Another Newb - Needs help with weather!

Eternal · #1 31-12-2006, 12:07 AM

Yes another astronomy beginner has joined this forum (been browsing for a few weeks now though). I've been doing astronomy now for about 5 weeks. Started off with a Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ that I purchased from Dick Smith for $198. Used it for about 2 weeks, got hooked, then decided I needed to upgrade. Done some research and decided to purchase the SkyWatcher SW600 200mm Newtonian Reflector along with dual motor axis drives (eventually want to get into astrophotography of DSO).

Since that purchase it's been sitting nicely in my loungeroom because right now in Sydney the weather really really sux!!! Did I mention that the weather in Sydney really really sux right now? I've been studying the weather forecasts in the paper and it seems that most of NSW is going to be cloudy at least for the next week (I go back to work on the 8th Jan).

Anyhow, just thought I'd pop in and share my frustration.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #2 31-12-2006, 12:25 AM

Welcome Eternal!

What did you expect the weather to do? You bought a scope didn't you!

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 31-12-2006, 01:06 AM

Yep, that's not unusual.
The more you want to use your new scope has a direct relation to the amount of cloud and how long it hangs around for.
Any mathematicians out there want to try to work out a formula for this?

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #4 31-12-2006, 10:43 AM

Welcome Eternal

You'll have a great time with your SkyWatcher 8", like I do, when the weather clears. Summer is a great time to get excited about the night sky in Sydney - apart from the humidity and unstable weather patterns, but there you go. It gets better as you head for Autumn

If you're ever down in the south west, pack your scope and come to an MAS (Macarthur Astro. Soc.) night at the Oaks, or at our Belanglo Forest dark sky site. You'll have a ball and meet a great bunch of amateurs.

Cheers
Chris

leon · #5 31-12-2006, 10:47 AM

Eternal, so it's your fault for the bad weather,

I thought it was Ken's fault, but then he had a bit to do with it as well.

Cheers leon

ving (David) · #6 31-12-2006, 11:04 AM

hiya eternal!
great scope you picked there

if you find a way to get rid of these clouds tell me

astro_nutt · #7 31-12-2006, 12:09 PM

Hi Eternal and welcome to IIS..
Yep!! you copped the new scope owners curse!!...as for the maths formula
Type of scope X location of use + accessories brought divided by how many cans/stubbies you've consumed during the year X 50 % = the duration of cloud cover...or something like that!!!...LOL
BTW great scope you've got there!!
Cheers!

erick (Eric) · #8 31-12-2006, 02:58 PM

Must be a Murphy's law of ground-based astronomy somewhere on the 'net?

Tamtarn · #9 31-12-2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astro_nutt

Hi Eternal and welcome to IIS..
Yep!! you copped the new scope owners curse!!...as for the maths formula
Type of scope X location of use + accessories brought divided by how many cans/stubbies you've consumed during the year X 50 % = the duration of cloud cover...or something like that!!!...LOL
BTW great scope you've got there!!
Cheers!

Great formula

Enjoy your new scope & Welcome to IIS Eternal

danielsun · #10 31-12-2006, 07:43 PM

Can everyone please stop buying all this new gear!!!!
I haven't had a clear night here in weeks!!!!!

Eternal · #11 01-01-2007, 04:18 AM

Ah ha! I think I discovered why the weather so crap. I didn't just buy a scope, I also bought accessories (eyepieces & a Telrad - really needed the Telrad). In addition to the above I'm also building a wheely cart to make it easier to move my equipment around. Guess the weather will be crap for months now. Sorry about that people, but they should put a warning on the box or something.

merlin8r · #12 01-01-2007, 09:05 AM

Ummm yeah, I just took delivery of a new 10" LX200R as well..... sorry

erick (Eric) · #13 01-01-2007, 09:42 AM

I only bought a pair of binoculars - that should only be a shower or a few clouds?

rmcpb (Rob) · #14 01-01-2007, 12:10 PM

Now I know who to blame. I haven't had a decent night since before the new moon!!

And can all you lot lay off the stubbies, with that formula we will NEVER get another good night's viewing.

Happy New Year to all and a BIG welcome to Eternal

paninaro · #15 02-01-2007, 02:07 PM

I started doing astronmomy seriously in July last year (06), I live in Sydney too and I have to admit that in the six months or so I have had about 8 nights of decent viewing and 2 nights of good viewing and 1 exceptional night.

We have had really bad weather of late, but in Sept. I went to Mollymook on holidays and took my scope out to a back valley and the view of the Milky Way was simply incredible!