,005
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Oh my gosh, the sky has cleared up!
Please, please, please, no-one buy a new scope!!!! Not until Sunday!
PLEASE!!!
Wavy, you've come up with a brilliantly objective method.
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15-01-2010, 08:14 PM
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A Friendly Nyctophiliac
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toongabbie, NSW
Posts: 1,598
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Ahh found the thread just in time. Ill be there too! Do we met at linden or go straight there? Weather isnt looking good though.
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