Unless my map reading skills have entirely evaporated I would have thought that we are expecting showers on Friday night. Or is Ilford much further west than I thought?
man how lucky can we be, a upper air low is forming over NSW c/o the cyclones! Look at that bank of cloud streaming through.
leaving in the morning about 7am, should get there about 1pm. Hope to have been set up stay dry before the afternoon storms come through . you know they havent had more than 4mm rain all month acccording to the mudgee rain gauge. We all bought too much new equipment me thinks
The water tanks could probably use a fill before the post-breakfast "showers" on Saturday morning...
These charts from the Weather Bureau show no rain expected after 9pm Friday (and that may mean rain ending well before 9pm) for the rest of the weekend.
I've just returned from SPSP. While Friday night's viewing was interrupted, and many went to bed and missed out on a clear morning, Saturday night was absolutely superlative (albeit cold). When I saw the glimmer of dawn this morning, it capped off a long night of observing. One highlight was having to kneel down on the ground to observe comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 at a very low altitude through a 20 inch dob.
It was great to put faces to more IIS names. Indeed, the observing field was a very social and friendly arena, as I found as I walked from scope to scope.
Other IIS attendees will no doubt post their reports on SPSP. I'm doing a write-up for Australian Sky & Telescope.
Next year's SPSP will be on in mid-April, to coincide with school holidays.
1. IIS telescope collective.
2. Guess who's LightBridge after a hard nights work.
3. Who missed one for the bottle recycling.
4. "I'm sure it had four corners last night" - RB
I really enjoyed my first SPSP, I reckon everyone had a great time - even the Persona non Grata.
I'm really tired right now after returning from the SPSP, I'll write up a more detailed post tommorow but just wanted to quickly say we had a fantastic time.
Greg it was a real pleasure finally meeting you in person, it was one of the things on my to-do list at the SPSP. Glad you came.
The sky last night was fantastic appart from the wind and cold but it kept the dew away. I'll be posting my images once I process them.
Chris, I'll be on "Four Corners" tommorow night, tune in for a great laugh....
I returned this arvo as well, I didn't take many pictures (no astro shots either) but i'll post what ones I did take, tomorrow.
Had a great time with everyone, as usual. I travelled and camped with Rod, always a pleasure sir. Your company is the best. Great to meet so many IIS'ers again, some for the first time, many for a repeat time. John and Anna, Andrew, Chris, Houghy, Allan, Ken (Charlewood), Tony Hitchcock and his lovely wife Sharron, Gary Kopff and Mai, Don Whiteman, Roger and Anthony from Bintel Melbourne, Steve Mogg, Mark Suchting, Mike Kerr, Matthew Lovell, Petra (SpaceZebra) and her hubby Dave, Ian (stringscope) and his son and I'm sure i've forgotten many more.
Congrats to Ian who won an ATM award for his great stringscope! Truly a work of art, and I had some nice (but brief) views through it, with RB's 24mm Pan.
Congrats to Ken (Charlwood) for taking out the Solar System category, as well as the overall astroimaging prize for a great moon mosaic!
Congrats to Tony Hitchock (Itchy) for taking out 2nd prize in the nebula category.
Congrats to Mike Sidonio for taking out 4 awards! Just awesome pictures. It was great to meet you, too!
I even won two astrophotography awards, one for a Widefield conjunction shot (Venus, Moon, Jupiter and Spica) and one of my Jupiter entries received 2nd place in the Solar system category. So i'm very happy, I wanted a Vixen LVW 22mm, and I won one!
All in all a great weekend, really cold but still an awesome time. The company made it even better. I didn't get a whole lot of observing in, but I got enough. I got drunk on wine on Saturday night so lots of what I observed after that was a blur
Congratulations on the win Mike, not forgetting Mike S, Itchy, Ken and Ian (have I missed anyone??) Please post some photos for those of us not fortunate enough to attend. Sounds like a good time was had by all. I'll be interested in your report on the Vixen Mike.
1. FREEZING
This year was far colder than last. I have come home with wind burn and dry lips. On the first night, it was managable, particularly with the assistance of late night port and Wee-Willems (thanks RB). Last night, notwithstanding an amazing selection of Victorian wine and cheeses (thanks Xstream & Anna), it was so cold that I ended up wearing a pair of Bonds Y-front undies on my head (under my cap of course for modesty) to keep out the cold. By about 11.20pm, notwithstanding all manner of body movements to keep warm, I was almost frozen to the core (felt like being stuck in an industrial freezer) that I had to go to bed for my health's sake! According to HOughy, it reached 0.5 degrees at about 3am when he went to bed. A heavy frost greeted us in the morning.
