Orpington Astronomical Society

Next DSC is the end of November.
This means it more or less coincides with the Moon's last quarter instead of coinciding with the New Moon.

Why was that particular weekend chosen?
It's begging for a uDSC the following week ;-)

Mark

Novembers should have been 5, 6, 7, 8?

Closest weekend to the new moon on 5th Dec perhaps?

I'm sure there was a logical reason at the time.

Change it to the beginning of Nov or 5th Dec weekend if you like.

Quote from: Mike
I'm sure there was a logical reason at the time.

Maybe the previous place, Blacklands, was closed in December?

Mark

5th Nov. Fireworks ?

Not our ones because they're Special  ;)


A decision to change should be made soon so we can let Rother Valley know.

I would be happy to have both the following:
1)  Fri-Sun 5-7 Nov   (New Moon 6 Nov)
2)  Fri-Sun 3-5 Dec   (New Moon 5 Dec)

Mark

I guess I'll be ok for the 6th and 7th November, the Dec one would be ok as well.

do we not generally avoid 5th November due to lots of smoke?

Ahh yes, that was why. Bonfire night.

There may not be too many fires in the middle of nowhere on that weekend, only ones created by sadistic pyro-maniacs, hell bent on burning anything...................oh yeah! that would be us. :oops:

Tony G

ok that makes sence, i'll just setup camp in my back garden, anyone fancy comming along?

Well, one way or another, if it is clear, I intend to be out imaging somewhere dark that weekend of early November.

Exactly my thoughts Mark.

So

Shall I arrange for Rother Valley on the 5th instead of the end of November ?

Count me in.

Yes - I think there are enough people who would value the opportunity to do some deep sky imaging/drinking in early November.

Will smoke be a problem?  Probably not, since we are far from any towns.  But I suppose it's a risk.

Mark

I won't be able to make it. 6th it's my birthday (not a problem), 7th it's my Fiona's birthday and she wants to go somewhere nice. Unfortunately that doesn't mean the picturesque and lovely Rother Valley Campsite.  :cry:

I wont be able to make the one at the end of Nov. but can make one on the weekend of the 5th.

Rother Valley informed dates are now 5th to 8th November and names and addresses sent for the Loco Club.

have you cancelled the later one or are we having two?

Cancelled the later one due to Bad Moon Rising

But I like the Moon................I can seem to focus on that OK, with no issues. ;)

Tony G

so is that it for 2010, or are we having a December dsc?

Nothing planned for December or January

Kidneys and liver need a couple of months to recover

I hope we're having one early in Dec also ...

I'll be there in early Dec.

Might be one for the hard core weird french s41t aficionados and cider drinkers (probably need to be hot and mulled). Loads-a-antifreeze :twisted:

There has never been anything planned for December.

Don't know if it was because November was going to be a late one.

Maybe an overnighter to the Beachy Head car park is in order. No mud problems...

If we wait until we can see what the conditions/situations are like at Rother Valley on 5th Nov, we might be able to go there again in December.


*Also don't forget to book for November*

I can do both now I have changed my call out cover at work :P :P :P :P

Think I am going to duck out of the winter DSCs unless the weather is unusually good.  I would be up for this though.

Quotean overnighter to the Beachy Head car park is in order. No mud problems...

Carole

Quote from: Carole on Oct 25, 2010, 11:02:52
I would be up for this though.

Quotean overnighter to the Beachy Head car park is in order. No mud problems...

Carole

Is this one of those car parks in the middle of nowhere, where everyone meets up, and say they belong to an astronomical society and they were stargazing when van loads of Police turn up, shouting 'What's going on 'ere then'.
If it is, remember not to flash you lights when you arrive, as you'll lose your night vision. ;)

Tony G

Better not bring the red lights then otherwise they'll think there's an orgy going on  :o

Quoteaybe an overnighter to the Beachy Head car park is in order. No mud problems...

Genny for hire.........................

Read that how you like ;)  :cheesy:

Any dates for the Beachy head car park.

But dont forget there is a Harvester just behind it, unless there's another car park im not aware of, and it will probably close about 10ish,

so for 5 hours of darkness you will have cars in and out of that place and along the road as well.

Not including the local fuzz :police:

Mac

That is not one of those "dogging" car parks is it??

PS that " policeman" is a parrot in a pirate hat     :o

QuotePS that " policeman" is a parrot in a pirate hat

Blame the icon installers. ;)

should have used this one  :chase:
;)

 :o

We could have a christmas tree at the december one, & some lights & mince pies 

*Shakes head in disbelief - sits down - has a fag*

Nope, that didn't make it any better :roll:

Only jesting, Mick, I am not struck on christmas, especially as the 8' tree has to come down from the loft, on a series of pulleys, sort of like National Lampoons Christmas     ;)

You could always decorate next doors leylandii  :lol:

What, with an axe??     :twisted:

Season of good will to all men - and their trees   :lol:

Weather not looking very favourable for the weekend - Rain, Wind, Cloud, Clear - take your pick  :-?

