ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
First Quarter 45.2%
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06-08-2013, 12:16 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dulwich Hill, Australia
Posts: 116
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I really like it so far. The Mewlon's "First Light" was last night from our backyard.
It was a really bad seeing night - windy, turbulent atmosphere and our chimney was blowing hot haze over Saturn.
Despite this, the Mewlon put up a nice view of Saturn at 250x. I could clearly see cloudy banding and just glimpse the Cassini Division. Also, I could make out the shadow of Saturn on the rear part of the rings. I don't think I have ever seen this before.
Another big difference is the fixed primary mirror and motorized secondary mirror for focussing. It is so nice to focus without touching the scope and no more mirror flop.
Really hoping for a clear night on Saturday.
James
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06-08-2013, 09:43 PM
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Deprived of starlight
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 3,914
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Nice scope! 
Never looked through a Tak before...
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06-08-2013, 10:03 PM
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Drifting from the pole
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 5,479
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Very nice scope, I'd be interested in your experiences compared with the evil moving primary variety 
I've not knowingly looked AT a Tak let alone looked through one 
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08-08-2013, 08:23 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dulwich Hill, Australia
Posts: 116
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Am I reading the weather for Saturday night correctly? It is going to be CLEAR!
Rainy on Friday and Monday, but clear on Saturday and Sunday? Unheard of!
I'm "Big Kev" excited!
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08-08-2013, 10:40 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Jordan Springs, NSW
Posts: 13
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I'm in!
Andromeda at 4:30AM?! I think I'll take a nap at 2AM.
Will bring along Denk Binotron 27 and a pair of Denk's 14mm, just received them! If you want to give them a try you are welcome, might need to add some counterweight. Actually it would be very interesting to test it in different kind of scopes.
I'm afraid my stock focuser will be sagging baadly  still can't figure out how to tune it and make it stiff enough.
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09-08-2013, 12:12 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sydney
Posts: 132
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I'm confirmed as well. Lets hope no last minute plan.
Victor.
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09-08-2013, 04:38 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Port Macquarie
Posts: 51
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I don't think that we can make it on Saturday, enjoy.
Les and Deb
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09-08-2013, 09:58 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Killara, Sydney
Posts: 4,147
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dulwich.hill
Am I reading the weather for Saturday night correctly? It is going to be CLEAR!
Rainy on Friday and Monday, but clear on Saturday and Sunday? Unheard of!
I'm "Big Kev" excited!
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No-one bought a scope this week !
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09-08-2013, 06:56 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 690
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Might give it a go. My first time.
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09-08-2013, 07:27 PM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 5,005
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John, you're more than welcome come join us. We promise to be gentle as it's your first time,  . Honest...
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09-08-2013, 07:43 PM
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Deprived of starlight
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 3,914
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Irish stargazer
Might give it a go. My first time.
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Hope to see you there John.
Bring the Polarie - it's nice and dark up there!
It's also colder than the Pony Club.
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09-08-2013, 09:29 PM
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Interstellar Introvert
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Blue Mountains
Posts: 649
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Quote from BOM re Katoomba weather for Saturday... "Sunny. Winds westerly 30 to 35 km/h increasing to 35 to 50 km/h before dawn then turning southwesterly and becoming light in the evening." Really hope it isn't as windy as last month! But at least its expected to be sunny. Lets hope the wind does as expected and becomes "light" by the evening.
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09-08-2013, 10:02 PM
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Deprived of starlight
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 3,914
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Saw that too. Last month was bloody cold!
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09-08-2013, 10:16 PM
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Ebotec Alpeht Sicamb
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Toongabbie, NSW
Posts: 1,976
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SkippySky has the wind speed at 10m at less than 5km/h (EDIT: make that knots. And westerly ). I choose to believe that
Cheers
Steffen.
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09-08-2013, 10:30 PM
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Drifting from the pole
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 5,479
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Sounds promising...if the wind is going to be low, I'll bring the dew heater 
On the upside, I think I've found a solution for my zenith-averse setup that I'm keen to put to good use
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10-08-2013, 09:12 AM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 5,005
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I'll be getting there a bit late, after 7.
Looks promising for an all night session.
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10-08-2013, 09:23 AM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 5,005
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For those of you who would like to come, but haven't been at the Airfield before, access is via Medlow Bath, the next village heading west from Katoomba. At Medlow Bath's only set of lights, turn into Railway Parade. Then it is a left into Rutland Street (aka Grand Canyon Rd), and onto the Airfield site 4km down. Note that the last 3km of Rutland is unsealed, and rain can cause erosion of the road surface, leaving nasty, deep gashes in the road, so take it easy.
This link shows the above, heading west from Sydney:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...e.php?a=143236
On entering the Airfield's gate, turn LEFT (there's no access to the observing area by heading straight) and follow the track to and past the "No Entry" sign. When you come to a set of buildings, turn right up the hill and head up to the main runway where we set up on the concrete slab on the left. The picture below shows how to get to the set up area. Doing a google maps search of "Katoomba Airfield" will give you the site too.
This link shows the access route to the set up area:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...e.php?a=141903
One last note, to show our gratitude for the use of the Airfield, we give Rod the Airfield manager a gift of his preferred brew, for which the hat gets passed around to cover the cost of the gift.
Mental.
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10-08-2013, 09:24 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Coffs Harbour, Australia
Posts: 139
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I'm revved up for tonight!
I'm aiming for around 4:30-5pm.
See everyone there!!
Rob
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10-08-2013, 10:50 AM
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A Friendly Nyctophiliac
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toongabbie, NSW
Posts: 1,600
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Yeah Ill be leaving home at 3 PM. Should get there about... 4:30? Sounds about right.
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10-08-2013, 10:59 AM
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Interstellar Introvert
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Blue Mountains
Posts: 649
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Hoping to pull an all nighter as well. Aiming to get there around 4:30 too. See you guys then!
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