Bretti 2014 - Page 4

glend (Glen) · #61 30-03-2014, 08:57 AM

Alan_L what does that 7timer site have to say about our prospects for tonight onward?

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #62 30-03-2014, 11:43 AM

7Timer seems to be broken again Glen

geoff

Allan_L (Allan) · #63 30-03-2014, 12:17 PM

yes, 7timer has not updated since 28 March.
Bing weather forecast says scattered showers clearing by 11pm and clear Monday night.

I am just going to have some lunch and head on up there now.

Its a nice short drive anyway.

Fizics (John) · #64 30-03-2014, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glend

I loaded up the camper this morning then it clouded over here. The forecast doesn't look very positive but an onsite report is the best kind and Alan's sounds good.

Just a thought: if Allan has packed up he would make another post by late this arvo. So then a reasonable assumption is if we have not heard from him that the sky shows promise for tonight.

glend (Glen) · #65 30-03-2014, 01:48 PM

I spoke to Allan_L this morning, I am heading up there today as well. All packed now and I should be off in about 15 minutes. I am not taking the big dob, just the long refractor - less hassle and stuff to pack and deal with at the other end (as you have seen John).

Hope to see you up there John, I can't make any promises about what we may find but there has been no 'warning' from Allan and if he was coming back we'd probably know by now.

I'll take a chance.

Fizics (John) · #66 31-03-2014, 03:11 PM

As much I wanted to catch up with you guys everything has conspired against me getting away .... Mainly the weather risk and not being ready to go by 2pm.
Good dose of cloud cover all day here. Disappointing skies.

Shano592 (Shane) · #67 31-03-2014, 04:49 PM

Yeah, the rain and thunder last night here were quite heavy.

I hope it didn't decide to go north, and inland a little bit. That would not have been fun.

glend (Glen) · #68 01-04-2014, 04:45 PM

I have just returned from Bretti, no rain other than a few drops during the day. Allan can give you the details on Saturday night as I was not there then. Allan_L and I arrived around 5pm on Sunday. There were clouds moving around so it was a case of observing in the gaps. Monday night was good, at least until the cloud moved in again around 10:30pm but cleared again later but we found fog this morning.

I left the dob at home and used the AR102L refractor exclusively this time. I wanted to see how hard I could push the magnification on it's 102mm f9.8 1000mm fl. Detail on Mars and Jupiter were my primary targets, along with the usual nebs, etc. I pushed it to over the usual refractor target of 2x the aperture (which would have been 204x), using up tp 220x. Best seeing was around 180x however. As usual the TV 11mm Nagler was the best.

We all managed, in our respective scopes, to catch the Ganymede shadow transit on Jupiter last night. Allan seemed to have the best detail on Mars, doing filter swaps, (and you'd expect so with all that aperture) but I could see the polar cap and the major dark hook feature (Syrtis Major I think).

I came back today because the forecast was for widespread rain from early tomorrow morning and I did not want to pack up in the rain. I hope the two Allans have great viewing tonight, probably be the best as I have left.

glend (Glen) · #69 02-04-2014, 10:18 AM

So Alan_L, where is that rain? Not a problem, it was amazingly clear here at home last night.

Allan · #70 02-04-2014, 02:52 PM

You should have stayed after all Glen, oh well. We had a great night. Usual clouds at sunset, and then clear sky an hour or so later. Allan and I ploughed our way around the sky until about 2:30am. SQM averaged at 21.55, so the same as Chaffey.

We looked at everything we could think of. Planets, asteroids, galaxies, nebulae, clusters, meteors, satellites. I managed to observe the last of the Messier galaxies in Virgo with my 10x50's, so I have observed all the Messier objects with the binoculars now.

We had a bit of dew but the heaters kept that at bay, and then the fog rolled in early this morning again. I was happy to get in 2 long clear nights of observing, and the day time weather was good as well.

