So was 2005 a "cloudy" year?

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

Hi guys,

I must admit, I was a bit disapointed in the weather in Melbourne last year. I bought my 8 inch 12 months ago now and I guess I only had a couple of dozen nights where I could say the sky was "clear" enough to bother to get setup outside. Prior to this, I was not as obsessed with the clarity of the sky and so can't really say if it was a good or bad year.

Those of you who have had this "obsession" longer than me should have a better idea of what previous years were like. Do you think this year I will be able to get my 8 inches out a little more often? Or do you think I should just change to a different night time hobby....like knitting?

I know I could move from Melbourne, but then I would have to wait 3 months for the next season!

[acropolite (Phil)]

This year was definately more cloudy and the spring/early summer wetter than has been the case over the past five years. It's also been more windy here in Tas.

[asimov (John)]

Yes, I'd have to say here on the Eyre Peninsula SA it was an exceptionally bad year for cloud. Also for seeing conditions.

[Robert_T]

Originally Posted by OneOfOne

Do you think this year I will be able to get my 8 inches out a little more often? Or do you think I should just change to a different night time hobby....like knitting?

I know I could move from Melbourne, but then I would have to wait 3 months for the next season!

Moving from melbourne might not help, you, this Spring and early summer in Brisbane was one of the wettest and cloudiest I can remember (apart from one magic week before christmas which was perfect). At least the resouces page here have some good weather resources to help predict cloud and jetstream (for seeing) - improves the chances you'll be ready to go when the weaher does clear

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Apart from a few exceptional months during winter and a few sporadic clear nights here & there, 2005 was the worst I can remember for the last 20 years I have been eyeballing through scopes! Even before that, when I just used my eyes, the weather was not this bad for so long!!!

It must be from the massive rise in scope sales in the past year!

STOP BUYING SCOPES!!!!!!!!!

[33South (Chris)]

First quarter 2005 was ok here, I remember getting my LX90 and cursing Michael at Bintel for talking me into it because I never got anything done including sleep anymore. Because it was so quick and easy to set up and use. Any chance Id think- ok just a quick half hour, 3 hours later....

But since I joined IIS almost nada, zilch, nothing. So my theory is cloud cover is determined my the number of new IIS members.

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

Nice to know it seems "real" and it is not just me! Let's hope for this year!

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Originally Posted by 33South

First quarter 2005 was ok

I'd have to agree with that. The rest of the year though... (Except for Qld Astrofest, that was a pretty good week )

I started my saturn imaging on the 10/1/05 and got this. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...tachmentid=266 and ended up with this as one of my last for the year on the 21/2/05 http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...tachmentid=755 . So far this year I haven't even bothered to do a full processing of the dozen or so avies of Saturn I've taken. A quick run through Registax and throw them. As for mars, from July to now I managed 7 avies of which only 1 was anywhere decent.

Lets hope for a much better year this year .

[rumples riot]

Yeah, was a very cloudy year, We had above average rainfall. Wettest November for quite some time. So I guess from my perspective it was a cloudy year.