Mangrove Mountain (Pony Club) January Observing Night(s)

[glend (Glen)]

So how were conditions last night at the Pony Club? The seeing ,looked pretty ordinary up my way at 10pm but had improved considerably by 1130 .

[Allan]

I would say the seeing was just ok, maybe 3/5. The SQM was 21.27, which surprised me as it seemed brighter than that because of all the light domes and neighbours lights. At least the company was kind of ok, and the red was good.

Plenty of good views of the comet in everyone's scopes, plus a comparison of the Carina Nebula in all the scopes with all sorts of different eyepieces and filters, so that was fun.

Bring on Bretti I say.

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

another nice social night of observing at the PC

a pleasure to meet Allans son Jordan and great to meet Nararra couple, Bev and Steve for the first time.

hope we have the pleasure again soon.

we had a visible passover of the ISS early in the night and quite a few meteors after midnite

Jupiter was very bright in the scopes i looked through and views of the comet from behind were great.

red buckets picked up and gates closed at 2-30am

how are the eyepieces Geoffro?

geoff

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by Allan

I would say the seeing was just ok, maybe 3/5. The SQM was 21.27

Hi Allan,

I would check the battery in the SQM and if it isn't brand new, replace it. I have found with my unit and Andrew Murrel's unit, which are both the early model, even though they appear to be working fine, can give inaccurate high readings if the battery is not fresh and fully charged.

There is no way the skies at the Pony Club, on even the darkest of nights there, get close to 21.0 let alone 21.27. You will get 21.2 to 21.4 at Bucketty, not at the Pony Club. I would estimate an accurate SQM reading for the Pony Club on a good night is about 20.5 at best. The Paintball Place which is a lot darker than the Pony Club, has tree shielding from the lights of Gosford and no annoying street light across the road, used to get to between 20.7 and 21.0.

Cheers,
John B

[Allan]

Interesting point John. I have heard in the past these things need good batteries to work well, which explains some of the SQM 23 readings on the east coast of the US!!!

They are the original batteries I think. I got multiple readings throughout the night at 21.26 to 21.28 and really didn't believe them. The batteries probably explains it. I will try with a new set next time.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Hi Allan,

If you have another 9v battery on hand you can test it outside now. You don't need to go back to the PC. Go outside, take a reading from a specific location aimed at a specific part of the sky. Change the battery and repeat the reading under identical conditions to the first reading. I will bet the 2nd reading will be lower than the first.

Cheers,
John B

[Allan]

Thanks John, that's what I tried earlier tonight and interestingly ended up with the same reading on both batteries. Bring your SQM along next Sunday and we shall do some comparing.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Sounds like we are good for this Sunday night. Fingers crossed the weather co-operates.

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

Current weather forecasts are not indicating good conditions.

[gb_astro]

Hmmmm... Almost certainly a repeat of yesterday with afternoon storms.

gb.

[linstar88 (Linda and Guy)]

Last call yay or nay will be when?

[gb_astro]

Looks like a no go for me in Sydney.
If the storms dissipate early it could be clear up till midnight maybe.
gb.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Sadly it is a nay. I can't go anymore, and I believe that John B and Phil T won't be there either.

[linstar88 (Linda and Guy)]

Ok, will shoot for the stars in a dark location at a later date. Going to the movies to see the hobbit instead.
This weather is a fickle .....
Cheers
Guy & Linda

[OffGrid (Steve)]

A no show from Deb and I.
Debbie has been doing a Girl Guides sausage sizzle at the big green shed in Umina all day and is putting her feet up to watch the tennis.
Should be a good tennis night without having to hit the degrunt button.

As for me, I may set the scope up in our beer garden tonight and practice for finding asteroid 2004 BL86 in readiness for tomorrow night.

Steve