2. BEAUTIFUL
I witnessed some of absolutely stunning treasures in the heavens. On the Friday night, much of the sky was shrouded in heavy drapes, and yet at one incredible stage, for about 15 minutes, a column opened up tracing the line of the Milky Way. Normally under suburban or even semi-rural skies, if the Milky Way is visible it is a haze. But at Ilford, the MW shone through, flashing like a sword. It was a sight I will never forget. On the second night, the sky was clear and dark, sparkling like a newly set crown of jewels. There was so much to see and do, and I felt like a kid in a candy store. Some highlights were the many galaxies in Leo, but special mention for M83 (Southen Pinwheel) and NGC1365 (barred galaxy in Fornax). I saw structure in those objects like never before. Very special indeed.
3. CARED-FOR
We have some great people in the IIS community. I felt very much looked after. Special mention to Xstream and Anna and Spacezebra and David, for their incredible hospitality and warmth, providing us with yummy breakfast this morning, cups of tea and coffee, a friendly place to sit and chat, and fine friendship. Rocket Boy was his usual kind and giving self, supplying cool drinks and Suimins (inter alia), and always with something positive to say. Itchy and his lovely wife Sharon gave me air two nights running (in my mattress, that is!), and were very patient with their neighbours (Mike and I). It was good to share a (large) tent with Mike, who was ever-thoughtful in suffering my silliness (and giving me great company on the various trips we made throughout the weekend). It was great to have the company of a number of others too, especially good to have the company of Chris (33South) and HOughy. Wavelandscott graciously allowed me to use his wife's ticket so I could have a spit roast on the Saturday (thank Scott- I really appreciate that gesture). Also good to spend some time with Alan, Ken and Ian. Nice to meet Gary Bryant, too.
4. CHALLENGING
I had some challenges this year. On arrival I was advised that I was not allowed to participate in the big Lucky Door Prize competition because I had not booked in advance. News to me. I was really looking forward to that event on the Saturday. I was also advised that I was not allowed to participate in the Spit Roast on Saturday. Let's just say I felt like I had Persona Non Grata status, not welcome at all, and rather puzzled with the whole thing. Then the clouds of the first night, a windy bleak night, followed by an air mattress that had a hole in it that left me sleeping (at least trying to) on hard terra firma for the first night. Then, there was the cold! The good cheer of others around me helped me not to allow these set backs from throwing me too much, and I was determined to have a great time and enjoy the stars and my friends. I was really glad for a trip out to Kandos on Saturday morning for a hearty breakfast with some of the IIS gang. That really bouyed my spirits!
5. CREEPY
We had spider issues this year. Funnel webs to be exact. They were littered all around the observing field in their burrows, often no more than 2 or 3 metres apart at a time. It was important to wear closed shoes at all times, and check clothes before putting them on. Still, over time I got used to our arachnid friends. It was a rather interesting co-existence.
6. REVEALING
Apart from a taudry belly dance (which shall never be mentioned again), by this I mean that at various times I had the chance to share at a deeper level with a few of the IIS folk, and that was really good to get better known, and to be known better. I very much enjoyed learning more about everyone in our group, of all ages. It is great to know why we are each interested in astronomy, and to learn from each other in person. As more than 70% of communication is non-verbal, I felt I knew some people a lot better in one weekend than from one year of chatting on the forum.
7. EXHAUSTING
What on earth am I doing sitting here typing this? I should be in bed. I estimate that I had about 4 hours real sleep over the weekend, and being out in the elements over an extended period away from creature comforts takes its toll. Mike and I had a detour on the way home, after a serious MVA on the Bells Line of Road blocked our passage through that part of the Blue Mountains. It was extraordinary, as we watched a rescue helicopter land on the road to come to the urgent rescue of the injured. Living in close community with others can also be tiring after a while. Thank the good Lord for hot showers!
SUMMARY
I am very glad I went to SPSP14. Overall, the highlights were the dark skies and grouse company. May we spend many more star parties together!
. you know they havent had more than 4mm rain all month
acccording to the mudgee rain gauge. We all bought too much new equipment me thinks
