This is the last imaging run that I have done, October 31. I had both rigs running and the night was going well. Packed up the next day and the forecast was cloudy for the foreseeable future so I put the covers on the scopes and waiting out mother nature. The scopes have been outside under cover since May. Through 45C temperatures, massive wildfires with thick smoke and raining ash, and then the freak storm of Nov.15. A typical rainy night with a breeze gusting up to 45KM/Hr. Then at approximately 6:10 PM, the gust of gusts came through, topping 120 KM\hr. The wind ripped the cover of the Esprit 80 and actually blew over the Esprit 120! Then the torrential rain hit! I did not notice until an 8pm. In absolute panic I run outside, the Esprit 80 is absolutely soaked and the 120 is down for the count. I had one of those moments where a mother could lift a car when there baby was underneath! Picking up the entire Esprit 120 rig with all its bulky 145lbs in one motion and ran it under cover.  The Esprit 80 was next, covering in towels to soak up the water. 

So needless to say I am out of commission for a while until new parts come in and I can fully test the repairs. However it has been cloudy every night since then so I am not missing any clear sky time as of yet. I am hoping to be back up early January as the remaining parts should be in by then.

I decided to process the only data I had from the "lost" set, 5 hours of Ha from the Fossil Footprint nebula. It is a nice area with lovely embedded structures within. Next year I will complete this image to present a final rendition. 

I have attached an image of the capture from my surveillance camera after the wind gust struck and I noticed the damage. All those out there that cover your scopes, I never thought 145lbs set up on a tripod could fly, but the Telegizmos cover must have acted like a sail, so be careful!

CS and Happy Holidays
Dan.