The sun has had a major solar flare, sending energetic particles towards Earth. These 'should' arrive late on the 25th or early hours of the 26th of March. These will most likely cause a display of Aurora visible across the southern parts of Australia (I know we see them from the Central West at such times) . Aurora are most likely visible in the hours either side of midnight in the southern skies (direction). NOTE: This is also full moon!!!! Full moon will likely be too bright for all but the brighter light filaments of the aurora. So the display will be somewhat muted. I know I prefer auroral displays around New Moon in a dark sky.
Edit: Image from an Aurora last April under dark moonless skies! ... See MoreSee Less
It was busy weekend, observatory maintenance and the local Astronomy Club (Bathurst and District Astronomical Society, BADAS) booking out Saturday. While the club chatted, I just popped the camera and 50mm lens on a tripod and imaged the Southern Cross and Eta Carina region of the Milky Way.
I am just waiting on a few things before posting tours in advance. There is a much needed hazard reduction burn(s) taking place in the area over coming weeks. The smoke from burning will impact upon tours, so I am just waiting on details of the dates of these. As it turns out the ideal conditions for burning are generally those ideal for astronomy! It may end up I have only a day or twos notice that a tour will be ok to run without smoke. I will keep everyone posted.
In other news, we will soon get an upgrade to facilities here after a friendly plumber looks like they will install the much awaited toilet in a month or so! ... See MoreSee Less
If it is clear on Friday the 1st of March, there is a nice pass of the International Space Station. Head outside just before 8:54pm and look towards the SW. You will see the space station appear as a bright, moving star like object. It will continue to brighten and rise higher before passing almost overhead at 8:57pm. It will then fade into Earth's shadow at 8:58pm in the NE. (The weather forecast though isn't looking good!) ... See MoreSee Less
Some nights after a tour, I am too tired to connect the camera to the telescope, so I pop the camera on a spare tracking mount with just a 50mm lens. A few nights ago, I imaged the larger Magellanic galaxy. This is one of the stunning highlights of the southern skies!
I'll post March tour dates during the coming week, however, I do know March 1st is one of them! ... See MoreSee Less
Stephen Holland asked if I could image the International Space Station (as it passed on the evening of the 10th of Feb). I have not imaged the ISS for sometime as the telescope I use for it is large and heavy. After injuring my back a year ago, I haven't been able to lift it. With things much better, I decided that yes, I would set it up again for this pass. It was very windy, but the result is ok. ... See MoreSee Less
Don't forget I only have tours for the 16th and 17th this month (busy month!). The local astronomy club met at the observatory on the evening of the 9th. I kind of left the telescope to image on its own while we all talked astro stuff. The focus drifted a bit, but the telescope did manage to capture this image of nebula NGC 2174 during this time. ... See MoreSee Less
Can you photograph the ISS with your gear? It came over Cudal like car lights last night and will be brighter tonight -4.4. From Cudal it will pass close to Orion and Pleiades . Would make a great photo 🙂
I finally had a night in the observatory to do some imaging well beyond our solar system. On Friday 2nd Feb I imaged the rather eerie nebula M78 in Orion. After some time not needing the software that does all this, I found there were some issues I'll work on today, but luckily I have work arounds! (I hate when everything normally is just a click and and talks to each other. Last night one of the programs was like, "nup, I hate that telescope, I am not talking to it!")
I am not as available as I had thought this month!!! Tours in mid Feb (16th and 17th). ... See MoreSee Less
Great when something has worked fine for years and then it goes haywire because of an update in O/S. I use my phone to control my HEQ5Pro mount via Wifi using Synscan Pro and it looks like an update in the Android o/s is Again! 😑 causing problems as Android12 did some years (5-6) ago. I'm now using an Android emulator called Nox to run an older Android o/s and Synscan on a Windows Notebook, works fine. If i remember correctly it wasn't until Android 13 came out before i could go back to using the phone last time, that time i went back to the hand controller. Maybe your problem is simlar if not the same ?
78 is my lucky number, and this picture is Beautiful.
There will be a gathering of the Bathurst and District Astronomical Society (BADAS) on Friday the 9th February. Find the group on Facebook if interested and local!!! ... See MoreSee Less
Not overly happy with tonight's image of Jupiter, but it has been a long time since I have been at the big scope. At present, Jupiter is low in the northern sky and that means a lot more turbulent atmosphere to image through (the lower something is, the more atmosphere to have to deal with!). Not the Io to the lower right. Calisto is also very faintly visible. ... See MoreSee Less
The sun has had a major solar flare, sending energetic particles towards Earth. These 'should' arrive late on the 25th or early hours of the 26th of March. These will most likely cause a display of Aurora visible across the southern parts of Australia (I know we see them from the Central West at such times) . Aurora are most likely visible in the hours either side of midnight in the southern skies (direction). NOTE: This is also full moon!!!! Full moon will likely be too bright for all but the brighter light filaments of the aurora. So the display will be somewhat muted. I know I prefer auroral displays around New Moon in a dark sky.
Edit: Image from an Aurora last April under dark moonless skies! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Very exciting.
