anyone know if the weather will be good tonight. or will everyone be turning up what ever the outcome, apart from a torrential downpour.
Jase Most people don't turn up if it looks like it's going to be cloudy, but it has in the past it has been cloudy down the coast and Brissie and clear up here , most people play it by ear.
I don't know what the weather will do tonight, I have my fingers crossed that we will get some observing in
Jase
Nothing beats a nice clear dark sky . But if your new to astronomy (not just new to IIS), then you would really enjoy a night at Cambroon - even if the skies are cloudy. I'm very new to astronomy, but the regulars at Cambroon have taught me so much. Plus they're a great bunch of guys as well .
I normally bring some warm clothes (even if it is hot on the coast), some food (BBQ food if you like), viewing equipment (even binos work well in Cambroons dark skies), and yourself.
BTW, there is a donation box there to help cover coffee, tea, etc.
Well it looked like Dob city at Ron's last night. I've never seen so many 8 and 10" dobs in one place at one time. Ron, Jeanette and I left to image the comet at around 6ish and only Gargoyle_Steve (and Don and Joy) and drmorbius (and mini-morbius) were there as well. Not very threatening for my GM8 with SCT and ED80 mounted.
It was a different story when we returned around 8:15ish. My poor little GM8 looked like it was under siege by a veritable field of mini white and silver hot water heaters, all pointing in the same direction and performing little ballet pirouettes as they simultaneously swung and tracked DSOs. It was quite poetic, if not a little bit threatening to the lone black eq mount sitting in the middle of that syncronised horde.
All in all it was a lovely night meeting new faces and catching up with old. We played Russian roulette with the cloud for awhile (with some stunning views at times) until everyone started to head on home around 12ish. It was nice to finally catch up with Saturn and get my gear out in the field for the first time in 3 months if only to shake a few storage bugs out of it.
We did manage to catch quite a few shots of CMcN and here are a couple hot off the press. The second one is just to give those who haven't seen it a perspective on how bright it is, we had a visit by the local bush fire brigade during the imaging session.
Thanks everyone for a great night and thanks again Ron for making your place available. See you all again next new moon.
Fantastic night!
It was terrific to catch up with the old hands and welcome the newcomers.
The clouds were a bit of a problem, but there was enough clear sky to keep us going.
Though everything else in the sky paled in comparison to viewing the comet earlier in the evening.
I took lots of photos, but just about all of them are too grainy to post. Especially when you have pictures like the ones posted in the Images thread.
I think the problem with the camera is that the batteries, which get very hot with continual use, are too close to the CCD chip. A design problem with the camera. Time to save up for an external power supply for it.
Thanks for the hospitality Ron.
Here's those photos of Saturn I took with the DV camera.
It's a good comparison between the two scopes I think.
Thankyou for letting me use your equipment.
Considering the cloud hanging around South East Queensland there was a good turnup at Cambroon last night with Paul(1 ponders) Jeanette (JJJnettie)
Jason(newtostars)Davewaldo and friend?,Steve(Gargoyle Steve), brother Don and Julie,Dave(Nordo) Drmorbius and little morbius and a friend Gordon.
After over an hour of being overwhelmed by Comet P1 Mcnaught returned to as Paul Remarked a field of Dob scopes of all sizes from Little morbius"s4" through 8" 10"12" and 16".
The BBQ which was started late ,(because we were away comet hunting )went down a treat and was enjoyed by all who partook.
The newbies seem to enjoy themselves and promised to return in the future.
I hope to go and do a bit more comet hunting tonight
thanks guys for putting on a great evening...... shame those clouds came across, we had some awesome conditions there in amongst them.
thanks for the initiation too for the directions to get there.. hehehe. I knew it was at Cambroon, but i didn't knwo where to go once there..... i found ya's.
HI Giys ,
Sorry i couldn't make it on Saturday but Sunday night didn't disappoint.
Oh that Comet. Hold me me down cause having this much fun could seriously affect my health!!! Words are not enough!!
Can't wait to get the photo's back tommorrow. I'll have a go at posting some
I enjoyed the tour with your 40mm Mike and Chris. Thanks.
CHeers for Now . Zub
Hi Ron ,
On the way home this evening after our failed attempt at Eastern Mary valley road , i spied the Said Comet whilst driving , just before the Knob. ( Didn't see 30" pete). We all got out of the car and as plain as day there it was!! Spewing light into the heavens like a fountain.We just caught the nucleus , before it set and with the Glass house Mountains to the side . What a sight. All the billy's saw it including Levi ( 2 year old) So the trip wasn't a total waste after all.
Chris, Sunday is OK weather permitting
Ron
, most people play it by ear.
![[1ponders]'s Avatar](../vbiis/customavatars/avatar45_9.gif){kind=avatar}
I'm hanging out for a night under the stars. It has been sooooooo long.
. 
See you all again next new moon. 
