BORDER STARGAZE 2012 - 15-19 August

[The Unbeliever]

Many thanks Alex you are one of our most popular guest presenters and as always it is a pleasure seeing you and your family.

We always set out to make this a family friendly star party and each year I realise how old I am getting when some of the kids that attend were not born before 2007.

I am sure many of them will still be attending when they help me to my seat at a Border Stargaze in the future!

Originally Posted by alexch

We are back in Melbourne as well.

Another great Border Stargaze! The weather tried to do the usual trick but enough toasts were said to clear skies for the Saturday night and in good faith I set up the dob while it was raining (the first for me). Around 8pm the wind dropped and it became 100% clear. We had a cracker observing session. The highlights of the night were M31, Galactic parade in Grus and Fornax and double shadow transit on Jupiter to finish the night at 5am in the morning. 6.30am it was raining again...

I can't thank ASAW enough for all the efforts in making a great star party year after year. We had great time and kids enjoyed it too!

Cheers,
Alex

[The Unbeliever]

Thanks Norm, a Border Stargaze wouldn't be the same without your family in attendance.

I think Melissa has started a trend! Don't think I have ever been to a star party where attendees are either sitting around the fire knitting or playing with remote controlled vehicles.

Maybe next year we should use the theme 'Whats your hobby' for one of the activities

Originally Posted by astro_nutt

Just got back from this years BSG...
Firstly I have give a big thank you to David and Petra for doing an excellect job in keeping everything going despite the weather being a bit wet..(although it did clear up enough on Saturday night for a chance to peek at the Galactic Centre for a few hours.)
The good folk at the Wymah resort for making our stay welcoming and comfortable
Also to Brownie and his family for putting on a great spread as always..the vendors for making my wallet lighter..the members of ASAW who worked hard to keep everyone amused and not forgetting the special guests for sharing their experiences...Oh!...and to Miles Allen for giving all of us the best medicine!..Bless you all and see you next year!
Cheers!

[The Unbeliever]

I agree we had entertainment planned on Saturday and even when Peter announced the better conditions many chose to stay on for the evenings activities. It just goes to show Miles can pull a crowd just by putting on the orange NASA suit.

CYA in 2013

Originally Posted by Paddy

Ditto - just got home after another great BSG. Thanks to Dave & Petra and all the ASAW crew. Also to the wonderful presenters - one of the great bonuses of BSG! Great to catch up with old friends and enjoy some observing on Saturday night, which ended up being very clear. I was a bit stunned at how sparsely populated the observing field was. Great to share some stunning views through the mighty Nix. Thanks Alex.

[Big Dave (Dave)]

Just got home. Thanx again to the management team for putting on a great event. Till 2013.

[Big Dave (Dave)]

Only Picture I took!
If anyone has more, please post!

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Only Picture I took!
If anyone has more, please post!

Well I took a few. A glimpse at the sky tells you why there isn't a telescope to be seen on the observing field - but........

[erick (Eric)]

.......there was something else going on out there in the observing field!

[erick (Eric)]

Many thanks to the ASAW team, Brownie and team, the resort staff and everyone. Well done against the weather challenge.

I did wonder over Sat night dinner whether setting up the scope that afternoon was crazy BUT from late evening it was a great night's viewing through until around 5am. Seeing was on the better side of average.

I set up with a good north view to concentrate on those seldom seen constellations - well for me anyway. Observed the various elements of the Veil Nebula for the first time - that was a lovely sight. M31 always underwhelms me - I have to cross the equator with a scope sometime. Back to the old favourites and NGC 253 never fails to please.

Promise you, there was less rain this time then the last time I came two years ago. Please give me another chance - one year when I come it'll be brilliant skies

[alexch (Alex)]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Only Picture I took!
If anyone has more, please post!

Here is one of the comet C/2011 R1 (McNaught) we observed on Saturday night. It was dim in the eyepiece and had only one tail...

Cheers,
Alex

[JohnG (John)]

Thanks again to Petra, David and the AWAS for another great Border StarGaze, weather was a bit ordinary but.....

Got setup on the imaging field on Wednesday afternoon and, like a few others got sucked into a big suckerhole on Wednesday night for an hour or two . Scope was then covered for the remainder of the time. Went down on Saturday night and had an enjoyable time looking through a number of big Dobs, thanks Patrick and Alex.

Thanks again to Brownie and crew for the catering, superb as usual. Unfortunately the Cookie or Pavlova Monsta (you know who you are) let the side down with failing to finish his 3rd desert, mind you after 2 and a half mains .

Looking forward to number 7, see ya all then .

Cheers

[Farscape (Linda)]

Thank you to everyone that made this year's BSG another great year - despite the rain!

Took this photo on Saturday evening at sunset.

See you all next year

[Farscape (Linda)]

Alex - do I remember correctly - were you going to put your presentation (pdf) on your website?

cheers
Linda

[Big Dave (Dave)]

Originally Posted by JohnG

Thanks again to Brownie and crew for the catering, superb as usual. Unfortunately the Cookie or Pavlova Monsta (you know who you are) let the side down with failing to finish his 3rd desert, mind you after 2 and a half mains .

Be nice now, its a long time to SV

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by Farscape

Alex - do I remember correctly - were you going to put your presentation (pdf) on your website?

cheers
Linda

Linda
I think you will find it here http://www.terrastro.com/files/bsg20...es_Cherney.pdf

Malcolm

[h0ughy (David)]

I really feel sorry that you guys didnt get much deep sky down there. I was at my 5th day allnighter and was really preying for a break but i sadly didnt get that until the second last night as Queensland Astrofest. Great to see that you had fun with other means though

[stevous67 (Steve M)]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Only Picture I took!
If anyone has more, please post!

Yep, washed out again... Lucky the event organizers do a good job for the entertainment!

Good luck with 2013 Davo!

Steve

[Farscape (Linda)]

Thanks Malcolm

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

I really feel sorry that you guys didnt get much deep sky down there. I was at my 5th day allnighter and was really preying for a break but i sadly didnt get that until the second last night as Queensland Astrofest. Great to see that you had fun with other means though

....rub it in why don't you brother Hough

[alexch (Alex)]

Originally Posted by stevous67

Yep, washed out again... Lucky the event organizers do a good job for the entertainment!

Good luck with 2013 Davo!

Steve

I wouldn't call a perfectly clear night with 9 hours of observing time a total washout.

[stevous67 (Steve M)]

Originally Posted by alexch

I wouldn't call a perfectly clear night with 9 hours of observing time a total washout.

Did you fly one night somewhere else Alex?