I'm about to head off to Bretti, will be trying to link up with Allan_L on the way. If you have some free time it's a great time of year to come to Bretti for the Spring Equinox New Moon!
Hope things work out for you Jakob.
Just about to leave.
Have to stop off to pick up Apple Charlotte on the way.
Should be there before 5pm.
A quick report on conditions at Bretti over this past New Moon. Allan_L and I went up on Monday and found Sydney guys (Jason, Dunk and Edison) already there. It was very crowded (school holidays no surprise there), and our usual spot was occupied by a large group - complete with their own pavilion, bon fire pile, pumped water from the river, and far to many area lights. The Sydney boys, having arrived first, decided to setup in the area now referred to as Bretti Heights (the southern ridge flat above the valley floor).
Conditions were somewhat impacted by the large crowd, and their lights. However, up on Bretti Heights, we had pretty good seeing on Monday night until the strata layers of fog started to settle. I forgot to take a SQM reading this night. The valley floor camper lights were mainly shutown by midnight. At a guess it was not as good as Tuesday night but useful none the less.
Tueday, Geoff arrived, and that night was easily the best of the three, with a SQM reading of 21.71 and no fog or cloud and we were all still going at 1:30am looking at Andromeda and Orion. A lot of imaging going on and Allan-L was getting through his observation list.
On Wednesday John (fizics) arrived at Bretti Height and Rick and Lynn on the valley floor (their van could not get up to Bretti Heights, and they had other people joining them). Rick wandered up for a session with us that night. SQM reading was 21.43 . The night activites were cut short by cloud that built in from the west and rain was forecast, so by 11pm most of us had packed it in (and packed up gear in anticipation of rain). The rain started early in the AM ( I heard it at 4:30am). The rain was well set in by dawn and everyone except Geoff packed up and headed home. Geoff was going to stay until the weekend, and Rick was going to be around as well.
So Tueday was the Best Night and well worth the trip. Hopefully someone will post up a photo of Bretti Heights for future reference.
Thank to Allan_L for the Apple Charlotte and the memorable Port, and to Geoff for making his electric pump shower tent available to the attendees.
I'll second that Glen, good to meet those I hadn't before and much appreciation to everyone for sharing their company, solid and liquid nutritional supplements (mmmmmm), humanising facilities, views and...last but not least...shovels
I didn't manage to get any shots of Bretti Heights myself, but plenty of shots from Bretti Heights for those of us from the white light districts it's quite some sky to behold. On the Tuesday night several of us took full advantage of the conditions before heading for slumber while the birds tweeted. It was fascinating watching the fog roll around and over us, while the targets stayed clear and bright!
So that right hand turn before the dunny does exist.....thanks for the posting the directions Dunk otherwise would have been scratching my head on how to get to the exclusive Bretti heights where cow dung and scope happily coexist.
Good to meet the guys from the city. If only that rain would not follow my scope around!
Hey where's my mention Glen
Great photos Allan and Ed. Love the "action" shot of the cows mate haha. Nice report on the conditions Glen. I really enjoyed meeting and catching up with everyone. Allan, thanks for that slice of that Apple Charlotte, I didn't think an apple pie could get any better but gee that icing topping hit the spot! As did the Bunnings Port!
for those of us from the white light districts it's quite some sky to behold. On the Tuesday night several of us took full advantage of the conditions before heading for slumber while the birds tweeted. It was fascinating watching the fog roll around and over us, while the targets stayed clear and bright!
