ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waxing Gibbous 76.9%
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08-03-2005, 07:29 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 1,079
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Right here's my plan..
Arrive in Sydney 8:20am. Clear the rubber glove by 9am.
9:01am Train to Central on "Airport & East Hills Line"
9:14am Arrive Central
9:45am Train to Hornsby on "Northern Line"
10:29am Arrive Hornsby!
Sounds doable.. Now I know nothing about Sydney trains, and have based all this on the timetable. So it is possible that it will not work at all like this. This is just an initial guess. Does it sound ok to you guys?
Viewing... Yes, some of that will be good. Galaxies in Leo will look good later on Leo Trio is always stunning M65, M65 & NGC 3628 all in the same FOV. Stunning! M83 will be popular mid evening.
I'll have a look for a few more objects. The Auckland Astro society puts out monthly target lists which are always good to start.
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~michell...rvingLists.htm
Just click on the month of choice. Suggest March/April will have good targets for the weekend.
Now, this is what I plan to bring..
- Binos 11x70
- 16mm T2 Nagler
- 30mm 2" 1rpd EP
- A couple of Star-Mates
- 2.5x Powermate
I'm trying to keep the weight down but if you guys wanted to try any of the following I can bring them as well..
- Meade DSI
- f/6.3 & f/3.3 focal reducers (SCT threaded)
- anything else?
Cheers
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08-03-2005, 08:45 AM
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casual star gazer
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Lower Hunter Valley-Maitland
Posts: 264
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Robby,
add about 10 min to the train times and you might be in the ball park, also last time i flew back from the states it took closer to 60 min to clear the rubber glove.
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08-03-2005, 08:54 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 1,079
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Thanks for that Brendan.
There's about a 99% chance it's all going to turn to custard... You know a country kiwi boy in a big city! If all else fails I'll just sit on the footpath and cry  .... Someone's bound to help... Yes.. No.. Maybe?
Knowing me I'll end up in Kings Cross and flag the star party completely  ..
Cheers
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08-03-2005, 08:57 AM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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I don't know what a CDMA phone is, so I guess that means I don't have one. I'll take my wife's mobile so we can communicate en route as need be, and perhaps we can stop somewhere for lunch together?!
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Sounds like a good idea Rod, for a 4 hour drive we'll need at least 1 break and if we leave around 10:30, a lunch break will be right on time.
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As for the car convoy, I am happy Mike to firm up an arrangement to meet at Hornsby Station at, say, 10.15am, to give Robby plenty of time to get from the airport to Hornsby Station. I suggest we meet up on the western side of the line in the Street where the taxi rank is. There is parking on the other side of the road to where the taxis are. How does that sound? If Robby is a bit later than that, no dramas!
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Sounds perfect.. I'll meet you there.
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BTW, I am thinking of planning my viewing a little bit in anticipation of the dark skies, to maybe focus some of my time on one or particular constellations. Do you have any favourites, Robby or Mike??
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Good idea, i'll program some stuff into my SkyCommander. I'm keen to check out some galaxies and planetary nebs, stuff that really excels in dark skies.
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Sounds doable.. Now I know nothing about Sydney trains, and have based all this on the timetable. So it is possible that it will not work at all like this. This is just an initial guess. Does it sound ok to you guys?
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Sounds good Robby, you have a 30min wait at Central so if you're a bit late through the rubber glove, you should still have a bit of spare time up your sleeve.
It might be worth checknig the timetable and seeing what the next train is from the airport and from central to hornsby, just in case you miss that one.. then at least you can ring me and let me know when you'll be at Hornsby.
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Now, this is what I plan to bring..
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Looks like a good list. I wouldn't worry about the DSI or focal reducers, i'm not planning on doing much astrophotography with my dob, and I don't think Rod is with his SCT either. Do you have any good quality planetary eyepieces? I'm keen to compare against my humble 9mm GSO plossl.
Can't wait, only a few days away now!
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08-03-2005, 09:04 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 1,079
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Right, you can stop focussing on the rubber glove. I'm getting nervous  .. I know I started it, but you don't have to carry it on  ..
Trains run approx. every 10mins from the airport, so have a bit of time give there. The next train to Hornsby arrive 10:45am. Not sure after that.
I'll ring you regardless and let you know how it's all going and whether I need to be picked up from Bondi instead!!! ...
Cheers
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08-03-2005, 07:10 PM
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6EQUJ5
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 3,663
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rob:
do you have a h beta filter?
