SE-Qld get together. Astron's place 25th Feb - Page 3

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #41 25-02-2006, 04:17 PM

My night of observing here has fallen through. Some seem to find going to the movies more enticing than a night under the stars/clouds.
So I'm taking an afternoon drive up to Kenilworth and see what happens up there.
Byeeeee.

astro_south (Andrew) · #42 26-02-2006, 05:01 PM

Well guys....what happened? Who turned up? What did you see? Photos? Astrophotos?

Xeelee (Chris) · #43 26-02-2006, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astro_south

Well guys....what happened? Who turned up? What did you see? Photos? Astrophotos?

No photos I think but plenty of DEW

[1ponders] (Paul) · #44 26-02-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astro_south

Well guys....what happened? Who turned up? What did you see? Photos? Astrophotos?

Not the best of nights, but at least it didn't rain while I was there.

Roll call:
Astroron
jjjnettie
Xeelee and dad (Sorry Chris I've forgotten your dad's name)
Peter of the BIG scope (no scope unfortunately)
You'res truely.

Ground mist started to move in around sundown and hadn't lifted when I left around 9:30, though as I was driving away it seemed to be clearing.

We did manage to get a bit of viewing in during breaks in the thin overhead mist. Bit of aperture from Ron's scope helped. Couple of galaxies, 2903 Centaurus A M104 and a couple of others. Few nebulas, Eta Car, Tarantula, Orion, planets mars and Saturn, couple of multiple stars, Omega Centauri, and just generally scooted around the sky.

It was interesting to notice the way different scopes dewed up differently. Xeelees white sct had a waterfall running off it, jjjnetties GSO silver dob was quite wet, yet my little 80 ED was hardly damp yet my finderscope lens was totally dewed...go figure??

Ast least we had the night out under the stars. Let's hope for a clearer night next Saturday night.

dhumpie · #45 26-02-2006, 08:03 PM

Well at least you guys got some dark sky action. Over here in Indooroopilly the skies were cloudy till after 11pm. Got out for about two hours before thin clouds spoilt the views close to 1am. Well it was okay as we had guest over till about 10.30pm. Overall not a bad night. Got some good views of the major objects in the southern sky plus a good view of old jove's belts.

Darren

p/s: finally got round to flocking the 10" dob

Sausageman (Mike Boggan) · #46 26-02-2006, 09:25 PM

I went to our Aratula site on Friday evening, the forecast was for cloud and rain so I left the scope at home.
First port of call was the pub, where we celebrated the completion of our Solar power project, with a meal and a drink.
Drove on to the site and.......
You guessed it, it was probably the most perfect night I have ever seen there. I could see the magellanic clouds easily, so I relaxed with a beer and just looked up. The Milky Way was awesome.
The Starlight was so bright, I didn't need a torch to find my way around, I could see easily.
I'm never going to believe the weather man again.

Mike

dhumpie · #47 27-02-2006, 01:38 PM

That happens does it. And it sucks

Darren

#48 27-02-2006, 01:56 PM

I stayed home after much deliberation, and I am glad I did as it sounds like it wasnt worth the drive. I set up on my rear deck as the skies cleared and had a reasonable poke around the south before, you guessed it, clouded over in 30 seconds and then rained on me, lucky I dived on the lens cap for the 12" before any rain hit the mirror, the ETX I threw a plastic bag over. Geeee I hate summertime in the tropics.

dhumpie · #49 28-02-2006, 09:39 AM

Highly unpredictable the weather is (as in Yoda speak)......

Darren

[1ponders] (Paul) · #50 28-02-2006, 10:28 AM

Forecast isn't looking good for this weekend either

Moonshine · #51 03-03-2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhumpie

Highly unpredictable the weather is (as in Yoda speak)......

Darren

Excuse me Master Yoda - but highly unpredictable the weather is not! Constantly raining and cloudy it is!

dhumpie · #52 03-03-2006, 06:02 PM

As of last night it is

Darren aka Master Yoda

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #53 05-03-2006, 12:22 PM

Here's a couple of pics I took while we were setting up.
I should have taken a couple of the Tattoos that now grace my telescope.
( the things you do when it's overcast)
I had another great time at Master Ron's. Educational as well as very social.
Chris and his dad had their first heavy dew experience. Fun isn't it?
I gave up with my scope after my finder and mirror went foggy. Lucky for us Ron's scope was fully operational. Who needs a finderscope when you have Argo Navis?
Thanks for having us over Ron. We appreciate it.

Jeanette

astroron (Ron) · #54 05-03-2006, 03:59 PM

Thanks jjjannette,the scope hasn't seen any light since that night, it's either been cloudy, raining, or windy, I was hoping to get a look at the S/N in M100 but no luck so far,

things might clear up by mid week, fingers crossed.
Good luck with the house. Ron

dhumpie · #55 06-03-2006, 04:52 PM

Did you guys get any clear skies up there? All we got was rain and more rain

Did anyone purchase a large scope recently.....

Darren

[1ponders] (Paul) · #56 06-03-2006, 05:28 PM

The skies themselves were nice and clear Darren. Unfortunately the mist/fog was playing havoc with the tranparency, but every now and then a window of opportunity would open.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #57 07-03-2006, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhumpie

Did you guys get any clear skies up there? All we got was rain and more rain

Did anyone purchase a large scope recently.....

Darren

Darren,
It seems you no longer need to purchase a scope to spoil the weather, just having a desire to observe will now bring the clouds rolling in.

dhumpie · #58 07-03-2006, 03:03 PM

Arrrggghhhh this cloudy/ rainy weather is driving me insane. Have not had the scope out in ages (the last time was two Wed ago) since I got it flocked. And the moon is going to get in the way this weekend....what is a person to do just for a minute of starlight time!!!!! Bugger it I am going to get the scope out this weekend even if it means looking at luna....

Darren

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #59 07-03-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhumpie

Have not had the scope out in ages (the last time was two Wed ago) since I got it flocked.
Darren

A hah!!!
It's your flocking fault for all this rain.

( sorry but you left yourself wide open for that one Darren )

PS I can see myself deleted for this.

Tee Hee

Zubenel (Wes) · #60 10-03-2006, 01:41 PM

Hi Guys ,
I have got up at 4.00am to find the Comet P___ski and found cloud every morning except this morning. AS clear as a whistle. Its a pity the comet is off the Feb Map?? I didn't find it. But wasn't the Large sag Cloud awesome. It's good to know that the stars are still there waiting for us!!

How is the week end of the 25th looking for Ron,s Place!! Cant wait.

Cheers Zub.