Back from Australia -- with pictures

by Dan Wright

The final observing night (Friday), I used Starry Night Pro to reveal the field where Proxima Centauri was supposed to be, then spent a long time verifying the find, including double-checking using The Sky. I'm confident the dim dot I observed was truly our closest star and not one of the many nearby background stars.

Marek and I also observed the NCG galaxy closest to the south celestial pole: "Polarissima Australis", NGC 2573.

I got a little carried away earlier when I posted that the bright OC in Carina, NGC 2516, was "as good as the Pleiades". Friday I had both M45 and NGC 2516 in the same sky, and ... the Pleiades are better. Sorry.

I spent Saturday taking the scenic route back into Sydney through Wollemi National Park on Putty Road, which twisty mountain road I found to be a mecca for motorcyclists. On Marek's suggestion I stayed at the airport Holiday Inn and rode the subway into downtown Sydney and toured the harbor, the bridge, and the Opera House.

By the time I got back I was so accustomed to driving on the left that USA roads seemed slightly wrong. Today on the drive to work I used windshield wipers instead of turn signals.

Here is a link to pictures, including baby emus:

http://www.fototime.com/inv/9A236C84D3D95FF

I'm behind in writing one of those "Introduction" posts for Sarah's page. Bear with me on that ...

Regards from Dan