It's only 2 hours drive, so I think I will make it a semi regular trip around the new moon. Even for 1 or 2 nights only. Time will tell. Thanks guys for your company. Cheers

Allan_L (Allan) · #71 03-04-2014, 04:22 AM

Well Glen, I just reported what the weather experts predicted

And as Allan said the viewing was pretty darn good Tuesday night.
I hit the sack about 3pm.
Viewed everything on my planning list (first time ever).
View of Saturn was so clear I decided to push it with my 3mm Radian.
That's 500x.(A little over actually as I had the Paracorr installed).
And it was still able to produce a pretty nice image

Rings (and division) very clear and nice banding of the planet.
And the image was Big and beautiful!

Sorry the regulars did not manage to make it, but we had a nice little gathering, some interested neighbours dropped by for a view and were suitably impressed, the weather was pleasant (no rain while I was there of any consequence), and warm enough to sleep with the doors open, but not too hot in the day!
Not much else you could ask for really.

Thanks Allan and Glen for your company and the shared views.
A definite regular new moon destination of choice (IMHO).

glend (Glen) · #72 05-04-2014, 10:42 AM

For your consideration, the April New Moon falls on the 29th which is a Tuesday. The IISAC, for those going, finishes on Sunday the 27th. Last time we were at Bretti there was a discussion about returning for the New Moon on 28-30th of April, which gives the IISAC attendees a nearby option for continuing through the New Moon period. For those not going to IISAC a three day New Moon trip to Bretti might be an alternative.

All of this is subject to weathe of course. It might also provide the Sydney people with a chance to 'get out of town' since the Blue Mtns Airfield has been socked in on recent attempts. Post up if interested.

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #73 05-04-2014, 01:46 PM

Sounds Good to me.
I will plan on leaving Wed April 30th....

Coming back the Saturday or Sunday after.
It will be after Easter and Anzac Day as well which may keep the holiday crowds down to a minimum if we are lucky.

How does that sound to all others in concern ?

Geoffro

Jezkerwin (Jeremy) · #74 07-04-2014, 08:02 PM

Thanks for this suggestion of Bretti, this place looks perfect for night photography and star gazing.
I've been wanting to find a place where I could camp and have clear view's of the sky and this looks like the perfect place.

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #75 07-04-2014, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jezkerwin

Thanks for this suggestion of Bretti, this place looks perfect for night photography and star gazing.
I've been wanting to find a place where I could camp and have clear view's of the sky and this looks like the perfect place.

Hi Jeremy,
Bretti is certainly a great place. Dark skies and quiet surroundings makes for a great campsite for those with scopes....or those without scopes....I look forward to getting up there, and hope you can make it too....

Geoffro.

Shano592 (Shane) · #76 07-04-2014, 11:11 PM

Sounds like a good plan. Unfortunately, we will be in China on business.

Maybe when we get back, I may slide on up to Bretti for a few days... weather and Moon permitting.

The great thing, is that it is only about 75 minutes further out than the Pony Club, for me.

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #77 08-04-2014, 05:15 PM

It would be great to see you there Shane.
Only 75 mins further hey...... We'll you have no excuse now....

Shano592 (Shane) · #78 09-04-2014, 10:33 AM

I have been driving up to Gloucester (and the Barringtons) with Sue, for short breaks. But we always seem to time it (poorly) so that it is too close to the full moon, so looking up has been out of the question.

Yeah, the distance is easy enough, and the drive is good.

Workload is my biggest issue. China this month, as well as in June... and Perth in September/October.

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #79 09-04-2014, 06:25 PM

Hi Jeremy. Try and catch up with us up there set Bretti.
I am sure you will have a great time up there with all of us.
Geoffro

glend (Glen) · #80 10-04-2014, 01:46 PM

I will be there Geoff. Pretty busy period coming up. Trying to finish the 127mm refractor build before I go up to Glenbawn Dam the week after Good Friday for a family camping holiday with my son (must take a scope) then back home over Anzac weekend then up to Bretti for the New Moon. Glad I am not trying to squeeze IISAC in there as welll.

Other than Geoff and I, and I think that Allan and Allan_l indicated a return trip this month, who else is interested? John? Others? All welcome.