Perth Guys

[TrevorW]

Anyone reckon it's worth setting up tonight
temp over 30 today whispy clouds rolling in from the east and how gusty will that easterly get

signs of summer are finally here

and BOM say
Perth Forecast

Issued at 4:30 pm WST on Tuesday 22 November 2011 Forecast for Tuesday evening Clear. Light to moderate SE/NE winds, tending moderate S/SW'ly through western suburbs at first this evening.

never happy unless it's perfect

[vanwonky (Dave)]

Yes, to trust BOM or not? Would like to at least get the DOB out for a poke around. Last night seemed particularly bad. Was there a bushfire somewhere?

[TrevorW]

Don't know about last night had a early start today so needed my beauty sleep, the clouds came in here, I got as far as setting the mount up and that looks to be about the extent of it no point putting scope etc out hoping they may clear

[vanwonky (Dave)]

Agreed! A night in.. dammit

[marki]

Not a good night for the camera either Trevor, will flog the peltier.

Mark

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

I was excited most of the day being up on Lvl 7 looking south was pristiene.... i got out of work at about 5 wtf grrrrrr. got home looked at skippy which can be as reliable as BOM and the clouds are coming right up to the coast somewhere between 9 and midnight... as is we only get 6-7hrs of astronomically dark air time

I had a bit of a big weekend with astro and all so another night in to recoup is welcome! Tomorrow night possibly may not be so good on the sleep stores

[TrevorW]

Ended up fairly clear here about 9 but a lot of sky glow and as predicted that easterly started to blow, so I didn't bother but left my mount out wrapped in alfoil for today and then see if tonight may be better

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

I have stepped outside numerous times over the last week before bed and noticed the sky quality is quite poor. Flickering even at almost zenith.

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Lotsa' easterlies blowin' my way here in the foothills of Kalamunda!

Cheers
Bill

[Mliss (Mel)]

We haven't been too bad down here. Although there was a fire somewhere on Monday night.... couldn't even see to the other side of the estuary.

I'm hoping for a peek tonight and with this heat i won't be sleeping anyway i haven't confirmed it but i'm sure i was watching Mars around 1ish this morning. There was low lying haze, possibly from the fires and it was too low to get my scope too it from the balcony.

Has anyone tried Saturn in the mornings yet? It's coming up just before the sun around 4ish i think.

Malcom i've noticed that here too. It's clear, but there seems to be atmospheric disturbances. I had trouble resolving even basic things 3 nights ago. I thought it was my eye sight!

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Had planned to head out to a dark site for a bit of imaging last night as the wind was meant to drop down a bit. The wind did drop and even the temp dropped to 20c about 9pm but as with others the seeing was shocking, refractiony twinkles all around zenith, bleh!

Forecast is not looking good either, cloud and horrid wind.

[Grahame (Grahame)]

Hi All,

I was imaging last night for a few hours, was excellent untill just after midnight when the easterly came in and steadily degraded from there... Hoping for another shot at it tonight but we'll see how the heat factor is at sunset

Grahame.

[Mliss (Mel)]

wow so the heat really does affect the night sky. this is my first summer with a scope and ( i did NOT expect of all things the spiders!) i'm already thinking i should have braved the winter skies a little more.

good luck tonight Graeme... with the heat tomorrow i hope you'll at least get a window of good views!!

[bartman (Bart)]

Originally Posted by Mliss

Has anyone tried Saturn in the mornings yet? It's coming up just before the sun around 4ish i think.

Yeah only visually though....nice sight this morning. Combo with Spica and the moon.

Originally Posted by Mliss

It's clear, but there seems to be atmospheric disturbances. I had trouble resolving even basic things 3 nights ago. I thought it was my eye sight!

Originally Posted by Mliss

wow so the heat really does affect the night sky. this is my first summer with a scope

Originally Posted by Mliss

( i did NOT expect of all things the spiders!) i'm already thinking i should have braved the winter skies a little more.

Sure does!
Spiders are my big hate of summer, and like you, I should brave the cold too ( which coincidentally is my big hate of winter)

Bartman

[Mliss (Mel)]

Originally Posted by bartman

which coincidentally is my big hate of winter)

Bartman

i'm a total sook with the cold too!

i think i need to take away your 'quote' button Bart

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

Oh harden up boys and girls

As a astrophotographer we are the first on the field and the last off generally as people are just waking we are stumbling into our beds! I for one brave the winter cold and have seen on my telescope beads of dew frozen! aka its zero or less....... Brilliant seeing mind and so still.

Now i don't mind the summer that i have a cooling capacity of delta -40 deg so even on the hottest of nights ill be well under zero degrees!

I too am hoping for a cloudless night tonight and in a few weeks time ill sort out a baby oag and FF for the new Megrez 90 so wind or no wind ill always have options!

[TrevorW]

Were I am the easterly can gust 40-50 knots on some summer nights so I don't even bother

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

Ive imaged with the ED80 and finder on the EQ6 in 40km/h persistant upto 60km/h gusts not so bad. but thats Tammin for you! Not Bertha friendly conditions!

[bartman (Bart)]

Originally Posted by Mliss

i think i need to take away your 'quote' button Bart

Hehehehehe

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

Oh harden up boys and girls

yep we sure would...in the cold that is.....
Apart from not liking the cold ( and yes, its the best time/condition for AP), I hate getting rugged up like a Michelin Man. Cumbersome and noisy!

Bartman

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

The only thing i don't like about astro in the freezing conditions is when your fingers stop working properly.... and you feel like your running in thick glue