During 2005, 2006, and again in 2007, I was able to pay a visit back home to Western Australia. Much of the time I was there, I spent at the Chiro Observatory. After 4 years in the USA under skies that were rarely better than LM 6, and most recently generally around 4, to observe again with no light pollution was unbelievable. In estimating the limiting magnitude, I used several fields from my meteor observing days. One of those regions indicated that under 7.5 skies, 32 stars would be visible. I was able to see between 38 and 42!!!! The Milky Way in Sagittarius was so bright that is cast a faint shadow and the zodiac light was visible from horizon to horizon all night! The biggest problem facing someone under these circumstances is.... What to concentrate on??!!?? Film.... Deek sky CCD......... Research..... Visual observing............ Binocular observing.........?????? The usual result of course is to try and do everything!!!! :-) Unfortunately it looks like 2008 will not be a repeat! Too many expensis to afford the airfare again. Plus having just purchased a new large-format CCD the required stock of SPU's is lacking!!! :-(((
