2023 Eclipse

[Peter Ward]

After hauling a 6" refractor across the continent which required a massive 12,081 kilometre drive,
I am now back in Sydney with one minor speeding fine, a cracked windscreen courtesy a massive three-trailer truck flicking up stones,
and no desire to drive anywhere for a bit.

The upside is, a bag full of excellent data and finally something other than an ipad to process it.

Image link here

Gee, it was a pretty eclipse!

[John W (John Wilkinson)]

Terrific image Peter - well done. Worth the trip even if an expensive image.

Regards,
John W.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by John W

Terrific image Peter - well done. Worth the trip even if an expensive image.

Regards,
John W.

Thanks mate.

Fortunately, I ticked the windscreen replacement option on my car's insurance.

Should be good as new next week.

I'm very thankful that the NSW traffic branch have a far more pragmatic approach. Bless 'em.

As for the WA traffic police, the less said the better.

(I thought I was well under the posted limit, but my car's GPS was apparently giving me dud info.
I showed its display to the constable, but to no avail....)

[h0ughy (David)]

Oooohhhhhh had a moment there . Awesome and beautiful

[multiweb (Marc)]

Superb Peter.
Looking forward to more of your data.

[Dave882 (David)]

Wonderful image! And sounds like quite an adventure as well

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Long run for the Tesla. Great image.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by peter_4059

Long run for the Tesla. Great image.

It would have been, but not for a Range Rover.

P.S. We chatted with a couple from Denmark (W.A.) who pulled into the fuel stop at Nullabor Station in a Tesla model 3. They were en route to Adelaide and had no drama's charging their EV at that point...it was just a little slow at some locations.

I blew $1800 on diesel for the 12,000km round trip. An EV would have been $180. A no brainer when the infrastructure finally gets built.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Dave882

Wonderful image! And sounds like quite an adventure as well

Originally Posted by multiweb

Superb Peter.
Looking forward to more of your data.

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Oooohhhhhh had a moment there . Awesome and beautiful

Thanks gentlemen.....It was indeed the adventure. Being a retired Airline Pilot, I could have flown to Exmouth in a very comfy cabin, well, shall we say, for not a lot.

But, how do you get a six inch APO in the shadow of the moon without some neanderthal tossing your rare and diffraction limited optics onto the luggage conveyor?

So we loaded up the SUV and headed West.

What I didn't know, was the state of the arterial roads out west.

Jessuswepped....Kalgoorlie's regional excuse for bitumen was pathetic.

Returning to Sydney via our final 400Km on the Hume Highway, was sheer bliss in comparison. I've also driven across a good slab of the USA and have to observe, as a nation, we really have some infrastructure to yet build....The USA's highway system was established 100 years ago. The fact there is only one sealed road across Australia, from east to west is damming.

Sorry...I digress.

As for the eclipse...pretty much as good as it gets.

Cyclone Ilsa caused us considerable en route met-forecast grief but in retrospect made for perfect azure-blue skies on E-day.

The AP gear worked flawlessly....and let's face it, the Moon won't return for a re-shoot if things don't work as advertised.

As for the results? ...yeah...gotta be happy with that

[RichardJ (Richard)]

Hi Peter,

Glad you both are back safe and sound.
I knew your image would be fabulous. I’m sure there will be more.

I also cracked a windscreen coming back into Perth. Glad I got comprehensive insurance.

Richard.

[N1 (Mirko)]

That's a beauty! I like the high resolution. Spicules galore.

[gregbradley]

Best image I have seen so far of this eclipse.

Quite an adventure. 12,000 kms! OMG, I get sick of driving after 4 hours!

Greg.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Best image I have seen so far of this eclipse.

Quite an adventure. 12,000 kms! OMG, I get sick of driving after 4 hours!

Greg.

Many thanks.

and indeed...quite the trip, but as I mine the data further I'm sure I'll feel happier about the considerable effort and expense.

I have yet to stack the chromospheric frames but suspect they will have some
delightful fine structure that is only hinted at here.