It was a great night, and even better company, I enjoyed every second of it. Phil was a competent guide for a deep sky stuff and 16" Lightbridge was simply stunning...
I hope we will do this again some time soon, not necessarily at the same place...
Hey, thanks everyone. That was great - to get together. I was busy getting more familiar with my 12" and showing visitors some sights so, by the time I started to walk around, everyone seemed to be packing up! Great to see new observers marvel at Saturn and our lovely southern globulars.
I did manage to slip in a couple of new observations - Comet 8P/Tuttle (well, I hadn't seen it before Friday evening!!) and the double x Velorum. That really is a southern Albireo - lovely.
I was last out of the car park - still perfecting getting the 12" OTA and base into an open trailer in a secure way so they don't bounce out!
Any photos? I saw some being taken - FLASH! Woops, there goes NGC 5128 for half an hour!
Thanks all for a great evening.
The 16" lightbridge was a beast to behold and the views with the Ethos eyepiece fitted were fantastic.
The evening got of to a good start with a group observing an Iridian Flare at around 9.30.
Thanks Phil for helping me locate the galaxy cluster in Dorado and also for pointing out the blue planetry nebula near the Southern Cross, a first for me.
A very enjoyable evening and well attended I hope another can be organized again soon.
I did manage to slip in a couple of new observations - Comet 8P/Tuttle (well, I hadn't seen it before Friday evening!!) and the double x Velorum. That really is a southern Albireo - lovely.
Have to add that double to my targets list.
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I was last out of the car park - still perfecting getting the 12" OTA and base into an open trailer in a secure way so they don't bounce out!
I have to ask - what were the bricks for? I saw them come out of the trailer, but didn't see where they went. Keep the base of the dewy ground?
I have to ask - what were the bricks for? I saw them come out of the trailer, but didn't see where they went. Keep the base of the dewy ground?
Yes, unless I can set up on a nice big level piece of concrete (*), I prefer to get the base off the muddy, wet ground (well it is much of the year here in Victoria) so I use three half bricks - not the wirecut ones, but the ones with the groove in the face. They are perfect fit for the GSO dob base feet. I also hope they provide a more solid foundation, but a rubber foot stuck down in the mud is probably better than half a brick compressing an area of grass.
* - yes I know there is a theory that setting up on a slab of concrete, or even worse, bitumen, is risking thermals in the local air for some hours, but I will go with concrete as a solid, clean, dew-free base - and one on which I can roll around on my gas lift chair. Nothing worse than getting bogged in my office chair on the observing field!
Looks like you all had fun. Wish I could have been there!! Definitely will next time.
I went to a park just near there not long back but had to set up on the drive way (entrance), as the gates were already closed when I got there. Pretty good skys to the south east.
Here are a few photos I took on the night... before dark, and then the camera was put away - I've blinded myself previously by holding the camera up to the eyepiece and having the flash go off unexpectedly
It was a great night, and there were far more people there than these photos suggest...
Looking for a gathering like this. Anyone doing another one in Melbourne soon?
My scope should be arriving soon and hoping to go out with a mob of scopes just to learn, have fun and compare.
I'm also considerign making a 3 hour trip to Stawell near the Grampians where my parents live. The sky is super dark there and people are friendly and very lil weirdos walkin around
I am all for it :-)
Perhaps, in 3 weeks (next new moon), same place, same time?
Is it Thursday night? or people planning to catch up on the weekend?
Thur is ok for me. I should get all my gear by then and spend sometime doing some self learning at home. My only issue will be getting portable power supply. I got a wall mounted transformer for my HEQ5Pro.
Hope u all wont mind the many questions i will be asking!!
Last time it was Friday night (so people could have some rest next morning).
We can do it Saturday night as well... it all depends on weather (and how many people are interested).
Last time it was Friday night (so people could have some rest next morning).
We can do it Saturday night as well... it all depends on weather (and how many people are interested).
Prefer Sat but I can do Fri if thats what everyone wants.
I'd be interested in going up there again.
Are you thinking of Friday 27 or Saturday 28 Feb?
I'm probably only going to be able to come on the Saturday...
I hesitate to suggest this, because I don't want to raise expectations or open any flood gates!
I live on a 5 acre property 4km north of Kyneton with power available and fairly dark skies. Actually only a few km from the Macedon Ranges Observatory. My location is on my signature below, check it out on Google Earth. Fairly good skyline in most directions, especially if we lock the horses up! LP not too bad, Melbourne is masked by Mt Macedon, bit of a glow to the NW from Bendigo.
I'm thinking I could host the occasional star gazing night?
Maybe somebody with a bit of experience in these things would like to come up and check out the site, see whether it would be suitable?
haven't mentioned it to my wife as yet, but I am sure she would support me with this!
The downside is I would have to tidy up my shed!
Let me know what you think?
Cheers
Chris
