Townsville Astronomy Group

Hi Liz,
Viewings not good, just spent a WET long weekend at Charters Towers.

How's the new scope looking? Any luck with the the new drive??? Hope so, looking forward to seeing that as you are the new pioneer in our group!!! Have you done anything about a shroud? Lex & Barb reckon they can assist if needed.

Hope to here.

Lex, Barb & Sue.

Hi guys ....
Scope looks great (Bellatrix - Bella) ... alas, havent been able to use it yet, and doesnt look like I will be able to for awhile. Lovely wet season
Argo Navis should arrive this week ...... will give it ago, but not terribly positive, so may be in contact Shame that wont be able to test on the night sky yet.
Re shroud .... that would be great if Barb can make one. Did she make one for Pete? Cant remember if she did. Did buy some foam bedding for a dew shield though, tho havent assembled.
Will catch up in Feb re the years agenda
cheers
Liz

ps. It has arrived!!!!!!!

Hi Liz,
We bought Pete's shroud but just looking at it it will be easy to make, one hopes!!!
There $125 to buy and not a lot to show for it. We would asume your's is the same as Pete's, Argo Navis shouldn't make any difference to the shroud as it fits on the mount (one would think). Email a photo of 'Bellatrix-Bella' and if it's the same as Pete's we'll get on with it!

Cheers
Sue

No worries Sue .... am sure that Bella is the same as Petes scope, but will email a pic.
Had a look at the price of shrouds
Havent used scope yet, a little blue sky around today ... maybe tonight. Would like to catch Mars beofre it shrivels done again.
Will tackle the Argo Navis this week, as a few days off!!
What the .... new pioneer

The European Southern Observatory’s new VISTA telescope’s enormous field of view allows it to image the entire nebula at once. It’s been designed to capture near-infrared light. The longer wavelengths of light in that part of the spectrum allow rays to pass through dusty space without being scattering.

The Orion Nebula is located about 1,350 light-years from Earth. The cloud of gas and dust is a nursery for young stars. The red blobs in the features near the center of the image are young, growing stars that are hidden by dust in visible light.

VISTA was just placed into service late last year, so we can expect many more beautiful near-infrared images as it conducts its survey of the sky.