Finally, an Observatory

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Steve, you can read my mind.
A First Light Star Party.
A swim in the creek earlier in the afternoon, a BBQ late afternoon, a couple of drinkies then we'll fire up the Espresso and Granita machines to keep us going all night long.
We've had quite a few locals ask when it will be up and running, they seem keen to have a look, but I'll keep that opening night separate from First Light.
Can't wait.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Steve, you can read my mind.
A First Light Star Party.
A swim in the creek earlier in the afternoon, a BBQ late afternoon, a couple of drinkies then we'll fire up the Espresso and Granita machines to keep us going all night long.
We've had quite a few locals ask when it will be up and running, they seem keen to have a look, but I'll keep that opening night separate from First Light.
Can't wait.

I can see another business opportunity JJJ - the JJJ coffee and Photon Swill bar.......coming from a galaxy near you sooon

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Finally, at last, I got someone to come and level the dirt. For 2 months I've been waiting for this.
Next step footings and pier hole.

[Dennis]

Ooooh, I can feel the excitement building up. Way to go JJJ, looking good!

Cheers

Dennis

[Ric]

A good start Jeanette, it's always a good feeling when you can see things happening and progress being made.

Cheers

[joshman (Josh)]

looking good!!!! it won't be long before you're cracking a bottle of champagne over the bow and giving it a name! first light will be a treat!

[davewaldo]

WOW!!! That's great Jeanette! Doesn't look like it will be long now before you can use it!

You've cleaned it up well too! It's positively GLOWING!

Will you be laying a concrete slab and pier?

[Tamtarn]

Great to see that installation has started.

Must be an exciting time. Look forward to your progress pics

[steve000 (Steve)]

SO here I am hijacking this thread from 2007, can I say how amazing iceinspace is, the fact that its still here and STILL has all the old stuff in it. This is internet history that's still living. Very very much appreciated..

Always, around 2011 I acquired the dome below from JJJ. Life has gotten in the way so "Starry Night Observatory" is yet to be built however the dome is still in good condition chilling in my yard.

Life is a little more stable so some thoughts are brewing about how i can set it up again. Part of this build id like to have some printouts of photos from when it was setup back in the day with the sunshine coast club.
If anyone has any photos of this era of our lives, I would absolutely love if you could post them. The joy from seeing the dome in its original glory will be next level but also will look great on a print as well as maybe give me a little more motivation.

Hopefully hijacking a old thread will put it up top again but also hopefully it is ok for me to do so. I figure why not keep it all together

JJJ, I hope you are well and life has treated you and your loved ones well over the years, its been a rough trip for sure.

[AlexN]

That's awesome mate.

JJJ is a good sort! I haven't seen her since 2010 as I've just come back from a decade long break from astronomy.

Unfortunately a lot of the old crew either don't post frequently or haven't been online in years.. the site appears to have gotten very quiet, there's not any regular dark sky parties listed or advertised.

I guess everyone has gone to Facebook groups or something?

Hopefully there's still a good crew around Brisbane to go and do some imaging with somewhere dark. We'll see I guess.

Originally Posted by steve000

SO here I am hijacking this thread from 2007, can I say how amazing iceinspace is, the fact that its still here and STILL has all the old stuff in it. This is internet history that's still living. Very very much appreciated..

Always, around 2011 I acquired the dome below from JJJ. Life has gotten in the way so "Starry Night Observatory" is yet to be built however the dome is still in good condition chilling in my yard.

Life is a little more stable so some thoughts are brewing about how i can set it up again. Part of this build id like to have some printouts of photos from when it was setup back in the day with the sunshine coast club.
If anyone has any photos of this era of our lives, I would absolutely love if you could post them. The joy from seeing the dome in its original glory will be next level but also will look great on a print as well as maybe give me a little more motivation.

Hopefully hijacking a old thread will put it up top again but also hopefully it is ok for me to do so. I figure why not keep it all together

JJJ, I hope you are well and life has treated you and your loved ones well over the years, its been a rough trip for sure.

[astroron (Ron)]

Alex, I remember when you Jeanette and others used to come
up to Cambroon for your dark sky fix.
All that is gone now, due mainly to Covid and the ease of
using scopes in less than ideal conditions.
Cambroon is no more, I sold the place earlier this year and
I haven't done much Astronomy since.
Age and my change of location have greatly inhibited
me doing it.
I hope you're well.
Cheers Ron:
A little bit of history of the Dome.
The Dome was built and owned by my now departed
friend Gordon Jones, at Morayfield when he moved he gave
it to SEQAS, Sunshine Coast Astronomical Society.
A failed relocation to Near Mapleton, due to a change mind of
a member of the family not wanting it on the property.
Glen Lang then President of the club bought it for song
and set it up near the Glass House Mountains.
When he relocated to Kilcoy Janette obtained it out at Mary Smokes creek
road a few kilometres from Kilcoy.
I seemed to have lost track of it after that.

[AlexN]

Ron, I think I learned more in my nights at your place than anywhere else!

I'm now just on the border intersection of Caboolture, Elimbah and Wamuran... Its certainly 'dark enough' out here, But I'm planning on taking the rig up to kennilworth or out to toogoolawah for a few nights a month.

I can stay in my van and run the whole rig off the solar/battery setup almost indefinitely...