Thanks to Ken and crew - a great camp and ripper feast!
Have to say that the social side of events like this is absolutely terriffic. And then there is the astro side - most engrossing and highly educational.
As dark develops, its always interesting to see people slowly disperse to their equipment. Conversation becomes muted, fans start humming, screens light up, fingers point at all manner of stuff ..... and then Sirius becomes visible, and its on to spot the Pup - the observing night has begun. And then it only gets better!
A big thanks from me also. Deb and i had a great night just a pity we couldn't stay longer, next time we will for sure.
Once again everyone was so friendly and made us feel welcome and we had a ball and learned heaps.
Cheers guys.
[QUOTE=Greenswale;695484
As dark develops, its always interesting to see people slowly disperse to their equipment. Conversation becomes muted, fans start humming, screens light up, fingers point at all manner of stuff ..... and then Sirius becomes visible, and its on to spot the Pup - the observing night has begun. And then it only gets better!
Pity about dawn, though!![/QUOTE]
Ooh, am jealous now, good on you Wren!! Did you see the pup??
Had a great time as well. Learnt so much more with all your amazing gear.
Another step forward for me as a beginner.
Thanks for the views through your scope Patrick, Eric and all others.
Eric, will never forget Eta Car through yours. unreal. I had to see it twice to believe it.
Thanks Niko, daniel, Jen for everything.
I drove back late sunday night to get back to work monday morning, bad idea. had to pull over and catch a snooze. to reiterate a well known fact, sleep deprived driving - extremely dangerous.
A thanks from Ivan to Ken and the SVAA crew. The feast was tops along with the company. A great night.
After spending 2 hours trying to align my goto mount - discovered I hadn't tightned the altitude and azimuth adjustment screws. The #*&^$ thing was flopping all over the place. Finally managed to point at something then the dew hit!
Attached is a couple of sketches I managed to get done before the dew.
They have been inverted from pencil/charcoal on paper!
Cheers
Ivan
Nice sketches. I really enjoyed seeing the sketches you showed me on Saturday. I am very jealous as the only thing I can draw are conclusions, and usually wrong ones!
Home earlier today but want to say I had a great time over the weekend.
That shot of me solar imaging Neale is a crack up. My wife thought I looked like a person from Saudi. It is the only way to see the screen during bright light.
I got a great lot of solar data on the Saturday, some I will post the rest will have to wait until some time later.
Imaging Saturn was pretty average though. Despite looking sharp at lower magnifications the seeing did not hold up at much higher magnification.
The camp was still fun and I had many a great laugh and meet some nice guys and some nice ladies. The camp is really about the relationships over any data that you can capture. It was also great to catch up with people I have known for some time now. You know who you are surely by now. Doug you crack me up, nearly let a body fluid go at one stage. Cool to meet Neale, Darren, Jen, Patrick, John and a few names I cannot remember.
Ken thanks once again for a great camp. The free style nature of the camp really makes it very special. Well organized again and thanks for putting it all together again.
As dark develops, its always interesting to see people slowly disperse to their equipment. Conversation becomes muted, fans start humming, screens light up, fingers point at all manner of stuff ..... and then Sirius becomes visible, and its on to spot the Pup - the observing night has begun. And then it only gets better!
Great camp again, thanks Ken & the SVAA! Undoubtedly the highlight for me was seeing Pete (Exfso) on the mend and in good spirits (well, reasonable spirits given his customary SV gear meltdown! ). Terrific meeting old friends and a lot of new people - SV camps are very social.
Lots to see sky-wise, and got to look through a range of telescopes as well as my own. Spent a bit of time absorbed in the LMC, armed with Patrick's charts, but also found time to visit lots of old favourites. Highlight visually was staring down the 'well' of M42 near the Trapezium through Paul's 14" SCT. 3D - billowing clouds, with the Trapezium seemingly sculpted into the upper wall. But more in an obs report when I get time!
Hi Liz - didn't see the pup, but it was not full dark when we attempted. Then I got seriously distracted and didn't think get to have another try until Sirius was 'gone'.
Recently spotted it a couple of times from home though.
Hey Guys, Now home from SV Camp, well the two days I was there Had a great time as usual, was great to catch up with those I haven't seen for some time and the new people that have come since I was last there. Was great catching up.
On the last night although conditions weren't that good had an enjoyable time looking through Jens scope, very impressed with the GOTO's and tracking, one fine instrument.
I would like to apologise to all though this morning I took off early without saying goodbye to many of you, so for that I apologise. It was great meeting you all and hope to see you in the future again. Ken, thankyou very much for your hospitality not only during the camp but last Wednesday also, your a champ in my books, thanks.
Also thankyou to everyone else who I met there, you made the last days of my 1800km journey worth every km. Thanks.
Thanks Ken, another great camp!! It was great to catch up with everyone again and nice to see some new faces too! As usual we pretty much laughed all the whole time with the funniest stories and Niko, you crack me up!
Jen's new scope is a beast and shiny too!
I just love these camps, so relaxing and great fun.
All I can say is great location, great people and heaps of fun.
Whilst I cannot say I enjoyed my various failures in the imaging department, It was great to catch up with everyone and meet some new people and laugh harder than at any other time of the year.
Ken has done another fantastic job and the Saturday night feast lived up to expectations.
Highlights for me were, Seeing Peter there and hearing him complain about his mount issues, looking through Paul's monster 14, Patrick, showing us those wonderful views of the sun and all the help from JohnG setting up and learning how to use the G11.
I must also say that I was set up very close to Jen and Johnny and was a little overwhelmed by all the attention Johnny got!
As for entertainment, the conversations around the dinner table on Saturday night were some of the funniest I've had. Niko, Pete, Doug and Patrick, what a team....
All that's left to say is "IS IT NOVEMBER YET?"
Oh and Doug, you have to remember even with sore ribs, you have to duck going through the kitchen door!!!!!!
......
After spending 2 hours trying to align my goto mount - discovered I hadn't tightned the altitude and azimuth adjustment screws..........
Cheers
IJ
to all the people who 
ed us
). Terrific meeting old friends and a lot of new people - SV camps are very social.
Great you got the CG5 working. Was a surprise that it has really good goto's.
