Wednesday, February 25, 2009

View

February Observing Night

The north-east view from the hill in Gallipoli Park as the sun was getting low in the west.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Monday, February 23, 2009

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Astro Night

February Observing Night
Last night I went to the local Astronomy Group Mount Isa meeting. I got to use my telescope and goto mount for the first time together. This photo was taken at Gallipoli Park while setting up.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Blue and Green

Mary Kathleen
Blue and green should never be seen without another colour in between. That's what I remember an art teacher saying once. I'm not sure as that is generally true because blue and green go well together in nature.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Uranium Oxides

Mary Kathleen

On one of the benches around the Mary K open cut you will find this yellow and black crystalline substance leaching and forming on the rock with the seeping water. This may well be a form of yellow cake, containing uranium oxide among other things. Maybe you could collect some for use in a pottery glaze. Although this may not be a safe practise.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Mary Kathleen

Mary Kathleen
Mary Kathleen open cut has changed colour with the recent rains and filled significantly. It used to be a bright deep blue. Check out a previous post here. If you look closely you will see some people swimming in the water. This activity is not recommended.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

New Life

Lake Moondarra

The rains bring new shoots of young spinifex from their seed in the soil.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Sunset Creek

Sunset Creek

The local creek in Sunset is swollen with runoff from the recent rains and makes for a green oasis in what is usually a stagnant swamp.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

View From the Falls

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Looking down the normally dry valley from Rigby Falls reveals a spectacular sight under the cloudy haze of an afternoon shower.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Rigby Falls

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A great swimming hole in the monsoon season is Rigby Falls near Mount Frosty. It was a spectacularly refreshing oasis.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Spillway Spilling

Moondarra Full Capacity

The spillway at Moondarra has now spilled as the dam went over full capacity and water runs down the Leichhardt for the first time in years.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Monsoon Flooding

Davis Road Crossing

The rain has continued in Mount Isa and surrounding areas. This is the Leichhardt River at the Davis Road crossing. All this water flows into Lake Moondarra which has risen from 15% to 100% capacity in 4 weeks.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Flooding Rains

Gilliat Channel Flooding
Driving home I was held up by flooding just outside Julia Creek. This is the Gilliat Channel that I was finally able to cross after waiting for two nights while the rain and water drained till this passable level.

Sunday, February 1, 2009