Possibility of clearish skies Saturday - mostly because the high winds will blow the clouds away and dry the rain up  :(

Quote from: mickw on Nov 02, 2010, 10:39:07Possibility of clearish skies Saturday - mostly because the high winds will blow the clouds away and dry the rain up  :(

Aye, some of the balloon folk were discussing predicted paths for possible launches this weekend. The high altitude winds look like being particularly fast. An average launch from Cambridge was predicted to end up in Belgium, and a launch from Northern Ireland was predicted to fall just short of Denmark. I don't think either launch will happen.

Never mind - If we have plenty of BEER and that French sh*t then we should be just fine.

If it's windy i'll bring the octopus.

Well I will think twice if I cannot get down because of weather, on Friday, too much palavar for 2 nights. If I don't camp, I will visit on the saturday.

Ok, I have decided not to camp, although saturday is looking promising, it is all the other weather around it!

I will come down around 11am for the day on saturday. Bit fedup about my decision, but hopefully december will be better, always difficult to make decisions when the weather is so unpredictable.

I have to admit, the forecast is looking pretty dismal. There are severe weather warnings for most of the rest of the country too.

With rain nearly every day for over a week and more forecast for the weekend it's unlikely I'd be able to get the van up the hill to the corner even if they do let me drive on the field.

I will not be going :-?

The bummer is, I've spent over a week getting the bloody van loaded, installing and testing EQMod, setting up and testing guidescope and camera, testing new modded camera, making assorted leads and dew heaters  :(

This evening I'll cancel me staying and ask if we can book for December - I will not cancel this weeks booking for everyone in case someone decides to brave the storm

I know how dissappointing it is Mick, I feel the same. We will have to drown our sorrows tuesday night, imaging session!!!!

Quoteimaging session!!!!

:roll:
Observing Evening.............

Not that it makes any difference - rain/cloud forecast as usual anyway  :(

And I agree - drown sorrows  :)

At the present time, I'm still planning to go. 
Forecast is still for some clear sky on Saturday night.

Mark

I have cancelled but have said that a couple are still going.

If you have booked and NOT going, please let them know.

See other post re December

Is anyone else going? 
'Cos if not, I'll winge out as well.
I don't want to be out alone on a wet dark night ...

Mark you can allways setup in my garden.

Chris

I'm planning on going. Not booked so pooch garden attractive.

Just checked the weather and looks like I am probably going to blow it out at the weekend.

Julian

Chris,

Thanks for the offer!
However, I will go down to Rother Valley because I want to explore the area a bit on the Saturday.

Mark

Arriving tonight between 7:30pm and 8:00pm.

Mark

Had a reply from Jackie, it was very windy last night so anyone going might want to pitch tent in the wooded alcove for shelter.

Newenden is also planning a firework display Saturday which should be finished early (that would be North of the campsite)

Winds are forecast from NE so could be a problem

Quote from: mickw
Newenden is also planning a firework display Saturday which should be finished early (that would be North of the campsite)

Winds are forecast from NE so could be a problem

A problem?  You mean I might be bombarded by the spent remains of fireworks?

Mark

I was thinking of smoke, poison gas and friendly  fire  ;)

You should get a good view though  :-?

I'm going to dodge the shrapnel at home.

So the only person down there is Mark?

I've just come from London, which had torrential rain. I'm talking about the kind of rain you see in sheets across the road and making wave son the pavement. Weirdly though, back in Orpington, it's only slightly damp, meaning it hasn't come this way (yet).

Lashed it down in West Sussex earlier, now its really windy!

It's cold and dark down here.............................where is everyone???????????????????????? :(

Tony G

Came down in buckets as I was driving home from Gravesend this evening...

Quote from: Tony G on Nov 05, 2010, 22:52:37
It's cold and dark down here.............................where is everyone???????????????????????? :(

Tony G

Tucked up in bed, nice and warm.

Anyone else coming?  Last night was dry till midnight but was windy.  I was here on my own!

Just to clarify - unlike Tony's joke, I really am here at Rother Valley.  Hoping for some clear spells tonight.

With the amount of rain that's been coming down I doubt I'd be allowed anywhere near the field.

I'm gonna stay at home and try to learn Photoshop  :(

I hope it stays dry and unwindy enough for you to do some imaging - good luck

Mark,

As you are aware, I was only joking :roll:, as I didn't think anyone would go down to Rother Valley.
Well fair play to you, and good luck with the rest of the weekend.

