A good number of attendees for the first night. Great company with the old hands and first timers! First night was good for catching up on sleep after a busy week and packing/travel to camp. Mostly cloud. A couple of clear patches for about an hour each. No mossies, no sandflies! All cleared this morning to a beautiful clear blue sky, if a little on the cool side. More setting up is under way. Some solar observing. Chatting. Getting ready for this evening's BIG FEAST. All good!
Just arrived home. As I approached home (Colac) there was lots of smoke from fuel reduction burns in the Otways. One just south of Colac, and a big one the general direction of Deans Marsh (North of Lorne for those unfamiliar with this part of the world). Given that the wind yesterday was southerly, this may explain some of the transparency issues we experienced.
Anyway, despite my truncated evenings, an enjoyable camp. Thanks Ken and all the the crew for your hard work!
Jo and I returned today from our first SVAC and would not hesitate in attending again. In the fast fading light we arrived Friday evening and were immediately assisted with getting the tent set up (thanks Daniel) and made to feel welcome from the start. There is a genuine friendly flavour at this event and as more late comers arrived on Friday night there were plenty of hands on board to help them set up as well.
I must of set my gear up and pulled it down three times during the day on Saturday as it was pointed out I had missed bits and pieces on Friday evening. Thanks to all who gave advise. Although I experienced guiding issues and did not get off any decent pics Jo and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. With clear skies we were treated to some spectacular views through some amazing gear. The views of Orion, Eta and the Tarantula Nebula through Jens 12" were supurb, thankyou.
Thanks to Patrick (Paddy) for views of the sun and generously and patiently providing a night sky tour with your amazing 16" tri-dob. The views of the LMC, Keyhole, galaxies, Saturn and Omega Centauri were breathtaking (Jo had not seen anything like it and was truly blown away).
Thanks to Ken for hosting, it was the easiest camping we've ever experienced. The feast was tremendous!
All in all this was a great experience for our first astro camp and will not be the last. Nice to meet all the fellow IIS members as well.
Hopefully the smoke from burnoffs isn't affecting you up there. It is really thick here at Colac, strong smell and almost like fog, southerly is blowing!
5am now and I have just finished a marathon 7 hour live broadcast with an enormous number of worldwide viewers.
Every now and then I walked around the observing field seeing everyone having a great time.
5am and some are still going. Eric and Jen are still viewing, Nicko and Mill are still imaging etc.
Woo-hoo, the skies are magnificent
Young 9 y.o. Drew (Jen's son) just got up to see Saturn through Jen's super Dob
Dawn is breaking and it's all quiet on the camp site, except for the few snorers (whose ranks I shall shortly join!). Just getting my batteries onto charge then it's off to bed for me.
Some isolated cloud passed. Otherwise there was something in the air that discouraged many of the imagers - high cloud or might be the smoke that Malcolm was warning of, but cannot smell smoke (except when Hagar overcooked his early morning jaffle yesterday!)
Omega Centauri was not crisp and bright, as it is on a clear cool night. Seeing came and went. There were a few periods when Saturn settled to a lovely sight.
Only down to 12 or so degrees and humidity up to 75%. Just a little dew settling now after a dry night.
Another fantastic Snake Valley camp. I enjoy this event more each time I go. It was great to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. In spite of clouds for much of Friday night, had an excellent hour or so from 2.30 on - only Malcolm and I on the field under brilliant stars. Some great solar observing on Saturday and a long observing session in the evening.
I really enjoyed being there for "Johnny's" first light. What a moment. And one of the best laughs I've had in along time with Doug, Darren, Nick and Peter at the end of the fabulous feast. I don't think any of us will forget this and someone won't be allowed to.
Many thanks to Ken and the SV crew for another great weekend and to all the people that come along and make this a particularly good experience.
Sounds fabulous all!! Staying up till nearly dawn, well done, I have trouble doing that these days.
Bugger, should have hopped onto nightskies Ken, glad you had a great audience there too.
Johnny went well, woohoo, great initiation for him amidst friendly fellow scopes.
Yeah Paddy and Malcolm, you guys must have seen a bucketload of sights.!!
Look forward to some pics, and some obs reports.
I should mention that when "Johnny" saw first light, there was an audible (as far as Ballarat?!) shriek of delight and applause broke out spontaneously across the field!
I should mention that when "Johnny" saw first light, there was an audible (as far as Ballarat?!) shriek of delight and applause broke out spontaneously across the field!
Thanks Ken for another great camp. We really appreciate all the unseen effort you put in to make these events what they are.
It was great to catch up with people I had met last camp as well as some new faces. Things just seem to continue on as if there hadn't been a break. Thanks also to Nicko, Martin and Paul for their help. Much appreciated guys.
I had the pleasure of being set up next to "Johnny" and first light was an occasion to behold, up there with the great moments in Snake Valley Camp history, possibly even in Australia's history. Rumour has it that some were even moved to tears!
ed us
