Orion over Crago Observatory - Bowen Mountain

[ourkind (Carlos)]

Hi all,

The evening started off cloudy but as the night grew on the clouds dissapeared.

In my books viewing was excellent, we put the 16” ƒ/7 Dobsonian Telescope to work and it did not dissapoint. Actually my jaw dropped when I looked at NGC 2070 through a 13mm Ethos. This was a reminder that grass roots astronomy can still deliver punches!

Thanks for looking

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Good shot, Carlos!

[ourkind (Carlos)]

Thanks Laurie Not sure which astronomy association you are a member of but if you can make it to Crago one time you won't be dissapointed

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Nice one Carlos. I'll have to get up there again one of these days.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

I see they still haven't converted the coordinates from AGD66 to GDA94.

The dome is pretty close to 33° 33' 44.4"S 150° 37' 18.7"E in GDA94. To all intents and purposes GDA94 = WGS84 which is what your GPS will show.

[ourkind (Carlos)]

Originally Posted by lacad01

Nice one Carlos. I'll have to get up there again one of these days.

Thanks Adam you should definately try, I believe the next meeting will be the 4th January.

Originally Posted by mithrandir

I see they still haven't converted the coordinates from AGD66 to GDA94.

The dome is pretty close to 33° 33' 44.4"S 150° 37' 18.7"E in GDA94. To all intents and purposes GDA94 = WGS84 which is what your GPS will show.

I think its been left that way on purpose to confuse the Koreans in case they fire a rocket at Crago, they'll only be off by a couple of hundred meters Having said that there is a couch that's been sitting in Crago since 1966 that needs replacing too

My guess is funding and time are the issue. There is new mirror to replace the one in the dob, we just need someone with the time and the skills to do it properly. The focuser needs replacing too as its getting a little sticky. Otherswise the dome is very smooth and the eye piece selection is excellent! Still the old dob packs a punch and we always seem to get interest from the locals that bring their kids and friends whenever we're there.

[Satchmo]

I've heard talk last year at SPSP that they may move the late Scott Mellish's 22" F5 scope into Crago observatory which is currently stored at the Ilford property. The 16" would be made portable and used outside the dome. That would be poetic for me as I made the 16" F7 mirror in Crago Observatory in 1989 and also Scott's 22".

[ourkind (Carlos)]

Originally Posted by Satchmo

I've heard talk last year at SPSP that they may move the late Scott Mellish's 22" F5 scope into Crago observatory which is currently stored at the Ilford property. The 16" would be made portable and used outside the dome. That would be poetic for me as I made the 16" F7 mirror in Crago Observatory in 1989 and also Scott's 22".

Likewise I've heard the same rumors and that would be fantastic! BTW I'm so pleased that I've come across the man that made those mirrors, I'm a little star struck now