Deep Sky Camp Dates for 2009

Mike · Nov 27, 2008, 06:27:51

The dates for the 2009 Deep Sky Camps are :-

Fri 20th to Mon 23rd February
Fri 22nd to Mon 25th May
Fri 21st to Mon 24th August
Fri 13th to Mon 16th November

Get your hols booked now

Mike · Jan 20, 2009, 15:23:12

One month to the day till the first DSC of 2009 !!!

JohnP · Jan 20, 2009, 15:31:32

'telescopes crossed' the weather is better than the last one...

(not that I went to it....)

Mike · Jan 20, 2009, 15:41:30

Well let's be honest it would be hard pressed to be any worse !

Ian · Jan 20, 2009, 15:44:49

nah, it's only bad when I can't get my car into the field...

Mike · Jan 20, 2009, 15:55:09

Mac · Jan 20, 2009, 17:14:20

Is it going to be at the swamp? in Feb?
or have we managed to get the other site sorted yet?

Fingers crossed for either No-rain or at least -5, that way we can drive over the frozen field.

mickw · Jan 20, 2009, 21:27:33

If it's chucking down, I could get there early so nobody else can get in

Mike · Feb 19, 2009, 14:22:28

The weather forecast for SAturday isn't looking too bad at the moment. No mention of rain yet for the weekend.

Ian · Feb 19, 2009, 14:29:24

I've taken a look on meteoblue and while it's not looking too shabby for camping, I don't think we'll be doing much observing

Tony G · Feb 19, 2009, 15:38:23

Looks like some experiments then.

Tony G

Mike · Feb 19, 2009, 16:01:30

Yep. conditions should be good for solar balloons (cold weather is best for hot air balloons), plus any weather is good for fireworks, air rifles, etc.

Whitters · Feb 19, 2009, 21:33:21

Can't remember can we get 'leccy at the site?

Mac · Feb 19, 2009, 21:47:35

QuoteCan't remember can we get 'leccy at the site?

only if you bring your own,

i'll bring mind down, but im only there for the saturday.
Probably be leaving around 10pm.

MarkS · Feb 19, 2009, 23:29:43

Quote from: Mike
Yep. conditions should be good for solar balloons (cold weather is best for hot air balloons) ...

Oh, I see.
I thought "solar" meant "dependent on sunlight" not "freezing cold"!

Ian · Feb 19, 2009, 23:39:53

no, Mike's right. We're going to have a solar time this weekend mate. Absolutely solar. Although not as solar as is was three weekends ago.

Mike · Feb 20, 2009, 00:30:42

Solar as in the sun heats them up. However, in this case I could only find thin white plastic so a 12v hairdryer will be called into action.

MarkS · Feb 20, 2009, 06:35:58

Just hold it a couple of feet above a gas burner ...

Mike · Feb 20, 2009, 08:43:49

Good idea!

Mike · Feb 26, 2009, 17:38:09

NOTE: Until further notice all future Deep Sky Camps will be held at Woodlands Park Camp Site near Bethersden in Kent. Due to problems with access we will no longer be using the field at Tuesnoad.

Carole · Mar 06, 2009, 18:49:50

QuoteCan't remember can we get 'leccy at the site?

Quoteonly if you bring your own,

I found this on the Woodlands Site

QuoteWe have electric hook-ups (advisable to pre-book), and a modern toilet and shower block facility

Is this not going to be available to us then, perhaps because we want to camp in a different area?

Carole

Mike · Mar 06, 2009, 19:57:03

Why would it not be available to us?

Carole · Mar 06, 2009, 21:30:40

Quoteonly if you bring your own,

I only questioned it because of the above quote.

Good, because I just bought myself a hook up and am planning to get myself a camping fridge of some sort as I am fed up with food melting or going off.

Carole

Rocket Pooch · Aug 05, 2009, 23:15:16

Carol book it now they have a loads of points and they are between the loos and the centre of the field, its about 30 yards or so, no real issue.

Chris

Mike · Aug 05, 2009, 23:50:37

Chris do the rest of us need to book for standard plots?

MarkS · Aug 06, 2009, 08:44:16

Quote from: Space Dog
book it now they have a loads of points

It's no good booking Woodlands if we end up going to Blacklands (or vice versa)

Mark

Carole · Aug 06, 2009, 08:45:35

QuoteCarol book it now

Unfortunately my posting

QuoteGood, because I just bought myself a hook up and am planning to get myself a camping fridge of some sort as I am fed up with food melting or going off.

was dated 6.3.09 and was referring to the March DSC which of course I never made with a tent as I had my arm in a sling. I have bought myself that fridge and looking forward to food not going off in future, but can't actually make the August DSC as I will be in Cyprus until the Sunday morning.

