looking forward to meeting and getting some tips off you guys and getting this alignment sorted.
cheers
Sejanus, I saw an ad in Astronomy Now (British mag) that made me think of you. The company Rother Valley Optics (www.rothervalleyoptics.com) is advertising a DVD for 14.99 pounds called "Beginner's guide to Equatorial Mounted Telescopes" which appears to cover all of the issues that would be of interest to you in mastering your scopes.
Sorry I cant make it tonight but I am still recovering from my shoulder surgery.
Challenge for tonight if anyone wants for a big scope (JB). The cartwheel
ESO350IG40
RA 0h 37m 41.3s
DEC 33 42' 58"
MAG 13.8?
A very nice interacting group of galaxies and should be visible in any large instrument that turns up.
Give a report here if you catch it
Clear Skies
Andrew
G'day Andrew, hope the surgery brings you the relief you seek. Keep popping those painkillers! Hope to see you back on deck very soon.
As for the challenge object, I've taken a note of the details, and will try to track it down on the largest scope on the observing field. Let you know what I can see.
methinks they be having fun even though the seeing is crud and the southerly has cloud and wind. they are probably munching on hedgehogs and laughing at us for not being there!
methinks they be having fun even though the seeing is crud and the southerly has cloud and wind. they are probably munching on hedgehogs and laughing at us for not being there!
The wind eased considerably and was not an issue. There was no
cloud but the seeing was mediocre and the moonlight the ultimate limiting factor
for observing DSO's.
John B gave a second-light run to the Obsession 18".
A good night all the same and nice to catch up with everyone.
Yes, a great night had by all. Thanks for the company, guys.
As indicated by Gary, John Bambury was kind enough to show us some wonderful views in his new 18" Obsession. To my mind, the view that most impressed was M42. I have previously detected a distinctly green tinge in the central area in my 10" scope. However, the rich green colour of the trap area, and the strong pinks around the Running Man and farther regions of M42were something I found hard to believe, it was simply awesome.
47 Tuc had detail in the core area that I have never seen as well. It really was like seeing an object for the first time.
Oh boy....I am in trouble now....I had better get that 20" dob before Christmas, or I might end up in a white jacket under sedation...
Thanks for a fun filled evening ppl. The luaghter I'm sure could be heard all over Kulnura. I can still taste those Hedgehogs in the back of my throat, even after half a dozen mint slices.
Looking forward to the next one and I'm already on the lookout for more hedgehogs.
I really,really love my new chair, thanks again Scott
my commiserations to those that had to go home early (and didn't come at all)
yes the moon was a tad bright for what we are used to viewing - but when it was gone, the sky just got better and better and better and better.
(did i say how much better the sky got after the moon went down and all those other people went home 'RB' )
i was very thankful i put the freezer suit on with my twin brother.
around 1am it was fully done up and my gloves on - so the temperature must have dropped from 3 degrees to "COLD".
we saw none of the CLOUD others on the coast were talking about - well not till i got home at 3am anyway. What a beautiful nite it turned out to be.
(and some of you lot wonder why we stay so late - now you know) ( it gets oh so much better after midnite)
thanks 'John B' for bringing the monster - some great views we don't get to see in such detail with our minion equipment.
now to the much anticipated highlight of the evening -
the slaughter and demise of the poor defenseless Hedgehogs
Gazz had them prepared just right!
'John B' loved the unique taste so much he was observed (caught) asking for seconds. ( i think it had H0ughy's name branded on it to start with)
I thought i heard him ask Mike whether they would be on the menu at Lostock - didn't hear a reply though.
now to the much anticipated highlight of the evening -
the slaughter and demise of the poor defenseless Hedgehogs
Gazz had them prepared just right!
'John B' loved the unique taste so much he was observed (caught) asking for seconds. ( i think it had H0ughy's name branded on it to start with)
I thought i heard him ask Mike whether they would be on the menu at Lostock - didn't hear a reply though.
Gazz - are they plentiful up round Lostock ?
A new delicacy I struck upon quite by accident is "smoked hedgehog". Simple recipe. Take a deep draft of smoke from a large cigar, and before you exhale, absent mindedly take a bite of hedgehog and start chewing.
If you don't choke or start spluttering, the mix of flavours is rather pleasing...
