setup and the clouds roll in

rumples riot · #1 12-12-2004, 12:24 AM

Wouldn't you know it. Got the scope collimated on a star with the new bobs knobs (works really well once you know how they work), then put the off axis guider on and the camera, focused on Rigel with the mask. Finally set the scope on the target for tonight and got it all centred. Took off the mask and was just about to start taking photography, when I looked up and saw a mass of clouds. Within 2 minutes the whole sky was fully shrouded in white trouble. Thought it might be passing over and waited 10mins, then decided to pack up. Only thing I got done was collimate the scope.

Bit annoying but that's what you get when you have a long setup. Time for a drink

.

Paul

beren · #2 12-12-2004, 01:39 AM

Still ok here , i thought clouds would roll in once i finished polar aligning , but theres no sign just alittle wind although there seems to be a lot of LP-skyglow tonite

gbeal · #3 12-12-2004, 05:38 AM

Getting a bit annoying by now huh?
Me too, haven't had a decent night in ages.

rumples riot · #4 12-12-2004, 10:06 AM

Thanks Aragorn, the luck is with you. And; Gary yes I have seen NZ looking like similar conditions to SA. Maybe in a couple of weeks.

This weather could all be part of the untimely approach of solar minimum. 2001 was solar max, and now solar min is now only two years away, according to the experts; its supposed to be two years way from the date of the first day without any sun spots on the face of the sun. Apparently that does happen from time to time, and they also say that every 100 years or so the cycle does not happen at all. It all has something to do with harmonics and I suspect the strings at quantum level.

Maybe soon we shall have the summer we are waiting for.

Paul