NSW Northern Rivers 2008

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by glenc

No, didn't observe, it was partly cloudy. Casino has had 60mm of rain in the last 6 days due to the purchase of a 16".

We've had 44mm since about 3 pm yesterday. Maybe it an inch of rain
for an inch of aperture that will really flood us in. Nice to see a bit of
blue sky trying to poke through this morning.

regards,CS

[glenc (Glen)]

Very clear last night, I observed 3 times: 6pm to 8pm with the 12" then 12 to 1am and 5 to 5:30am with 20x80s. NGC 4945 and NGC 7000 seemed brighter than usual with 20x80s. M31 is back!
I'll go to Leyburn today.

[CoombellKid]

Wasn't out last night but have been out the last couple of mornings with the
20x80's, very nice this mornings

Have a good one out at Leyburn.... I got a feeling it's going to be frosty

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

have a good one glen ... you up for any observing this weekend rob ..we all got the sack at work today ( 3 minutes to knock off time .). so runs out casino way are probably going to be a little few and far between for me in the future.

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

have a good one glen ... you up for any observing this weekend rob ..we all got the sack at work today ( 3 minutes to knock off time .). so runs out casino way are probably going to be a little few and far between for me in the future.

Man! I'm sorry to hear that, was that part of Howards doing? I hope you
can sort something out soon. It was pretty much what happened up in
the Mill last year. they were brought out by a big multi-national and sacked
everybody on the spot and we literally walked into the next room to be
rehired on AWA's my causal existance came to an end.

I'll be here if you want to come out. I have both my sons here, so will
probably have to tend to Hayden a little bit. But weather permitting by
all means come on out.

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

Nah it was just a buisness call from the major stakeholder I was told .
Been comimg for a while I think to be honest and I deep down new it ...A family member of the other half of the bizz has cost it so much IMO over the last couple years it was just a matter of time before the bean counters
come tax time looked over exp/income and said ditch it .

My only words to my employer were I work for you ( 14 years) ..theres only 3 of us btw ..
and the courtsey of a little notice when you knew the buisness was
up for major change just didn't figure in ?..I even asked about leave an hour before
and had to fill out a form ..LOL ...Sadly anothers wife was just operated on for breast cancer last week and now they are both out of work

[CoombellKid]

Geeez! you would of thought you were almost family. I guess there is loyalty
to your employer (they generally demand it) but there no loyalty when it
comes to business.

Well on another note, I dont think we'll be doing to much observing out this
way. We have bad weather coming in from the south, looks like it will be
raining here shortly according to the Grafton radar.

regards,CS

[CoombellKid]

Done a bit on the scope today, put the structure of the Sec' cage together
to see how things fit. The wall for it is at present has been cut and in a 44
being soaked and bent. So hopefully tomorrow if the weather plays nice I will
spray the wall ready to be fit on Monday along with the focuser board. Then
I will have to wait until the first or second week in July for the spider and
secondary from AstroSystems, yet to figure whether to make upper truss
connectors or buy them. I also made an adaptor plate for the focuser and
cut the steal for the tailgate. So tomorrow weather permitting I'll spray
the wall, finish the focuser adaptor plate, make a jig to weild the tailgate
and drill the appropriate holes and tap threads for the collimation bolts.
I'll take it over to a mates place Monday and have him weild it together.
The components for the floatation system should be here next week.

Went to Lismore Timber and Ply, looks like I need another $250.00-$300.00
for the plywood if I want some nice stuff, oh well I kinda knew that.
Which will more than likely be Hoop pine 18mm 2400x1200 = $170.00. They
have some really nice ply down there, nothing that remotely looks like
something Bunnings would sell, I wish I had of made the effort to go down
there when I made the 8". In about a week or two I'll make a start on the
mirror box and Alt bearings.

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

looks nice rob ...yeah its raining here now
bunnings had zip when I was on the hunt except a couple of slings of nice a/c ply which I used but they havn't had any since...hurfords had some really nice marine ply but at $90 a sheet for 12 mm its not to differant to what your looking at and you'd still have to laminate som 6mm onto it.

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

looks nice rob ...yeah its raining here now
bunnings had zip when I was on the hunt except a couple of slings of nice a/c ply which I used but they havn't had any since...hurfords had some really nice marine ply but at $90 a sheet for 12 mm its not to differant to what your looking at and you'd still have to laminate som 6mm onto it.

Mate! you just reminded me my nieghbour works for hurfords in Casino. I
must havea chat to him he might get a store discount. Cheers
I'll add an extra nip of bourbon in the next one

Yup! it's has rained yet but it's aweful dark out side, Alex looks like he has a
storm sitting right on top of him.

regards,CS

[CoombellKid]

FWIW, and for interest sake. The holes drilled into the Sec' cage rings all 60
of them cut 253gms in weight off the sec' cage equating to 1265gms to
counter it in the mirror box. The bonus being I believe (as a rigger and one of
some engineering background) circles (holes) keep the structural soundness
of the rings whilest eleviating some of the weight. Plus they look good to me.

regards,CS

[xelasnave]

Great stuff Rob
alex

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Great stuff Rob
alex

Thanks Alex, looking forward to finishing it, although I did end up having a
very lazy day today.... so the plan went out the window

regards,CS

[glenc (Glen)]

That was very bad news Graham.
Rob's news is better, I look forward to looking thro it.
Leyburn was only clear for a few hours on Friday night but clear and windy all last night.

[CoombellKid]

No worries Glen

Many people out at Leyburn?

regards,CS

[glenc (Glen)]

Yes, a fair crowd up there including 1 each from the USA, Holland and Japan.

[CoombellKid]

Just ordered more bits, so expect more rain

regards,CS

[glenc (Glen)]

The Galactic Center (Sgr A*) is at declination -29d 00m 28s.
Coombell is at latitude -29d 00m 50s south, so the galactic center passes right over Rob's house at about 00h 25m tonight.
If it's clear you will see it. Six countries lie under the middle of the Milky Way: Australia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Lesotho.

[CoombellKid]

Interesting Glen, I always thought it must be close but never bothered to
look it up. It certainly is a spectacular view out here on a good night. Laying
on the trampoline it is front and center and one of the reasons for building
the parra' mount. Next time your out here you will have to take the
trampoline and parra' mount combo for a spin

Unfortunately tonight it's looks like low flying nebula

regards,CS

[CoombellKid]

Just thinking outa loud here. But maybe we should get together and look at
organising an astrofest/camp/weekend. Since the price of fuel seems to
be going up more than down perhaps some of our more southern New South
Walshmen/women might like to attend. I have access to large enough tracks
of land in a couple+ locations in my area. All with good dark skies.

regards,CS