NSW Northern Rivers 2008

[Lismore Bloke (Paul)]

We are still helping stepdaughter renovate house in Casino this weekend, so Saturday night i will probably just feel like downing a scotch or 2.

I could pop over Friday night if you will be home and it is OK.
Had a couple of sessions with the new 12. First look wasn't too good. Thought I had a lemon, till I looked through my collimator (an old .965 eyepiece minus glass). could only see about half the primary in the secondary. Yikes.

A bit of a tweak and things are much better. Still some comet tailing evident but OK for now. Had a couple of hours out last night, just scanning around. Very happy. The Televue 32 wide angle makes the GSO giveaway eyepieces look a bit ordinary.

Will probably pick everyone's brains about a better collimator. Cheshire maybe. I thought that Cheshire was a county in England, hadn't heard of Cheshire collimators until I joined IIS!!!

Cheers, Paul.

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by Lismore Bloke

Will probably pick everyone's brains about a better collimator. Cheshire maybe. I thought that Cheshire was a county in England, hadn't heard of Cheshire collimators until I joined IIS!!!

Cheers, Paul.

Paul,

Go for a Cheshire make sure you get the long nose variety. I use
to used a simple cap like you which worked quite well, and that was
after using a laser collimators which I ended up selling. The Cheshire's
are an excellent little tool.

regards,CS

[glenc (Glen)]

Paul, Friday night is fine, any night is fine.
You can bring your scope or use mine.
It gets dark about 6:40, but you can come anytime.

[Lismore Bloke (Paul)]

Thanks Glen. Haven't worked out carrying the beastie yet. On the Patrol's roof maybe, but I will have to wrap it up securely. If not I may have to share yours until I work out something that will not knock the tube around. Cheers.

[GrahamL]

I have one of the cheshire /sight combo varietys you can try if you like paul .Its made by synta and Its no better than my $29 andrews one I originally bought..so your welcome to give it a whirl.


I may not be able to go to astrofest this year .one of the ratbag kids round here decided to have a look through my console the other night ..
via the back window.. though my new employer has just bought a fuel tanker off e bay..which just happens to be located at avoca a couple of clicks from duckadang so I'm trying to be the company minded new employee by volunteering to take the truck up there and pick it up
on saturday..so we will see .


Might be up for friday if thats ok glen .. I'll let you know

[glenc (Glen)]

Paul and Graham, I hope you can both make it on Friday night. Tonight is great out here.

[CoombellKid]

Got up about 3am this morning looked pretty nice outside, was almost going
to setup the bino's... but it's still a bit slushy on the ground....and it was
pretty chilly... so went back to bed with a hotwater bottle

Haven't done much observing lately

regards,CS

[Lismore Bloke (Paul)]

Would like to have a go with one, even though I don't
know anything about them.

Rob advises using the "long nose" variety. What's the difference?

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by Lismore Bloke

Rob advises using the "long nose" variety. What's the difference?

Some people, me included. But I guess in the end it's personal choice. With
the long nose variety, it throws the FOV further down the tube, hence a
tighter target around the secondary. Which helps in getting the secondary
right as you dont have so much realestate between the outside edge of the
secondary and the inside edge of the end of the sight tube. I've tried both
and I like my long nose celestron. I think it cost me $60 at Astrofest QLD
a few years ago.

regards,CS

[glenc (Glen)]

Please bring a Cheshire if you have one, my scope needs a tune.
Thanks.

[CoombellKid]

I'll try and make it over tonight, just have to see how the little ones go and
how chilly it gets this evening.

regards,CS

[glenc (Glen)]

ok

[Lismore Bloke (Paul)]

Bring your hot water bottle!!!

Hope this rotten cloudy stuff blows over.

Had another random scan around last night for a couple of hours.
Saw 5128's dust lane with direct vision, something I was only seeing with averted vision in the 10 from here. The milky way was pretty impressive. the nebulosity more evident with the bigger optic. I love how these GSO's handle different weight EP's. If I had changed a 1 1/4 to the TV 32 2 inch the tube on the 10 would have swung around all over the place.

[glenc (Glen)]

It's 90% clear and will probably stay clear. It's also warm and windy, the temp is 27C and the wind is 25 to 35 kph from the NW.
There is some cloud coming in from the west. Check this before you leave home.
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDE00902.loop.shtml

[GrahamL]

Can't make it guys I'm off up north early .. hope you have a good night .

[CoombellKid]

I'll/we'll be staying home myself too, nice iridium flare here at 18:34.

Actually staining the baseboard for the 16" tonight so I can start poly-
glossing tomorrow. I made the feet this afternoon including one drilled and
routed to fit the plug for powering the system.

Have a good night chaps, looks lovely and clear here, pitty about the
jet stream.

regards,CS

[glenc (Glen)]

Paul was here till we were clouded out at 9pm.

[GrahamL]

thats great guys I actually stopped in at astrofest on saturday arvo
caught robs talk , caught up with a few people I camped beside last year ... then came back to brisbane before dark .

The valley was very differant to last year glen it looked alive again
water in the river and green trees on the hills .

When you do get a cheshire paul . .. definately grab one like robs or one of the orion combos they sell ..my synta one seems to have a few issues which others have mentioned occasionally.

[Lismore Bloke (Paul)]

York Optical in Brisbane have the Celestron long nose collimator listed for $65. Will get one next time we are up there.

[CoombellKid]

Ummmm errrr, if it rains... well... ummm... I couldn't help myself . Just
ordered an astronomiks 2" OIII... you know... it's veil time and
ummm... it will work well with the 20mm t5...

regards,CS