Hi everyone,
Weather looks OK for Saturday night (9th February) at this stage (touch wood).
I am interested in heading up to the PC. Anyone interested in joining me?
Hi Rod,
Not sure what weather system you are looking at, but Saturday looks like rain and stormy on 7timer.
Friday seems by far the best option for the next week and I am thinking to go up Friday, if you (or anyone else) care to change your plans?
But I am happy to go with the majority vote.
At the risk of harping (apologies if you have endured this before) but, having discussed the art of weather forecasting with a meteorologist, the situation is that specific forecasts (eg that it will be sunny at 3pm and overcast at 9pm in 4 days from now) is guesswork at best.
There are several computer models used by meteorologists, depending on which one you use, you get a different forecast! This fellow laughed about the fact that people place so much faith in the forecast, even for the following day. He said that very often conditions will end up being completely different the next day from what is presented on the evening news. There are just too many variables to be accurately forecasting days and days out.
This explains why the forecast for a day in 4-5 days from now will keep changing from day to day. Today we are being told that there may be a late shower on Saturday. Tomorrow it will be revised, and the day after.
The one area where there can be some confidence is the movement of major pressure systems over the continent. Meteorologists can be reasonably confident that a major pressure system will be around for, say 4-5 days, for example.
All of this accords with my experience. How many times do we read such and such a forecast, only to find that conditions are completely different? I recall countless observing nights where conditions were supposed to be clear, but they have mysteriously clouded out. Other nights when it was supposed to be thick with cloud, and conditions have cleared and turned out spectacularly.
I recall one night at the PC where the conditions were supposed to be clear. I had set up the Mary Rose, and was ready to start observing when a sudden deluge came down. It rained so hard that we all sought refuge in the old Clubhouse, not sure if you were there Allan, but the rain on the tin roof was so loud that it was impossible to communicate with each other without shouting!
Having been involved in observing for 8+ years, my experience is that it is best to make a decision on the evening.
With these things in mind, the dominant weather pattern over south eastern Australia this week is a series of high pressure systems, associated with fine weather. Every day over the next week is expected to be predominantly sunny because of this pattern of high pressure systems.
Based on the dominant pattern of high pressure systems, I think there are good prospects for observing this Saturday night. Fingers crossed!
I'd love to be able to get up there and say g'day to everyone again but I'm at a work offsite for the next 2 days and not going home tonight so doubt I could get a pass-out on Saturday.
I miss everyone! Hope to see you soon Rod! We should catch up.
Unfortunately working till 1930 hrs Saturday. If the days not to bad might come up for a couple of hours, if we cop a hiding Saturday at work will give it a miss. Whichever way I will be scope less as I can't leave the scope in the car at work all day and hope to find it there when I get to the car after work
PS the Irish single malts are beautiful also and mostly lack the peaty taste. Bushmills 18 year old will do nicely. In fact will take a nice single malt to Chaffey in march I will
Last edited by Arthur Alchin; 06-02-2013 at 11:23 AM.
Hi Rod,
Not sure what weather system you are looking at, but Saturday looks like rain and stormy on 7timer.
Friday seems by far the best option for the next week and I am thinking to go up Friday, if you (or anyone else) care to change your plans?
But I am happy to go with the majority vote.
Friday looks promising. Saturday iffy at best. I don't want to wait for another month with comet Lemmon about. Keen to go Friday if a keyholder is going.
I'd love to be able to get up there and say g'day to everyone again but I'm at a work offsite for the next 2 days and not going home tonight so doubt I could get a pass-out on Saturday.
I miss everyone! Hope to see you soon Rod! We should catch up.
We love you Mike! One day you'll make it to the PC!!!
Yes, a catch up would be great. RB and I bumped into each other a week or so ago, and agreed the time has come. Will PM you.
PS the Irish single malts are beautiful also and mostly lack the peaty taste. Bushmills 18 year old will do nicely. In fact will take a nice single malt to Chaffey in march I will
Some of us like the peaty taste, Arthur!
However, I would not say no to trying some Bushmills.
Certainly hope Rod is right but Friday seems the safer bet at this stage.
I would advise anyone wanting to go on Friday to go.
I couldn't get there until about 8.30 and then only with a grab and go.
Wouldn't mind checking out Morton's Delos and ES eyepieces though.
My SDM is finally back up running so if Saturday goes ahead I am hoping
to give it a run then.
I'm hoping to get there around 8pm but 8:30pm may be more likely. Happy to share the Delos with anyone who wants to try it out. I also have a new Explore 28mm 68° eyepiece I haven't tried myself yet.
Make sure you have a wee dram for me whilst you're there! 
Weather permitting, I am there.
