Wet Season Astronomy

With the Build-up upon us & the Wet Season not far away, GAA is conducting our observing nights by "SMS Alert" to members on short notice, to match the unpredictability of the weather.
Last night was our first such night for the season & was a very successful observing session. Superb views of 47 Tuc, M42, M31, 32 & 33, The Tarantula Nebula & several stunning star Clusters in Puppis, were the highlights of the night. Made all the better by the setting up of our 18" reflector "Big Blue".
The use of the big scope enabled a first time view for many of us of what is usually a photographic Nebula, the "Flame" in the belt of Orion next to the famous "Horsehead Nebula"
We even managed to name a new Asterism adjacent to the cluster NGC 2546, now known as the Dancing man Cluster (Aprox 2 Deg east), so see if you can find it ?
The wet season can be a great time for astronomy (between the showers !), so drop me a message if you are in Gove & would like to be part of the Astronomy "SMS Alert" service, provided as part of your Membership with GAA.
Have a Safe, Merry & Star filled Xmas & a prosperous New Year, from all of us at GAA. :-)

More Meteors - The Geminids !

For the first time since I have been following Meteor Showers in the past 3yrs, we look like getting clear skies her in NE Arnhem Land for the Geminid Meteor shower.
I am looking forward over the next few evenings for what may be the best shower of the year.
Noted for it's larger than usual particle size the resulting meteors have been recored as being brighter & more persistent than other Meteor showers.
This is said to be the result of the rocky body (3200 Phaethon) a suspected burnt out comet, where all of the icy compounds have burnt off in successive orbits around the sun.
Not surprising, given that it travels within the orbit of Mercury as it passes around the sun.
Lets hope it puts on a good show !
Update: True to form, the "build-up" gave us storms all night on the night of the peak. Oh well, mabye next year !