Not quite an OR - more fun Down Under

by Marek Cichanski

Dan and I are sitting at two computers called "Moon" and "Venus" at the Coonabarabran Community Center. Dan arrived safe and sound yesterday. He and I sprang into a frenzy of action, assembling and collimating the CPT, and got going on observing.

Some clouds moved through while we were setting up, but they cleared by about 8:30 or 9. We managed to have a good night. Some more clouds came over again later, but not until morning twilight - oh yeah...

It was great to hang out with Dan during his first view of the southern sky. It was also warmer than the previous few nights, no frost.

When I got up from a nap at about 2:30, and started on my LMC session, I got 22.2 on the SQM. Wild! And nice steady seeing (could use the 5 Nagler on the LMC) and great transparency all the way to the horizon. Alpha Centauri was rising, and it didn't look dimmed at all.

Possibly the best sky I've ever been under - I need more than a few hours of it!

Well, looks like I gotta wrap things up. I'm a bit worried about some clouds coming by tonight, but it looks like at least the first part of the night will be clear.

I looked at Richard Navarette's photos of Coe - awesome! Sounds like you guys had a killer night, and it's really great to hear about that.

Take it easy,

Marek