G'Day from Up Over :)

[FJA (Faith)]

Hi Allan

I'm not sure yet, probably the eastern side of the country again, NSW and Qld.
Thanks for the invite!

I'll post more about my visit nearer the time. It's all vague at the moment, beyond hoping/planning to be there in 2013.

[Gem (Grant)]

Originally Posted by FJA

I am a Southampton fan (for my sins), finally on their way back up after a few years of utter rubbish.

As a Leeds fan I can sympathise!!

[M54 (Molly)]

Welcome Faith.
Your astronomical CV is amazing!

Molly.

[FJA (Faith)]

Thanks Molly.

Grant - yes, both our clubs fell on hard times. Thanks mostly to mismanagement.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Yes we are very tolerant, we allow poms. (Just watch out during international sporting events.) I agree there are too few women astronomers, so a double welcome. I can say for sure however that the number of women astronomers has increased over the years so the trend is healthy. My better half is the secretary of the local astro club but she isn't active on IIS.

If you thinking of coming down in 2013 why not come a bit earlier, Nov 2012 to be precise. It's a long way to come for 2 minutes of shade and the climate of FNQ at that time of year is near leathal but once you see a total solar eclipse you will be hooked

BTW I'm also a Liverpool supporter. You can blame Pink Floyd for that.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Welcome Faith....
My daughter is a high school teacher in Putney just outside London.

Nice to have you on board ... bring the 18 incher with you so we can all " drool "

Flash.

[FJA (Faith)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

Yes we are very tolerant, we allow poms. (Just watch out during international sporting events.)

What, like during the Ashes? It's all good banter, tho. .

I don't think I can come in 2012, I'm planning to go to the Texas Star Party and can't afford both trips in one year.

[Suzy]

Faith, I was wondering if you would consider contributing two articles you have on your Deep Sky Observing web page; (1) Binocular Messier Project in which you observed with your 8x42's, and (2) So You Want To Do Deep Sky Observing.
These articles are really well written and would be a fabulous resource for members of this forum to draw from. There doesn't seem to be anything in our "Projects & Articles" section for the subjects you have written for.
Please PM Mike (IceMan) if you're interested.
No pressure, just a thought.
Otherwise, if you don't mind I would like to refer to those links on your page when offering assistance to people on this forum. They are sooo good!

[FJA (Faith)]

I would be happy to, Suzy. I'll drop Mike a PM. Thanks for the comments.

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

I am an ex-pom does that count?

Adrian

[FJA (Faith)]

Originally Posted by AdrianF

I am an ex-pom does that count?

Adrian

Depends on how Aussie-fied you have become, Adrian.

Faith, I was wondering if you would consider contributing two articles you have on your Deep Sky Observing web page; (1) Binocular Messier Project in which you observed with your 8x42's, and (2) So You Want To Do Deep Sky Observing.
These articles are really well written and would be a fabulous resource for members of this forum to draw from. There doesn't seem to be anything in our "Projects & Articles" section for the subjects you have written for.
Please PM Mike (IceMan) if you're interested.

Suzy - I have sent an email to Mike with the articles attached.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Welcome Faith.

I am very impressed by your consistent and persistent observing efforts over many years. I have waxed and waned (pardon the astronomical reference) in my observing diligence...at the moment things are quiet, but I am slowing picking up steam for another run of observing nights over the warmer months. Well done, for faithfully keeping an eye on the heavens while some of us snooze...

I recently saw the northern skies for the first time ever, during a 22 day holiday in France. It was a thrill, while in Provence, to see some of the northern constellations, and especially to see Polaris. It seems a bit of a cheat, for you northerners to get a star so close to the celestial pole!

Anyhoo, welcome, hope you find the community here to your liking. I like it having another visual observing on board....sometimes we are somewhat outnumbered by the imagers!

[FJA (Faith)]

Thanks Rod. Yes, us visual people often get outnumbered but there's a lot of us out there.
I'd swap the North Star for some of the southern Milky Way and a Magellanic Cloud!

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Look, just because we're nice, you can have the SMC for free - but you need to arrange your own transport.

[FJA (Faith)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

Look, just because we're nice, you can have the SMC for free - but you need to arrange your own transport.

[stephenb (Stephen)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

Look, just because we're nice, you can have the SMC for free - but you need to arrange your own transport.

It's on loan only, we want it back when you've finished with it.

Welcome Faith. Love your website and blog.


Regards,
Stephen

[FJA (Faith)]

Originally Posted by stephenb

It's on loan only, we want it back when you've finished with it.

Welcome Faith. Love your website and blog.


Regards,
Stephen

I'll take good care of it, I promise.

I'll arrange transport - a Qantas Airbus A380 Down Under in 2013.

Thanks for the comment about my website.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Originally Posted by FJA

Thanks Rod. Yes, us visual people often get outnumbered but there's a lot of us out there.
I'd swap the North Star for some of the southern Milky Way and a Magellanic Cloud!

Yeah, well you can't have them!

Although there was a lot of moisture in the air last night, catching a lot of the ambient light from around our area, I enjoyed a nice session last night exploring the southern constellations of Tucana, Phoenix and Grus. 47 Tuc is always a treat, but its smaller globular neighbour NGC 362 took my particular fancy last night. I also enjoyed lots of little doubles in the aforementioned constellations, and a few wisps of galaxies, culminating with the Grus quartet. NCG 253 was a little low, but I stopped by to welcome it. Finished up with a few doubles favourites on the northern horizon: Albireo and Gamma Delphini.

All in all, a pleasant session of about 90 mins, and in bed by a decent hour.

[FJA (Faith)]

Originally Posted by Rodstar

Yeah, well you can't have them!

Although there was a lot of moisture in the air last night, catching a lot of the ambient light from around our area, I enjoyed a nice session last night exploring the southern constellations of Tucana, Phoenix and Grus. 47 Tuc is always a treat, but its smaller globular neighbour NGC 362 took my particular fancy last night. I also enjoyed lots of little doubles in the aforementioned constellations, and a few wisps of galaxies, culminating with the Grus quartet. NCG 253 was a little low, but I stopped by to welcome it. Finished up with a few doubles favourites on the northern horizon: Albireo and Gamma Delphini.

All in all, a pleasant session of about 90 mins, and in bed by a decent hour.

Sounds like a lovely session. What were the little galaxies you saw?

NGC 253 is one of my favourite binocular targets. It's quite low in the south from here, just clearing the trees on a nearby hill, so it's easier to look at with binoculars than the scope.

47 Tuc is one of my favourites from my visits to Australia, Omega Cen rules the roost in terms of size but I like 47's compact core and symmetrical appearance. I've not seen NGC 362, so that's on my observing list for my next trips.

[FJA (Faith)]

Many thanks for the warm welcome, everyone - Aussies are the friendliest and most hospitable people on the planet, along with Americans.
Hopefully I can meet some of you when I visit in a couple of years...we'll see.