My drive around Australia.

[bn1777]

Hi all , I left Darwin on the 16th October , drove for 10 odd days done 4400km down the west coast of Western Australia camping along the way ,, awsome dark clear skies .

My most used scope was the Tak SKY90 , but I did set up the 127mm f8 Istar twice ,, sweet scope !!! .
I hit Perth WA on saturday and contacted a few IIS members and caught up , good to meet people in the flesh , so to speak , great people .
Sunday night was clear ( I seem to have bought the fine weather with me , these Perth star gazers have had months of cloud ) so I set up the 127mm along with a WO 110mm triplet , WO 66mm triplet , ED 80 , Celestron C8 , SW 10 inch Dob and 16 inch Meade LB , great selection of scopes .

Every one that looked thru the Istar were super impressed ( as usual ) , we even seen Antares green companion in the 127mm using my 3mm Radian at 333x the only scope to split it but the WO 110 hinted at about 250x .
We finished about 3am , tired and content a great night .

I will post some photos soon , they are in my Sony A200 DSLR packed away and I cant be bothered digging it out but I will post a few .

I am leaving Perth friday morning , driving east to Adelade , camping and star gazing ... My holiday .

More updates along the way .

Brian.

[bn1777]

Forgot to mention , stopped off at 'Wolfe creek crater' , camped the night , what a beauty and just standing on the rim humbled me , a powerful place .. and that night M31 was a naked eye object ,, with averted vision of course but still seen .
Brian.

[boomboom]

You lucky bloke Brian. Nothing like the middle of nowhere and dark skies. M 31 I have yet to see. It's a bit far south here but one day I'll get lucky with the right time of year clear and no Moon.
Look forward to some pics. Good you have the 127 Istar with you...love to see that one in the flesh

Matt

[bn1777]

When I get there and if you can take us to the top of a hill with a northerly aspect , I will point M31 out for you Matt , it's visable from Melbourne as I have seen it late october from 40 degrees south in Whangarei NZ .
Bugger , by te way its cold down here in Perth ( 32 degrees south ) and 16 degrees ,,, brrrrr , I am not used to this .
Brian.

[boomboom]

Up the top a hill? Got the perfect spot…but in the last few years there has not been a cloudless moon free night. This hill looks over just about all of Melbourne lights out to the North so hopefully?
Happy driving.

[bn1777]

It will happen Matt , I have a job here in Perth but I will continue on in the new year .
I have just got a fiberglass wind up roof top tent from 'Rays Camping World' its a beauty solid and plenty of room and will be fitting it onto my ute over the next few weeks ,, no more slumming on the ground for me now ,, cool and I asked and got $300 off for Christmas when I asked for a discount , only $1800 .
I will post photos of the finished set up , will be nice , my home on wheels to stay at Australia's dark sky sites over the next few years ,, cool ..
Brian.