Returned yesterday from Bretti. As Allan_L said in his mid-week update it was a great week with plenty of dark sky across the week. We had a little cloud around on Wednesday night, but Monday,Tuesday, and Thursday were long dark sessions. When you get astronomical darkness from 7pm it gives you long sessions, and most of us gave up for sleep before the dew or cold drove us undercover. It was cold, as Bretti can be, with recorded temp of 1.8C on one night.
Sky Quality Meter readings were: Monday 21.42, Tuesday 21.43, and Thursday 21.47. These are not the max recorded at Bretti (which is 21.77) but can be attributed to the 'light pollution' from the expanse of the Milky Way directly overhead.
Attendees: Scott (Skullmurphy), Allan_L, Uwahl, Geoff (Owl), Fizics, and myself.
I am sure everyone in attendance will have more to say about this past week, in which we seemed to get the best of the weather.
While at Bretti a travelling couple advised us of a possible great dark sky location further north that would suit astronomy; its north of Manila, at Glen Riddle Recreation Reserve (near Split Rock Dam). You can find the details of this location in the Camp7 book location number 352. I will start another Star Party thread for a possible trip to Glen Riddle Reserve leter this winter.
YES, that was the best week of observing at Bretti for months!
Thanks to everyone who came and made it a Star Party!
Absolutely MARVELLOUS that !!!
And that is why we keep coming back.
Great sky at Bretti and good company. Some frustration at my lack of imaging success (third session) but am making progress. The trip was somewhat spoiled by a cow who early this morning decided to charge my mount! By the time I got out of the van the mount was on the ground and the animal had its head under the tarp still banging into the mount.
External inspection revealed that both motor covers (plastic) were cracked. but no other obvious damage. I won't be able to have a look under the hood to see if there is any internal damage until tomorrow - just arrived back home. The EQ 8 tripod and mount head is a solid piece of kit - if it had been a dob or if I had the optics on the mount the damage would have been considerable.
A rethink re telescope security is needed. Star pickets and fencing wire? rifle? grenade launcher? I'm up for all out cow war right now!
Sorry to hear that Ulrich. I hope the damage is minimal. As one who has had a 'cow event' myself at night, something will have to be done. That's the second cow attact in the past eight months. I noticed that there were a couple of bulls in that group and they are the likely antagonists. Might be time to go elsewhere when the cows are allowed onto the reserve.
I got there late on Monday in one piece despite the camper trailer having faulty electric brakes making for a rather hairy trip to the camp....
The camper although strong as an ox being a full off road soft floor model with oodles of room and quite weighty I feel that my camper search due to setup time and routine being somewhat cumbersome has steered me toward a Cub Camper hard floor model so if anybody has one to sell please contact me....
The telescope gave some spectacular views of Omega, The Jewel Box, The Leo Triplet athough Jupiter and Saturn were disappointing at higher powers due to an early onset of dew from which I had no defence due to no dew heaters and the plummetting temperatures. Another astronomical purchase
coming up.
As Ulrich has said earlier the use of a Freezer Suit would have been great as it was really FREEEEEEEZZZZZZING as the nights went on.... Geoff mark me down for one on your next order 2XL.........
Finally concerning the cows maybe we set aside a 12v battery with an electric fence around our perimeter with some red LED lighting facing outwards so outsiders can see it so as not to interfere with our night seeing.... Its just a thought.....
Thanks again fellas for a fun and enthralling trip away.... Can't wait for the next one.....
home at 3pm sunday
a great 4 days away yet again
thanks for the company guys
you didn't miss much by going home before me
couple of showers on friday afternoon and during the nite - completely clouded out
sat nite cloudy with some sucker holes later in the nite
beautiful sunday morning while packing up
looking forward to next time allready
Oh! - and the bull was only a little one that attacked the silver, three legged one of Ulrich's
It may only have been a little bull, Geoff, but it was big enough to beat the snot out of my mount! I have had a thought that it may have been the tarp covering the mount flapping in the wind that annoyed him.
Ulrich
PS Where is one of these when you need one to kidnap the bulls
I am just glad I stayed up the extra time to pack my scope away Thursday night (ready for the trip home Friday morning).
It was very vulnerable and parked in an enticing position to any near sighted bull every other night.
Perhaps we need to circle the wagons closer in future.
Noticeably this happened when you were alone, right?
I have seen several camping groups using star pickets and rope there before.
I thought it was just to reserve their sites.
I wonder if it would keep the bovines out of the area.
Its bad enough the packages they leave behind without physical damage.
However, lets not paint too dark a picture. (Inverse pun intended)
Bretti is still the best dark site (available free to the public) within a days drive of Sydney. {IMHO}
I for one will be heading back there regularly.
I may be a bit more cautious with what I leave out unattended overnight in future though.
Well I am glad I wheeled the scope back under cover after each night of viewing as I could hear the buggers munching on the grass all around my site the last night.....
And yes after much investigation and thanks to the Bretti trip which opened my eyes to the pros and cons of off road, semi off road and on road, soft floor and hard floor and ease of towing and setup and setdown I am about to go down the central coast to pickup my 2011 Cub Supamatic Regal with Transcontinental Pack (semi off road) and a heap of accessories.....
It looks really well looked after and definitely not the monster that I took to Bretti.....
Anyone considering Bretti for the June New Moon period?
Weather permitting, there is good darkness from Thursday 11th of June through the following Friday the 19th (New Moon is on Wedneday the 17th). The Moon does not rise until 0156 on the 12th and from then on it rises later and later until it only reappears setting in early darkness on the 19th. That means the darkness starts only three weeks away from this weekend, or less if you go up on Thursday the 11th..That timing avoids the June long weekend.
Of course we will need to address 'cow protection' contingencies.
Scott looking forward to seeing pics of the new camper.
I will be going somewhere, most likely on Saturday the 13th for 4 nights. At this stage I will plan on Bretti, but that is weather dependant. At the first sign of doubtful skies I will be heading inland, most likely around Coolah.
For all the Bretti thread followers, or casual readers, please have a look at my thread on the upcoming Winter Solstice and extended dark period leading up to it. The thread is here:
The point being, that the 12 day period from about the 10th through the 21st is going to be the longest (potentiallydarkest) nights available to us for the 2015 year - make use of it whether you go to Bretti, elsewhere, or stay at home.
