Here's some data generated for Snake Valley over the weekend (Eastern Daylight Saving Time of course, UT +11):
SATELLITES:
Iridium flares:
7 Mar: mag –8, 8:13:58pm, 48˚ alt at 186˚ (S), Iridium 31
8 Mar: mag –3, 8:07:49pm, 50˚ alt at 185˚ (S), Iridium 33
9 Mar: mag –8, 5:59:10am, 50˚ alt at 323˚ (NW), Iridium 22
10 Mar: mag –3, 5:43:07am, 49˚ alt at 322˚ (NW), Iridium 25
ISS passes:
9 Mar: mag 0.4, 13˚ alt SSE, 9:31pm (short path, disappears at this time)
10 Mar: mag 0.4, 17˚ alt SSW, 9:52pm (very short path, disappears at this time)
PLANETS: (NB - details for night of 8/9 March):
Evening planets:
Mars, 26˚ alt at 9:00pm, getting lower. Sets at 1:00am (flat horizon)
Saturn, 17˚ alt at 9:00pm, rises to maximum of about 40˚ at around 12:50am
Morning planets:
Jupiter rises at about 2:15am, reaching about 42˚ alt at 6:00am;
Mercury rises at about 5:05am, reaching just under 10˚ alt at 6:00am;
Venus rises at about 5:20am, reaching about 7˚ alt at 6:00am.
MOON:
New Moon: Saturday 8 Mar, 4:14am
7/8 (New Moon)
8/9 (Not visible – sets with sun)
9/10 At sunset (7:50pm), the 1.8 day old moon will be well to the north of the sun, but only 6.5˚ vertically above it. Hence very difficult to see, even if a flat W horizon was available at SV.
A big thanks to Ken, Darren & the rest of the SVAA for putting on another great astro camp! Thoroughly enjoyed my two nights there, and only sorry I couldn't stay the distance!
Here's a few photos from the camp: Sat night feast, and a few shots around the observing field.
A photo of all the laser pointers firing at the SCP would be great too. I'm sure the Sigma Octanids are launching their retaliation strike force right now!
What a top weekend!!!! As well as great weather and excellent skies for astronomy it was also great to see all the faces again and some new ones.
Thanks heaps to Ken and Darren for there usual efforts in organising such a great event, and Darren for all his huge technical and computer help in getting my laptop sorted and a big thanks to Pete (Pedro) also for his help and everyone else for making it such a great weekend!!
The Saturday night feast was yummy, days were warm and skies were clear with a great crowd!!
For a good weekend you cannot ask for much more.
A fantastic weekend, a real pitty it is my first and have missed the others. A great bunch of like minded people who were more than happy to mingle and share equipment. I really would like to thank Ken for his work to put on the weekend. Everything he promissed and a bit more.
Our first camp and star party, what a blast. Ken the consumate host and like minded people to share their exerience and expertiese.
Thanks Hagar, for the tutorial on Registax that you gave to me and Margaret on Saturday, a real eye opener into your impressive imaging talents.
Erick, who enthralled my wife with his dark sky observations and provided his valuable seeing time in conducting tours of his camp and equipment. I really liked the home made / adapted products and his introduction to Binocular astronomy.
Ken, for the Toucam tips and the overall friendly and encouraging welcome. We will be back!
and finally Darren, no the other one! who kept me entertained with his modified 12 inch dob and extensive knowledge base.
As for the seeing, after the clouds had past, I was literally beside myself. I spent a fair bit of the evening just staring up. I really couldn't put into words the difference a dark sky makes!
To everyone else we got to meet and spend some time with, Breanna and I both say thanks for a great weekend.
