Letter From Down Under

Enclosed herewith is my VS report for February. The weather made the mistake of being good over most of the dark of moon for a change. However, it shut us down during the recent max of U Sco! A cyclone (local terminology for a hurricane) came down the eastern side of Ausralia and camped in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand and as of this writing (March 8) is still slowly dissipating there. It won't move due to persistent highs to our south. This keeps pouring very most air over eastern Australia and New Zealand. We've had virtually perpetual cloud for over a week now.

.... Was really delighted with the Newsletter-especially "The Eyes That Came In From The Cold." The rhino and lion problem from Berto Monard reminded me of a similar story Leon Campbell (1st AAVSO recorder) reported from one of the African observers who claimed he didn't object to the Leo in the sky but it was those on the ground that curtailed his observing.

My similar tale was observing one night at Siding Springs-a couple of kangaroos had a "discussion" over a tuft of grass near where I was observing. It cascaded into a boxing match near the telescope. As the battle progressed to my side, I retreated to the other side, putting the ¬-ton telescope between me and the battlers. Eventually they worked their way away from the telescope so observing could continue.