In spite of rising early and working very hard all morning, it is now clear to me that I can not make it tonight...it makes me sad.
I have just too many "honey do" projects to get done to make it up there tonight. I head overseas next week for a bit of an extended trip so the projects must get done today and tomorrow. Hopefully I can make the December viewing night...November is shot for me!
I hope the veiwing is glorious tonight for all that can attend!!!
I bet there are Mike. The black ones with the red belly don't hurt much, it's the brown ones you gotta watch out for.
I won't be able to make it tonight. I have been in Coonabarbran observing the past week and my wife has been in QLD for the past 3 weeks.
I hope you guys have a good night up there.
Clear sky’s, very good (but not excellent) viewing conditions all nite (and I mean all nite)
It got cold enough for us to don the freezer suits about 11pm and manage the conditions better than a couple of others not so prepared.
New visitor Geoff, from Yarramalong, was enticed to stay a little longer than he intended I think, and we hope to see a bit more of him in the future.
Sorry I never got to meet the visitors from Sydney (Dave was it ?) , but the cup cakes were very nice – thank you very much.
Most spent the nite going from scope to scope , sharing the views – even my little 8”er got a turn in the end.
I managed to tame the argo and get it to behave all nite – and Nephew, (if your reading this), I have concluded that as far as the eyepieces are concerned – USE em or Lose em.
The use of quality eyepieces, even in the likes of my little dob – makes all the difference between a good observing session and an excellent one.
Now to the Pony Club facilities –
Yes the grass was long because the maintenance obviously didn’t need to be done during the quarantine period for the horse flu – so we didn’t get to use the main field.
But – the edges of the sand dressage area proved quite adequate for our needs this time round.
Joe set up more to the west in the middle of the beach, and was probably better protected from the street light down the road.
Mike set up close to the club house so he could get to the power, and only for the fact his batteries ran out, I think we would have had him there well after midnight for a change.
Some sneaky bugger solved the problem of the lights on the brick wall over the road by making use of a large bit of black cloth he just happened to have in the car.
It was good to have (the power supply) somewhere to make coffee during the nite (meant I had a few stubbies left over at the end of the nite). I took an old jug up but the Pony Club Urn was a better option.
Not that we would have use for them, but there is a microwave, pie warmer, fridge and freezers in the clubhouse.
I will be thanking the Pony Club people that made the use of the facilities possible, and I think, asking them if we can do the same in the future.
RB and I kept Jakob there as long as we could and eventually realised that dawn was breaking and that we had better lock up and go home at 4-30am.
I had a great night too, though I was very tired from a full day of gardening. It was great to spend some time chatting with everyone.
Joe's binoviewers are quite special. The two eyes are better than one adage is very true, making for more relaxed viewing, and on some objects adding a nice hint of three dimensionality.
It was good to meet Geoff from Yarramalong, and also to see Norm and his two friends who had been roped in the for the night. I hope you enjoyed the views!
Some bad news to finish...at some point on the way home the lid blew off my beloved Mary Rose, so she arrived home topless.......I think I had better get a tarp to go over the trailer before I take her out again.
If anyone sees a spare 20" mirror box lid in their travels....it's no doubt mine!
I had a great night too, though I was very tired from a full day of gardening. It was great to spend some time chatting with everyone.
Joe's binoviewers are quite special. The two eyes are better than one adage is very true, making for more relaxed viewing, and on some objects adding a nice hint of three dimensionality.
It was good to meet Geoff from Yarramalong, and also to see Norm and his two friends who had been roped in the for the night. I hope you enjoyed the views!
Some bad news to finish...at some point on the way home the lid blew off my beloved Mary Rose, so she arrived home topless.......I think I had better get a tarp to go over the trailer before I take her out again.
If anyone sees a spare 20" mirror box lid in their travels....it's no doubt mine!
Sorry to hear about the mirror box...I think a tarp is a good idea.
Did you get a chance to use your new prize?
Glad everyone enjoyed the night...I looked longingly out of the window in my house thinking of you guys out under the stars and it looked like it was a night of good viewing...
Thanks Rod, Mike, Geoff, Joe and Jacob. It was a very enjoyable night and greatly appreciated by myself, Dave and Jen.
They were certainly awe struck with the Mary Rose and seeing the Tranlatula was amazing, the image was SO sharp.
Dave was certainly impressed with Mike's astro setup. Me, I was just glad I eventually bit the bullet and made the effort to get up there. I may not go every month due to the distance but its certainly, worth the effort for those who haven't been before. Aside from the scopes, the friendliness of the everyone up there was the best thing.
Firstly a big thank you to Geoff (GTB_an_Owl) for organising the Pony club facility for all of us.
Many thanks Geoff !!
Once again great to catch up with everyone, always a pleasure to view through the Mary Rose.
Also had a great time looking through Joe's binoviewer
The views are great as it gives the brain a 3D impression of the object, very nice !!
It was great to meet Geoff from Yarramalong, Norm, David and Jen(?).
Geoff (GTB_an_Owl) and I got to see Venus through his 8" (nice crescent) and watched the Southern Cross rise again in the early hours.
We were the last to leave at around 4.30am.
All in all I spent a very nice night relaxing and enjoying the views and the good company.
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I will be back for more.
and enjoying the views and the good company.
