Bretti Reserve Star Parties 2015 - Page 9

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #**161** 28-04-2015, 10:39 PM

Yep - was great to get away for the first time after my op in feb
my home built awning worked a treat - now to make improvements for ease of set up and pull down
wonder if we will get enough good weather to let me do it in time for the next trip in three weeks time

thanks for the company guys

geoff

jakob · #**162** 29-04-2015, 08:26 AM

Yep, enjoyable days.
Thanks for sharing your Scope Al.
Sorry I had to leave early.

Next time I will unpack my gear also!

Good to see the Owl back to strength again.

ps. Our phone and Internet still cut-off, est. repair 6/5th

glend (Glen) · #**163** 29-04-2015, 10:55 AM

Jakob, Geoff, and Allan, Good to hear you had an enjoyable time.

Allan_L were the gumboots and grass trimmer required this time? I might get a grass trimmer for next time I go.

Allan_L (Allan) · #**164** 29-04-2015, 03:28 PM

Gum boots taken but not used.
they got very little rain over last week or two.
trimmer forgotten but would have been usefully in spots.
Bretti Heights grass over knee height. A real mess.
down on the flats was better But obviously no cows cutting grass or the other things.

{edit: removed off thread posts}

jakob · #**165** 30-04-2015, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan_L

Gum boots taken but not used.

Jakob, my phone a.d internet cut off yesterday.
ETA for repair 15 May ��

Bad luck!
I'm at the Rouse Hill shopping ctr. to use the WiFi.

Cheers.

glend (Glen) · #**166** 01-05-2015, 08:57 AM

Well two weeks from today I hope to be able to get back to Bretti for a great long weekend. The New Moon is on the the 18th Monday but good darkness is available over the whole weekend as well. If this latest rain event gets out of the way in the next few days hopefully it will be dry.
Spoke to Skull on the phone recently and he indicated he would be trying to get there for the May New Moon as well.
I will try to remember to bring the grass trimmer. Thanks to Allan_L, Geoff, and Jakob for the site report.
We are certainly overdue for a clear dry new moon, fingers crossed.

glend (Glen) · #**167** 05-05-2015, 12:15 AM

I have noticed that South Pacific Star Party organiser has put up a wonderful four day forecast for the new moon weekend, here's hoping it is widespread and covers Bretti as well. Anyone aiming at a long weeknd at Bretti for the new moon?

uwahl (Ulrich) · #**168** 05-05-2015, 12:21 AM

Weather permitting I am. Surely we must strike some clear new moon periods soon.

Allan_L (Allan) · #**169** 05-05-2015, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glend

I have noticed that South Pacific Star Party organiser has put up a wonderful four day forecast for the new moon weekend, here's hoping it is widespread and covers Bretti as well. Anyone aiming at a long weeknd at Bretti for the new moon?

I am thinking the week before might suit me better.
Still considering options.
From experience, better to plan pre new moon, so that if weather is bad, then you still have post new moon to fall back on.

But a trend I have noticed is that Visual observers seem to prefer PRE New Moon
while
Imagers seem to prefer POST New Moon.
(I guess that is because they can "set and forget")

FYI Moonrise from next Monday (11/5) is not until near midnight (then 40mins later each night)

Fizics (John) · #**170** 05-05-2015, 09:24 AM

Hi all, like your idea Allan re next week. I would be interested in trying next week if weather outlook is still favourable.

glend (Glen) · #**171** 05-05-2015, 09:29 AM

Allan I could go up as early as say Tuesday the 12th and stay as long as the weather is good. Your right the waning moon will not be a factor that week until very late, I think it rises at 12:49am on Wednesday morning (which would ensure a good Tuesday night), and giving longer and longer completely dark nights the rest of the week ( rising at 01:55 on Thursday, 03:01 on Friday, and 04:08 on Saturday AM). I suggested the (long) weekend as it probably best suits the people that might be working. It seems both Scott (Skull) and Ulrich (Uwhal) might attend but not sure when they could get there.

Your right that imagers might tend to prefer the wee small hours to operate but IMHO this is because stray light from other campers is minimal at that time. It also good to start up after the dew settles as the seeing seems to be better, and imagers always seem to need to manage power carefully so that they don't run out so the wee hours allow plenty of setup time, social hours, etc and they can sleep for periods if automated enough...

In general there is enough darkness at this time of year to suit everyone, if we can just get a good weather window.

John it would be great to catch up with you - its seems ages.

glend (Glen) · #**172** 05-05-2015, 03:35 PM

Update 1: Skull (Scott) rang me this afternoon and confirmed that he will attend Bretti - probably next week. He is organising his camper trailer hire now.

Update 2: Scott messaged me to confirm he has the camper organised and will go to Bretti on Monday the 11th and plans to stay till Friday.

So weather permitting, at the moment the list is:

Skull, Allan_L, Fizics, glend, Uwahl, ??

From Monday or Tuesday till ??? - I can stay all week, don't know about others except Fizics that has to leave for work on Thursday.

Anyone going up on Monday the 11th I can put you in touch with Scott.

uwahl (Ulrich) · #**173** 06-05-2015, 09:17 PM

I am in for Wed and will stay until the Mon.

Ulrich

glend (Glen) · #**174** 07-05-2015, 08:56 AM

I am planning on heading to Bretti on Monday the 11th (assuming my new ED100 arrives before then) with intentions (and provisions) to stay a week as long as the weather stays to forceast. Even Geoff's 7timer forecast looks good. Skull messaged me and he is also heading up on Monday with his camper trailer. I will take a grass trimmer with me which I can run off the generator.

I'll be bringing my iStar long refractor, the ED100, and the imaging newt. Should be able to setup the safety filtered ED100 for solar observation during the day.

Anyone else heading up on Monday? Allan_L, John? Others?

All IIS members are welcome, plenty of room, and its free camping. Bring dew heaters, and warm clothes.

Allan_L (Allan) · #**175** 07-05-2015, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glend

Anyone else heading up on Monday? Allan_L, John? Others?

YES. Planning on Monday at this stage.
Thinking of leaving Central Coast around 11
With a break on the way, I will probably arrive at Bretti camp around 2.30.
Tentatively thinking of departing Bretti Friday. A few days either way is not out of the question.

Fizics (John) · #**176** 07-05-2015, 03:15 PM

I plan to leave late Monday morning, might see you Allan along the way. Not about the length of my stay.

uwahl (Ulrich) · #**177** 08-05-2015, 08:20 PM

I should be able to now get there on Tuesday in the mid arvo. See you all there.

Ulrich

glend (Glen) · #**178** 10-05-2015, 08:43 PM

I'm off to Bretti around noon tomorrow. Did a ring around today an it looks like we'll have six, plenty of room for more. See you there.

Allan_L (Allan) · #**179** 11-05-2015, 11:26 AM

11:25 and I am off to Bretti.
UHF 18 on the road

uwahl (Ulrich) · #**180** 12-05-2015, 05:16 PM

I am going to be a day late - driving to pick up some groceries on Mon and the "check engine" warning light came on. It turns out that one of the leads to the fuel injectors had come loose but its put me a day behind. Last time it was a gas leak in the van on the day I was to go to Lostock.

AARRGGHH!