Shereen Terblanche Braack you might be able to see this with your telescope
Jon Elbourne
Sam King
Debbie Meek
Tamar Greatrix
Tom McInnes
Ben Gaudron
Karen Oborn
Dhana Stevens
Bryden Tom
Corey
Can you see the lights with your eyes (ie not through a camera) in this region?
Kate Wright
Madison keep your eyes peeled in the wee hours of the morning, to the south! 👀
Rodney Pattison
Shane Carpenter
Tom Kable
Dave Warren
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It was busy weekend, observatory maintenance and the local Astronomy Club (Bathurst and District Astronomical Society, BADAS) booking out Saturday. While the club chatted, I just popped the camera and 50mm lens on a tripod and imaged the Southern Cross and Eta Carina region of the Milky Way.
I am just waiting on a few things before posting tours in advance. There is a much needed hazard reduction burn(s) taking place in the area over coming weeks. The smoke from burning will impact upon tours, so I am just waiting on details of the dates of these. As it turns out the ideal conditions for burning are generally those ideal for astronomy! It may end up I have only a day or twos notice that a tour will be ok to run without smoke. I will keep everyone posted.
In other news, we will soon get an upgrade to facilities here after a friendly plumber looks like they will install the much awaited toilet in a month or so! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Such a great news, thank you for keeping us posted! Can’t wait to bring the kids along 🙌
When will the next tour be?
If it is clear on Friday the 1st of March, there is a nice pass of the International Space Station. Head outside just before 8:54pm and look towards the SW. You will see the space station appear as a bright, moving star like object. It will continue to brighten and rise higher before passing almost overhead at 8:57pm. It will then fade into Earth's shadow at 8:58pm in the NE. (The weather forecast though isn't looking good!) ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Are you going to photograph it Ray?
Paul Marnoch
Steven Emanuel
Mikayla Chadwick
Fingers crossed on the weather, app is saying overhead for us in Cudal 😀
Jess Selmes
Logan Spice
Michael Griffiths
Kylie Christie
Not clear in Mudgee unfortunately
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Some nights after a tour, I am too tired to connect the camera to the telescope, so I pop the camera on a spare tracking mount with just a 50mm lens. A few nights ago, I imaged the larger Magellanic galaxy. This is one of the stunning highlights of the southern skies!
I'll post March tour dates during the coming week, however, I do know March 1st is one of them! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Stephen Holland asked if I could image the International Space Station (as it passed on the evening of the 10th of Feb). I have not imaged the ISS for sometime as the telescope I use for it is large and heavy. After injuring my back a year ago, I haven't been able to lift it. With things much better, I decided that yes, I would set it up again for this pass. It was very windy, but the result is ok. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Brilliant capture. Mine was a dot in the sky but to see it is amazing
Don't forget I only have tours for the 16th and 17th this month (busy month!). The local astronomy club met at the observatory on the evening of the 9th. I kind of left the telescope to image on its own while we all talked astro stuff. The focus drifted a bit, but the telescope did manage to capture this image of nebula NGC 2174 during this time. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Can you photograph the ISS with your gear? It came over Cudal like car lights last night and will be brighter tonight -4.4. From Cudal it will pass close to Orion and Pleiades . Would make a great photo 🙂
I finally had a night in the observatory to do some imaging well beyond our solar system. On Friday 2nd Feb I imaged the rather eerie nebula M78 in Orion. After some time not needing the software that does all this, I found there were some issues I'll work on today, but luckily I have work arounds! (I hate when everything normally is just a click and and talks to each other. Last night one of the programs was like, "nup, I hate that telescope, I am not talking to it!")
I am not as available as I had thought this month!!! Tours in mid Feb (16th and 17th). ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Headlights in the mist!
Beautiful
Overcoming problems is half the satisfaction....
Great when something has worked fine for years and then it goes haywire because of an update in O/S. I use my phone to control my HEQ5Pro mount via Wifi using Synscan Pro and it looks like an update in the Android o/s is Again! 😑 causing problems as Android12 did some years (5-6) ago. I'm now using an Android emulator called Nox to run an older Android o/s and Synscan on a Windows Notebook, works fine. If i remember correctly it wasn't until Android 13 came out before i could go back to using the phone last time, that time i went back to the hand controller. Maybe your problem is simlar if not the same ?
78 is my lucky number, and this picture is Beautiful.
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There will be a gathering of the Bathurst and District Astronomical Society (BADAS) on Friday the 9th February. Find the group on Facebook if interested and local!!! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Love the name 🤣
My husband may be interested in this but does not have social media. Is there a way to see what being a member means, fees etc
Not overly happy with tonight's image of Jupiter, but it has been a long time since I have been at the big scope. At present, Jupiter is low in the northern sky and that means a lot more turbulent atmosphere to image through (the lower something is, the more atmosphere to have to deal with!). Not the Io to the lower right. Calisto is also very faintly visible. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Nice shot! Love Jupiter views through the 16" dob. Check out the Moon next to the Pleiades tonight too!
Great jupiter. I just finished packing up and now the light clouds have moved to the east. Been chasing a tilt issue for some time now.