That is unless the weather is great and members are staying until the Monday, then I might see if I can get down on Sunday afternoon until Monday. (Getting home in the early hours so might be a bit knackered). Probably won't bother with hook up just for one night.

Who's staying until Monday?

While I was typing this Mark posted the following

QuoteIt's no good booking Woodlands if we end up going to Blacklands (or vice versa)

. Which site are we going to?

Carole

Carole · Aug 06, 2009, 08:50:27

BTW Ian,

Further to a conversation I had with you a little while ago about needing hook up to run my fridge and you were talking about using battery. I recently tried the fridge out using my leisure battery and it didn't even last 24 hours even when the battery was fully charged. (I tried it twice to prove the point).

So hook up it needs to be.

Carole

Fay · Aug 06, 2009, 09:09:17

Whenever we go to Woodlands, Carole, if you use hookup, you will be in a different part of the field to everyone else. Duncan had a hookup & we could not even see him, so he moved his tent into our non hookup area, as he was on his own.

MarkS · Aug 06, 2009, 10:11:34

Carole,

Is your fridge a "dual fuel" one i.e. can it run off either electrickery or gas?

Mark

Carole · Aug 06, 2009, 16:52:54

QuoteIs your fridge a "dual fuel" one i.e. can it run off either electrickery or gas?

It only runs on electricity. (N.B. Elec trickery might be good though!!)
I had a job to find one to suit my purposes and pocket, as most of the fridges were huge and took up loads of space in the car. So I went for one which is about the same size as a cool box, which suits me fine size wise, I'm not taking huge quantities of food with me. Therefore didn't get much option over whether it was Electric or Gas.

QuoteWhenever we go to Woodlands, Carole, if you use hookup, you will be in a different part of the field to everyone else.

I know, but don't understand why the chosen place for OAS was right up against the trees anyway. Far beit for me to tell every-one where to go, but I would have thought halfway between the trees and the Hooks ups would have been a better all round observing place anyway.

QuoteDuncan had a hookup & we could not even see him, so he moved his tent into our non hookup area, as he was on his own.

Maybe if enough people choose hook up, things might change.

Just got back from Physio and I've been booked in for my next appointment on the Monday of DSC. I knew the date rang a bell, but couldn't think why. I think it's going to be too much of a rush after my holiday now anyway. I'll wait until the next DSC.

It looks like the vote is going for Blacklands, and I think it would be a good idea to test out a few sites before we decide on a regular venue. I was not all that happy with Woodlands as it was so crowded, and as I said before couldn't understand why we were up against the trees.

Carole

Fay · Aug 06, 2009, 17:16:46

The tree position was the last large site available, Carole, all the rest of the field was booked. The hookups are near the caravans etc, & would not be so dark as the other side

The Thing · Aug 06, 2009, 19:51:03

Being by the caravans at Woodlands was not good for dark adaptation. There were a lot of porch lights and so on. Also it was very antisocial. I now have a pro-social leisure battery

Do Blacklands require all plots to be booked? I think maybe so or they wouldn't have a booking form on their website... The site rules say no un-affiliated groups allowed. We are affiliated so would it be a good idea to enquire about a block booking of pitches?

Tony G · Aug 06, 2009, 19:55:47

When we were at Woodlands, I thought the trees were a bit of an advantage, as if everyone was camped further out you would be totally surrounded by campers, whereas the trees provided some privacy and we were able to move the equipment far enough out from the tents, caravans and campervans for everyone to have a good field of view.

Tony G

Fay · Aug 06, 2009, 20:10:24

I thought the last DSC was one of the best. so entertaining

Carole · Aug 06, 2009, 21:08:46

QuoteThe tree position was the last large site available, Carole, all the rest of the field was booked

Ah, that explains the last one. But is it an assumption that we will always be in that area?

Also, I suppose we did pick a very busy weekend, maybe we don't need to be so far over when it's less crowded.

Anyway, if the group decide to stay in the same spot at Woodlands, I suppose I don't have to do my Astronomy next to my tent, as I'm only using hook up for domestic things. I'm sure there is a way around it. But still would be interesting to compare other sites.

Carole

Tony G · Aug 06, 2009, 21:35:08

Quote from: Fay on Aug 06, 2009, 20:10:24
I thought the last DSC was one of the best. so entertaining

I think it was the well organised BBQ, and the not so organised distribution of alcohol.

Tony G

Fay · Aug 06, 2009, 21:42:19

exactly Tony

News:

Deep Sky Camp Dates for 2009

JohnP