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08-03-2005, 07:29 PM
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The Glenfallus
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Posts: 2,702
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Mike - let's say 10.30am at Gosford, cos Robby won't be there any earlier. That'll give me that extra bit of time to get Jack off to school, pack the car etc....
Robby- I've got a good 2" 30mm eyepiece (GSO wideview) so you might save a little bit in weight by not bringing that. At this stage I have nothing smaller than 15mm, so anything below that would be great though. As for the DSI, I'm registered to set up at the Dark site, so imaging is off the table this year!
Prepare for some cold nights guys!!!
Rodstar
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08-03-2005, 07:59 PM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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Rod, do you mean 10;30 at Hornsby, not Gosford?
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08-03-2005, 08:32 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 1,079
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I hope you mean Hornsby, as the trains I'm looking at don't run to Gosford very often. Hornsby seems much easier for me..
Seeker, sorry no H beta filter.
Rod, cool the 30mm can stay at home. What's the FOV or yours? Mine is 82°.
Cheers
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08-03-2005, 08:35 PM
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AS&T Editor
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 352
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If you're still thinking of registering to attend the South Pacific Star Party, you can...but you now have to do it onsite at Wiruna from Friday afternoon onwards. Pre-registration has now closed.
I'm told that attendance this year may be close to 300.
Regards,
Greg Bryant
Associate Editor
Australian Sky & Telescope
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08-03-2005, 10:27 PM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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Robby, Rod's 30mm is 67 deg GSO.. it would be nice to see yours @ 82 deg. I'm sure it won't do too well @ f/5 tho unless it's a nagler.
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08-03-2005, 10:51 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 1,079
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Your right Mike the 1rpd EP is not super flash below f/8. It's nice in my f/10 SCT. I'll see how the weight is looking and decide whether or not to chuck it in!
Cheers
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08-03-2005, 10:55 PM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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No probs, and it will definitely be hornsby, not gosford. I'm sure it was just a slip of the tongue from rod.
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09-03-2005, 08:25 PM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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Robby are you still bringing your palm + decoder box?
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09-03-2005, 08:33 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 1,079
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Quote:
Originally posted by iceman
Robby are you still bringing your palm + decoder box?
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Can do. What encoders do you have? It will plug directly into USDigital ones. I think it's a standard configuration. I'll make a note of the pinout so we cna check first...
I'm actually picking up an Argonavis while I'm there, so you might want to try that too!
Cheers
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09-03-2005, 09:05 PM
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AS&T Editor
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 352
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Robby and all,
I definitely recommend the Argonavis. I got to test drive a unit at last year's South Pacific Star Party on a 20 inch Obsession Dobsonian, following on from a talk the creator, Gary Kopff, gave at my club's meeting previously. Unbelievable! I can't wait to do it again.
Oh yeah...I wouldn't mind a 20 inch Dob too!
No doubt we'll catch up this weekend. Stick with Iceman - he'll be the one sticking IceInSpace flyers under car windscreen wipers!
Greg Bryant
Associate Editor
Australian Sky & Telescope
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09-03-2005, 09:36 PM
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The Glenfallus
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Posts: 2,702
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I meant Hornsby!
Rodstar
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10-03-2005, 05:58 AM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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Robby, yep it's USDigital encoders.
Would love to see the argonavis in operation!
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No doubt we'll catch up this weekend. Stick with Iceman - he'll be the one sticking IceInSpace flyers under car windscreen wipers
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Too true!  I'll be stealing the megaphone from the organisers and shouting out www.iceinspace.com
Weather is looking pretty good so far..
Quote:
Friday
Mostly sunny
12°C - 29°C
Saturday
Mostly sunny
14°C - 30°C
Sunday
Mostly sunny
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We might be lucky.
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10-03-2005, 05:57 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 1,079
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Looks good Mike.
I drove down to Wellington tonight to catch the flight in the morning 4am start!! Add that to the time change and it will be a long day! Even longer if the skies are clear.
There is one hitch already though. I've gone & left my mobile phone behind!!! Always forget something. Hopefully that's all.
Anyway all going well I should see you guys at Hornsby sometime between 10:30 & 11:30am. Hopefully closer to 10:30am. If I going to be late, I'll try & ring you from a public phone..
Let's hope this country boy can negotiate the train system alright...
See you soon.
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10-03-2005, 06:50 PM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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lol no mobile? oh dear! I hope the trains are on time
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