No time for fun, this Eclipse was strictly moderated.
Though one would think that they COULD have done something about the fog, it seems their powers work only in the forum.
But despite the fog backing and filling for the duration of the Eclipse, we had a great time watching the sky darken and the the Constellations come out. We saw M31 naked eye, as well as the LMC and SMC. The Milky Way was glowing!
All the images were taken with the Canon 550D @ ISO100, 1.5 sec exposures , ed80 and iOptron MT.
Ponders and Houghy ham it up.
and
The Rose between 2 thorns.
And may I just say, that I had my Mini Tower up and running, in just 5 minutes, while it took the boys at least 15 - 20 minutes before they took their first sub.
What a great sequence jjj!!!
I tried to get a close up of the Moon at totality, but couldntfind it!!
And you great comapny too, all I had with me was a lonesome dingo!!
Good going jjj the full eclipse looks great,did the other technos get anything.only got half a ecplise here clouded out.
AL
I reckon Dave will be working on his captures while waiting to catch his flight this arvo. Paul's gone to work and hasn't even looked at what he's nabbed yet.
I had a great time this morning. A bit of AF training. Preparing ourselves for what's to come in a months time. What a great way to start the day....
Bed at 11 up at 2. Last minute checks. And a three minute drive down the road. To the local major intersection. We were well and truly ready when it started. Just a bit of last minute tweeking and twiddling and panicing over missing essential adapters, (the ponders travelling astronomy spare parts division to the rescue again . ) Jeanette's got it well and truly nailed when it comes to setting up her Mini-Tower. What a great little mount. Simple quick and accurate.
We had our share of fog moving in and about and around us, but never really thick enough to obscure the view. And it was a visually superb sight where we were set up with the confluence of 3 major and minor waterways. The fog hugging the tree lined banks and wafting over paddocks of oats. It was surreal standing in that under the full moon.
And then watching the milky way slowly appear. Quite amazing really. And to be able to do it with two of my best astronomy buddies just about tops it off.
Thanks Dave and Nettie. I had a fantastic time. Mornings that stick.
I would like to thank Paul and JJJ for their hospitality. It was great to catch up and see the observatory Paul. As usual you the man - i left my adapter for the tripod at home and you had one - thank you. This was a good tryout of the portable system for me and i will be making some changes - software let me down so hope to rectify that for next time. it was great to share the morning views with you and JJJ
JJJ i would like some full size images so i can print of the group you took some great shots from the one arm bandit! Nice shot Paul. i had equipment failure - but that was due to not being really prepared - after all it really was a last minute rush to get there and i had baggage limits!
Words really couldnt express the feeling during the eclipse - it was an experience, full moon lit fields to dark and mysterious with a red orb and a milkyway with meteors coming all around - brilliant. It was well worth the one day trip from newcastle to coolabine to the ponderosa!!
i have yet to really look at all of my images but here is a sneak peak. the last image i took was at 6.03am
![[1ponders]'s Avatar](../vbiis/customavatars/avatar45_9.gif){kind=avatar}
. ) Jeanette's got it well and truly nailed when it comes to setting up her Mini-Tower. What a great little mount. Simple quick and accurate. 
