Central Coast Observing in February - Page 3

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #41 02-02-2008, 06:43 PM

i'm coming up for the run seeing as how i have some deliveries to do

somebody please bring a scope

geoff

iceman (Mike) · #42 02-02-2008, 06:43 PM

Clearing now, but the satellite shows more cloud in about an hour or two.

Sue Lang · #43 02-02-2008, 06:43 PM

Hi all,

Would love to be going tonight but a sore eye prevents it.

Looks like I will just have to make do with the lamb roast! Saw Venus and Jupiter this morning - fabulous!

Have to wait til next time!

Cheers
Sue

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #44 02-02-2008, 06:46 PM

you have TWO eyes Sue

you can use the other one

geoff

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #45 02-02-2008, 06:54 PM

C'mon Sue, we need to get that scope of yours going well.

Geoffro.

RB (Andrew) · #46 02-02-2008, 06:59 PM

I'm in !

I'll see you guys around 8.30'ish.

Sue Lang · #47 02-02-2008, 07:10 PM

Would really love to be on my way but can't drive when my eye is itching and weeping. Its like an allergic thing but don't know what to. I'll be right for next weekend if anyone else is going. You never know, it may well be clear(er) then. Sometimes the Gods just don't smile on you.

Thanks for the thought
Sue

Deeno · #48 02-02-2008, 07:17 PM

Car is packed

Will see you up there.

Rodstar (Rod) · #49 02-02-2008, 08:12 PM

Sorry fellas, I am going to pass tonight. I am feeling dog tired, and I am still not convinced about the conditions...(famous last words)....

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #50 03-02-2008, 04:52 AM

" Oh hear ye non believers, and thee of little faith.
let it be known that six of the faithful did this Saturday the 2nd of February, partake in the wielding of telescopes at the Mangrove Mountain Pony Club.
Many of the visible favourites and a selection of double stars were observed in often PRISTINE conditions in a nice assortment of scopes.
Much camaraderie and banter was exchanged, and there were cashew nuts, tim tams and much coffee on the table to be consumed.

Thee who have made recent purchases were held responsible for much cloud and fog that descended upon us in the wee hours of the morning, ending our vigil at 3-50am."

thanks fella's

geoff

iceman (Mike) · #51 03-02-2008, 08:04 AM

Sorry I missed it, glad you had a great time.

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #52 03-02-2008, 08:15 AM

And the words that he spaketh did come to pass.
And those who heard this word shall never doubteth again.
And the words " It will clear " rangeth out in the night for all to hear.

Well Geoff said it would clear.......and it did.....even if it was on and off.

Those who set up a scope were treated to some old favourites before the heavy dew took hold.

Mars was a nice sight as well as Saturn later on when it was high in the sky.

I also observed some nice double stars ( Acamar, Rigel, Alpha Crux) and even a lovely triple in Monoceros. Beta Monoceros I believe.

The triple was a lovely close system that looked very nice indeed at a medium power ( 164 times ).

I was not dissapointed and had my eye to the eyepiece most of the night.

The clouds finally closed in again so we called it a night around 3am or so I think.

Thanks to those who turned up and also those who voted me to
return the key.
It was an experience being harrassed by the local dog when
locking the gate..........in the dark...

Rodstar (Rod) · #53 03-02-2008, 08:16 AM

I am glad you had such a nice time Geoffs one and all!

In the end I was glad to muddle by myself in the backyard doing a TPAS star run, and then to head off to bed without the pack-up and long drive before midnight.

See you all next month. I am away next weekend.

Rodstar (Rod) · #54 03-02-2008, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmykombie

I also observed some nice double stars ( Acamar, Rigel, Alpha Crux) and even a lovely triple in Monoceros. Beta Monoceros I believe.

The triple was a lovely close system that looked very nice indeed at a medium power ( 164 times ).

Geoff, if you have an appetite for doubles at the moment, you cannot go past sigma Orionis (5 stars system, 4 of which are plainly visible), with Struve 761 in the FOV, again with 4 stars visible. That is about my favourite double (actually a double double in this instance) at the moment, along with Adhara in Canis Major, which reminds me of Rigel, but a little closer in separation.

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #55 03-02-2008, 08:51 AM

Thanks Rod, I have locked them into the grey matter hard disk for next session.

Geoffro.

Rick Petrie · #56 03-02-2008, 12:02 PM

Well last night was probably a "window of opportunity"in what one would call a miserable weather pattern at the moment. Great time was had by all attendees and some occasional pristeen moments as Geoff's both reported.
Seeing wasn't too bad, however the dew problem put a "damper" on things.
My scope was suffering huge build up and I think I will need to experiment with a "Cuban" smoke test as Andrew said to determine the flow of air through the tube. Deeno also had an "AIRFLOW" problem but we won't go there.

During the latter part of the night our banter was keeping the local dogs awake and they paid us a visit. Everyone thought we discovered a new "double star" through the fog, when we found out that the double was only the reflection of the dogs eyes from the torch.

Cheers.

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #57 03-02-2008, 12:22 PM

I apologise to the masses for an error in accounting

we actually numbered seven - not six

i forgot Arthur packed up early because of the dew

guess you will all be working on dew shields and chasing down hair dryers this week

( and i am not going to go anywhere near the bloke that has all them resisters

)

geoff

Deeno · #58 03-02-2008, 12:36 PM

Well worth packing up scope and making the trip.

Had a nice run for an hour or so even though conditions were quite heavy with the atmosphere thick with moisture, things cleared up adequately enough (pristine) for the the Argo to navigate a lap of clusters and nebulas around Orion, a tour of galaxies in Leo and a peek at some of the other usual suspects.

Enjoyed the magnificent views of Saturn through Geoff’s LX200 even though Saturn was upside down and the wrong way round.....

Great to catch up and chew the fat...so to speak
Deeno

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #59 03-02-2008, 01:30 PM

you can be thankfull we didn't put the buckets out then Geoff

geoff

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #60 03-02-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deeno

Enjoyed the magnificent views of Saturn through Geoff’s LX200 even though Saturn was upside down and the wrong way round.....

Funny you should say that Deeno, I also had a report of an upside down and wrong way round image from Geoff. In between his adjusting the focusser which was " always out "

I carefully checked and re-checked my equipment this morning and found all to be OK.
It must be Geoffs and your eyes that are wrong, or its your mind playing games, which I believe can frequently happen from the
" DOB side of the camp "