All,
Looks like we will get cloud tonight and maybe tomorrow. The system coming in, is breaking up and slow moving.
But what ever will be will be
Safe trip and see ya there.
Hi Dave - where was that picture taken from? I need to build up my list of such resources.
I saw this from http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/auscloud_24.shtml
showing expected cloud cover and wind direction for SE Aus for 10pm tonight. No idea how reliable it is, but if it's correct, it looks fantastic!
No cloud and neglible wind movement over the Ballarat area! Yeeha!
(thumbnail has been cropped and scaled down - go to the site for a proper image - it was a bit big to post here).
Should have all come down to tassie, the weather has been clear here for a while now, and if you bring rain, we could do with that also. Good luck with the weather and enjoy yourselves.
Got back today from Snake Valley (could only stay one night).
I loved it! Got to meet some new people and put some faces to the names I've been speaking with. It was my first one too!
We had a little cloud last night, but not too much - and the skies cleared completely later on too. Seeing seemed Ok.
I enjoyed Jupiter and watched one of the moons coming out from behind.
Also saw a really good fireball - lot's of "ooh aah's" were generated by all and sundry.
Got a good look at the Sombrero galaxy, which I thought was pretty funky too.
I could go on and on - it was just a really nice experience.
You've heard of "aperture fever". Well, I think I now have Dark sky fever - the panorama there so completely obliterates anything I get in Box Hill, I hope it hasn't wrecked backyard viewing for me.
And Ken (who lives just down the road) - I am now insanely jealous of your sky. You might find my on your doorstep in future!!!!
Back from Snake Valley. Had an awesome time, looked through some awesome scopes; thanks Julian, Peter, Ken, Stu, Paul (evil Rumples ), Daniel and everyone else for being so friendly and making this a very enjoyable weekend. Thanks Dave for getting us together!
We had great viewing both nights, but the second night was exceptional! At around 3am, seeing got so good I could not believe it. Right in time for GRS transit too! I got the best views of Jupiter ever. The amount of detail seen through the EP was incredible. Expect some great things from Bird from that night!
I also had a great time viewing galaxies through Ken's 12".
Just a shame so many of the people there are no longer IIS members (sorry to end my post on a sad note).
Thanks for a great weekend folks. I certainly learned heaps and seeing some the equipment gave me good ideas on where to go into the future with it all. Special thanks to Dave47 for organizing the weekend. Hope to see some of you all in November if it happens. Thanks Steve for fixing my rattly EP. I guess we all have to start somewhere.
Thanks for a wonderful weekend guys. Chloe and I really enjoyed ourselves. A special thanks to Darren for giving us a ride up there. We wouldn't have been able to go otherwise.
It was great to be able to meet so many of you that have been teaching me through your posts. I hope that I can make it to the next camp and catch up with you all again.
My partner is now worried that I'm going to spend a heap of money on all of the things that I was so impressed with at the camp. I'll have to work on that.
Now it's about time for me to head off to bed. I need sleep.
Thanks again,
Jodie
I really have to give a big thanks to Dave 47 tuc for his efforts in orginising such a great weekend.If it wasn't for guys like Dave tuc Dave P and Ken Ballarat Dragons these memorable trips just wouldn't happen so well done!! Also a special thanks to Dave Pretorious for helping Dave tuc out (computer crash) and for the fantastic dinner (eye fillet steaks)which Dave P prepared and cooked for everyone there free of charge which i thought was very generous and a great effort!!
When the clouds cleared the sky was a spectacular site with a few of us going till about 4.30 am both nights until the dew hit!!
Sat night was better and Dave 47 tuc's and julians guided tour of the night sky with the lazer pointer was great!!
It was great to catch up with everyone again Dave tuc Dave P, Ken, Darren, Steve, Bird, Neil, Stu (Birds new scope was a highlight!!!) and it was great to meet new faces, Chris thunder child+Damien, michael moon man, Jodie and Cloe ian photon, peter exfo and even Rumples.
So thanks to everyone it truly was a great weekend had with great company!!!
For all those that missed the camp and were there and to busy with other things at the camp here is the first batch of photos:
1: Birds Scope setup on Sunday
2: Birds Scope setup on Sunday again
3: The cooling setup on birds scope
4: Birds mount
5: My 12" dod ready for the night
6: Kens (BallaratDragons) EQ mount and 8"
7: Neil's (Neilzstar) Celestron C8
8: Peter's (Exfso) Takahasi
I would also like to thank Peter (Exfso) for allowing me to use his EP's in my 12", I have put on my Xmas wish list a Takahasi 7.5 LE EP.
1: Steve(janoskiss), Daniel (danielsun), Peter (Exfso).
2: Jodie & daughter (Twokids).
3: Paul's (Rumples) 9.25" Celestron & Dave P (Davidpretorius).
4: Dave P (Davidpretorius) working hard on a new stepper control unit.
5: The guys checking out what Bird was up to.
6: The observing Field.
7: The accommodation huts.
8: The observing Field with a few of the mounts waiting for the evening setup activities to happen.
Hi All, Yes, it was a great weekend at Snake Valley I learnt heaps. It was truly great meeting all the very friendly people.
I fully support the thanks expressed in replies below, but must give special recognition to Dave Pretorius who not only supplied and cooked meals, entertained us Saturday with his new found soldering skills, but also very kindly (and carefully) drove my Dob and gear (plus Michael's gear) all the way from Launceston to Snake Valley and back again this evening. He introduced me face to face with the boys at Bintel after meeting him in Melbourne too. Thats the sort of guy he is!
(I enjoyed the heat too, I think I have tropical blood!) Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and equipment with us Taswegions.
Kind Regards Ian Gillespie
), Daniel and everyone else for being so friendly and making this a very enjoyable weekend. Thanks Dave for getting us together!
