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Lunar Eclipse & Comet Patrol

Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 08:51

Karsten from Birdsville Studio

Just watched an amazing lunar eclipse from the Dingo Caves. With Wolfgang, Mr.Birdsville & company, freshly brewed espresso coffee and a little port, we saw a total eclipse which became blood red before disappearing behind a cloud bank.
A nice warm fire, brilliant sunrise & Wolfi's rendition of "Sunshine on My Shoulders" topped off a surreal morning.

For those astronomical among you, May sees two naked eye visible comets in the sky at the same time (a fairly rare event). If you are in or around Birdsville, we'll be setting up the Celestron 250mm telescope to get a closer view on Wednesday night 15th May & Saturday night 19th May.

More Details to follow.....
Big Red Cafe BirdsvilleBig Red Cafe Birdsville
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ThreadID: 12621 Replies: 7
Views: 403 FollowUps: 6
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AnswerID: 57281   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 09:25

Member - Andrew & Jen (Melb) replied:

Is stood in my ensuite in my boxer shorts in chilly Melbourne at 6.20am and parted the mini venetians. I saw the moon but it was blurred by some cloud. Not very sexy compared with the Dingo caves and Wolfi and fire and the sunrise.
Andrew
Yes - Luke's got a bigger one than me
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FollowupID: 319064   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 15:08

Member - Al & Mrs Al (Vic) posted:

thanks for that description.....

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FollowUp 1 of 5
FollowupID: 319137   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 22:59

Des Lexic posted:

Are you sure it was the cloud that blurred your vision.
"Standing in your boxer shorts" is just too much information for some of our female forumites to contend with.
It's not the years of your life that matters, it's the life in your years that count.
FollowUp 2 of 5
FollowupID: 319139   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 23:03

Andrew & Jen (Melb) posted:

....a lovely full moon from the ensuite. Did Maaaaaa palpitate?
Yes - Luke's got a bigger one than me
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2001 Landcruiser 100S Turbo Diesel
"We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing"
FollowUp 3 of 5
FollowupID: 319141   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 23:08

Des Lexic posted:

Not sure if she was palpitating or not but I do know that she was wide awake answering questions about who else was awake. The story made me feel good.
It's not the years of your life that matters, it's the life in your years that count.
FollowUp 4 of 5
FollowupID: 319148   Submitted: Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 07:34

Member - Al & Mrs Al (Vic) posted:

Palpitate?...nahhh...I was tryint to hibernate...without much luck

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"Life isn't measured by the breaths you take but by the things that take your breath away"



FollowUp 5 of 5
AnswerID: 57283   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 09:55

Member - Sam (NSW) replied:

I did a few situps in bed every 10 -15 mins between 5am and 6am to view it out my window. Had a perfect uninterrupted view. Didn't have enough motivation though to actually get out of bed and photograph it.
Simpson Desert 2006I love a sunburnt country......
Reply 2 of 7
AnswerID: 57288   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 10:48

Member Colin - NSW Bungendore replied:

We had a great view of the eclipse in the ACT area - I was up early to PU my daughter from the airport, but didn't get a chance to look for the comets or meteorite shower though.

My next astronomical event is the Transit of Venus from the Calvert Ra. (CSR in WA) in early June.

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Reply 3 of 7
AnswerID: 57297   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 12:28

Member - Errol (York WA) replied:

Ga,day Karsten . Just wondering where to look in the night sky for the two comets ? I have had a couple of looks , but to no avail and the moon dose,nt help eather , so if you could give me some idea of where to look that would be grate .

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AnswerID: 57325   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 15:40

floyd replied:

Was up at 4.15 with my 2 year old and had a look a bit before 5 am. We both saw the Orange Moon and a lot of the meteorite shower. Saw it again at around 6.00 and it was great. All orange again. We are at Mt Buller in victoria and had no man made light to interupt the view.

Not as good as the huge meteor shower a couple of years ago where there were several falling each second for several hours. Cant remember the name of that one but it was by far the best display of falling stars I have ever seen. Aparently it only comes by th eearth every 66,000 years or so give or take a few years.
Reply 5 of 7
FollowupID: 319466   Submitted: Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 09:11

Karsten from Birdsville Studio posted:

Floyd mate, the meteor shower you're refering to is the Leonids (Nov.2001). They are debris of Halley's comet and we actually pass through them very regularly at the same time of the year. Sometimes we have a good show as was 2001.

The event that last occured 66 000 years ago (give or take) was Mars being as close as it was last year. It won't be quite as long to see Mars as close again, but long enough (not in our life time).

Cheers
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FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 57336   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 17:17

TheUndertaker replied:

Up at 5am as per usual ,magic moon in ole Brisbane ,nowhere as sureal as would have been out at the dingo caves though,
Reply 6 of 7
AnswerID: 57371   Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 21:15

Member - Allan Mac (VIC) replied:

Sorry I missed the whole show, but I looked up in the general direction about 8.15 and seen where it might have been , so took a picture of it. Now going to buy the T Shirt "I survived the lunar eclipse" :-)
Reply 7 of 7

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