Central Coast March 2008 - Page 4

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #61 08-03-2008, 02:19 PM

it will be a clear nite

trust me!

roll call please ladies and gentlemen - who is planning on coming ?

(so that geoffro knows how much coffee to grind

)

geoff

Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin) · #62 08-03-2008, 02:25 PM

I should be there early to set up, hopefully the weather will hold out, will bring the mySky again for some fun.

Arthur

koputai (Jason) · #63 08-03-2008, 02:31 PM

I'm hoping to get there before dark.

Cheers,
Jason.

Sue Lang · #64 08-03-2008, 03:52 PM

Hi all,

Re roll call: I'm hoping to be there but the clouds are a little ominous! They seem to be getting caught up on Mangrove Mountain. Mostly clear here.

Cheers Sue

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #65 08-03-2008, 03:56 PM

Coffee is already freshly ground and ready, sitting next to the drip filter machine.

All other bits and pieces are at the ready for the trip.

I'll be there about 7 pm....

Geoffro

cahullian · #66 08-03-2008, 04:01 PM

I should be there about 7 pm Geoff.

Gazz

wavelandscott (Scott) · #67 08-03-2008, 04:24 PM

I will try and be there by 7 pm weather permitting...

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #68 08-03-2008, 04:41 PM

nearly ready to depart - 4-45pm

should be there by about 6pm after i pick up the key

geoff

jakob · #69 08-03-2008, 04:45 PM

Ditto!

Deeno · #70 08-03-2008, 04:46 PM

Just arrived home.
Planning to be there around 6.30ish

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #71 08-03-2008, 04:57 PM

Just the car to pack and I am on my way.

mmmmmmmmmm, I can taste them chicken wings already Deeno....

Deeno · #72 08-03-2008, 05:09 PM

Sorry, wasn't a home game of cricket....no chicken wings

iceman (Mike) · #73 08-03-2008, 05:11 PM

I'll be there around 7:45pm. It will clear!

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #74 08-03-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deeno

Sorry, wasn't a home game of cricket....no chicken wings

Theres still time to cook-em....

noelo · #75 08-03-2008, 05:43 PM

yep I'll be there around 20:00

Rodstar (Rod) · #76 08-03-2008, 05:54 PM

7pm for me. See you all then!

noelo · #77 09-03-2008, 10:01 AM

What a great night, some of the best views I've ever seen

and finally the hedgehog mystery has been revealed.

On a more practical note, now that most of my gear has been soaked due to the heavy dew can anybody suggest how best to dry it out...

I'm already looking forward to next month...

regards
Noel

Satchmo · #78 09-03-2008, 10:55 AM

A great night topped off with Geoffs filter coffee.

The sky was quite good with a fair bit of dew later in the night.

I left about 4am, with my only instrumentation , a pair of 10 X 42 Roof prism binocs thoroughly dewed.

Special thanks to Rod for the time to test the Denkmeir binoviewer in Mary Rose ( hope you found it interesting !) and Joe for sharing the binoviewer and his 10" SCT for a thorough workout over a number of hours. This had been something I'd been looking forward to for a long time. See my Denk mini-review up soon.

The other piece of gear to blow me away was the 13mm Ethos in the 20" particularly with the Paracor which produced tiny needle like pin point stars right to the very edge. I found with my body in a half step position on a ladder it not so easy to hold head centred on the view, and perhaps the large field a little confronting when my legs were wavering ..perhaps I would enjoy the sensation of 'falling into the view' more if my feet were firmly on the ground.

Finally had a look through the rubber armoured 15 X 70 `Ultra' binoculars that are in the shops for $400 or so. Wow, speechless at their quality, and light transmission , though they really do need a good tripod though as they are pretty weighty.

Inmykombi (Geoff) · #79 09-03-2008, 12:46 PM

Another really enjoyable night.

And yes, Hedgehogs a plenty, for those who were willing to attend the initiation ceremony. Those who didnt attend, will have to wait until they next appear out from the darkness.

The time went so fast for me, I can barely believe I spent all night up on the Mountain from Sun down, to almost Sun up.

Lots to see, some for the first time, like a few Leo Galaxies through NOELO's MEADE.
To see three Galaxies in the one field of view was beautiful.
Also saw the Ghost of Jupiter as well as the Eskimo Neb for the first time.

Driving home when it was starting to become light was a first for me from the Mountain. And it wont be the last I am sure.
It was nice to see Venus and Mercury pointing the way home for me.

This morning, I spent about 1.5 hrs drying all my gear after the horrendous Dew.

At one stage during the night, my scope was dripping onto the Tarp underneath it, and I was dreading putting it all away for the drive home.
All is OK though after a thorough wipe and being left to dry in ambient air.

Cheers till next time.

Geoffro.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #80 09-03-2008, 01:20 PM

It was an enjoyable night and great to get out under night skies again!

As usual, it was good to catch up with the people in attendance.

Yes, it was "dewey"...and of course, I forgot the cable that runs from my power source to my dew heater...I found it this morning laying by the door (so I would not forget it).

I got a chance to finally use my Paracorr and yes, it does make a difference even at f5...I tried it with all my eyepieces (Pentax XW, Nagler, Panoptic) and it showed some "seeable" improvement in all of them. I am now "converted" and I believe it will stay in as part of the standard set-up from this point forward.

I was also pleased with my hanging weight to counterbalance the Paracorr...seemed to do the trick.

I am almost ready SPSP!

This was my first trip to the Pony Club...last time up the mountain it was still over at Paint Ball...

In summary, I think I like Pony Club location better although it is not as dark as Paint Ball...the horizon is better and the general "feel" of the place is more inviting...

Anyway, I was glad to be there...