August DSC

[mickw]

According to Jackie at RV, only me and Fay are going which means we have  2 pitches 

If you intend going.....................

BOOK UP, even a phone call would help

It is the school holidays and the weather is looking OK (not necessarily astronomically OK) - people are making bookings

[Carole]

Just got back from holiday today, unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to get myself organised for this one, it's been a hectic two weeks and am looking forward to a few days rest. 

Carole

[Mike]

I'm booked.

Saturday night is looking quite promising at the moment.

[mickw]

Arrived around 11 last night, fairly clear at zenith but North was a mess.
Very dewy and misty - mist even hid the trees by the entrance at one stage.

Fay quit about 1:00, I didn't set up so went to bed 

[MarkS]

I arrived home at 11:45pm last night and there was indeed a lot of low level murk.  But above the murk the Milky Way was looking reasonably good stretching across the sky.

Mark

[MarkS]

I'll drink a Pastis tonight and think of you folk at DSC!!

Mark

[mickw]

I think all we'll be doing tonight is drinking 

Cloudy with clouds later

[MarkS]

I'll be forced to count glow worms ...

[MarkS]

11

Sunday night was 19

Record (last new moon) was 30

[mickw]

The reason the numbers are falling is that they kept trying to mate with all the LEDs and Lasers 

[Mike]

Last night by 11pm it was still cloudy so the three of us (Mick, Fay and I) went to bed. However, I woke up at about 3am as I needed a pee and it was freezing cold. I guess right away the sky was clear and indeed when I stepped outside it was perfectly clear with a very bright Jupiter over the trees.

Tonight's forecast is looking really good at the moment so those of you that are coming down today should have a good imaging night.

[The Thing]

Damnation, I knew I should have come down for the one night. I spent Friday afternoon setting up my optical train for imaging Jupiter,

[mickw]

You have a train ?

We have one at RV - a proper one 

[Rocket Pooch]

Last night by 11pm it was still cloudy so the three of us (Mick, Fay and I) went to bed.

Blimey what you three up to!

[MarkS]

Agreed.  I don't think a train is a stable enough platform for planetary imaging.

Mark

[The Thing]

Agreed.  I don't think a train is a stable enough platform for planetary imaging.

Neither is a bed with three people in it!

[MarkS]

Did you do any imaging last night? 
The sky looked quite reasonable from here.

Mark

[mickw]

Sky was good and yes, imaging was accomplished, watch this space 

Had a  visit from Doug, Rose and John during the day and early evening

Me, Fay, Mike, Alan and Robert stayed for the duration.

First time that RV has actually been full and we attracted a large number of "interested parties", no idea how many, I only remember the really annoying one.
Mike Announced the Iridium Flare predicted at 22:22 through Cassiopia -  The crowd went wild.

Went to bed around 2:30 - On my own !

[mickw]

Took the Society Coronado this weekend for the first time, very good, saw spots, filaments etc.
Even tried some imaging but a certain party had not bothered to properly align the mount 

Everybody who had a look enjoyed it including members of the public
I think it would be good to have this available for DSC's, where several people get an opportunity to observe the sun over the weekend

[Mike]

Agreed, it should be at every DSC.

There was lots of activity on the sun this weekend with lots of filaments and sunspots. It looked really good through the Coronado.

[Fay]

Large van at DSC. This is the home of a man & his wife & 4 cats, hanging baskets, Sky TV.






taken with Blackberry