Tony G

PS.....................By the way, how do we know YOU are not joking, and not tucked up in the warm, as the Thing has suggested????????????? ;)

In the end you don't know I'm really here.  You'd have to come down to really know ...

Just managed to free the car.  It was stuck after the overnight rain but the sun has dried the ground enough to free it.

Quote from: MarkS on Nov 06, 2010, 13:26:25
Just managed to free the car.  It was stuck after the overnight rain but the sun has dried the ground enough to free it.

This time... ;)

Trouble was that last night, in the dark, I parked in a slight dip - now parked on higher ground.

Does the little mobile phone symbol next to Marks entry show that he's posting from a mobile site, and if so at least shows he's not kidding us from home.

Carole

Its my blackberry.  I've decided to stay tonight as well - might be some clear bits.

Quote from: Carole on Nov 06, 2010, 14:52:05
and if so at least shows he's not kidding us from home.

And what is stopping him sending these messages from his Blackcurrent thingy from Sidcup! :roll:

Tony G

Nice to see that's there's at least one real astronomer amongst us! My excuse? Some bu^^er changed the dates which meant that I was aiming at the wrong part of the calendar  :roll:

Mark, hope you get a rewarding result for your persistance

If he's got "lucky cam" with him I'm sure we'll all regret not going!!

Fay,

Have you ever known Mark to be unlucky. No doubt that a meteorite will land in the middle of the field with only mark there to take the photos. ;)

Tony G

Old hat, Tony, Marks already processing the image!!

Let's see if this works - blackberry gps location:
http://maps.BlackBerry.com?lat=51.00798&lon=0.61105&z=4&label=Rother,+United+Kingdom&city=Rother&country=United+Kingdom

Sorry, Mark, but on my system this just takes me to a world map which tells me you're somewhere on the planet...

Hold on a mo....the whole of the address given in your post doesn't seem to be active. If I paste the complete address into my brower then I do, indeed, get the Rother Valley campsite.....so your Blackberrys  there at least...

The link should be -

http://maps.BlackBerry.com?lat=51.00798&lon=0.61105&z=4&label=Rother,+United+Kingdom&city=Rother&country=United+Kingdom (http://maps.blackberry.com?lat=51.00798&lon=0.61105&z=4&label=Rother,+United+Kingdom&city=Rother&country=United+Kingdom)

Not sure whether to admire you or be afraid of you - You're either dedicated or insane  ;)

SAT24 is showing a possibility of about 40% cloud at the moment - good luck  :)

Accuweather shows +3 feeling like -1 with partly cloudy through to 2am tomorrow (Sunday). If I could have got my arse in gear, I'd have been there with you  :roll:

Cloud breaking up - already down to 9C

Cloud is closing in here, 7.1C no wind, lots of bright flashes....

Nice view of ISS going over just now, but nobody on the radio...

Someone's sending up what I think are Chinese Lanterns here. Two of 'em, bright orange. Nice against a cloudy sky - up side: temperature has risen to 7.3C

QuoteSomeone's sending up what I think are Chinese Lanterns here

Probably Mr G. ;)

Saw ISS visually and took photos of Newenden fireworks. Only few gaps in cloud.

Beautiful clear sky (for now) - imaging at last ...

French sh*t is cloudy so it must be cold. Can't believe no-one came - I miss you guys ...

Mark, I will be in tears soon.................... don't cry into your French sh.t, we miss you too..............boo hoo

Quote from: Mac on Nov 06, 2010, 18:21:18

QuoteSomeone's sending up what I think are Chinese Lanterns here

Probably Mr G. ;)

Well, if Mark manages to get one of my chinese lanterns in one of his images I be very honoured, as I'll be in the hall of fame along with the ISS, Moons of Jupiter etc. ;)

Tony G

PS..............I didn't let any off tonight, as I'm saving them, and the fireworks for December's DSC. :twisted:

Quote from: MarkS on Nov 06, 2010, 20:51:48
French sh*t is cloudy so it must be cold. Can't believe no-one came - I miss you guys ...

We're with you in spirit Mark. Keep drinking that french sh*t and you won't care.

Now back.

Here's a very quick report:
The conditions last night were completely still and it dropped to -1C. Mist kept coming up from the river valley - just like the October DSC - so after the first 40 minutes of imaging things deteriorated and never really recovered.   There were longish gaps in the clouds but they were accompanied by milky skies - at least when the local mist had moved away.  Everything was absolutely soaked (just like last time) until it all froze.  Even had ice on inside of tent.  I finally gave up at 2am. 

Overall, the ground is quite muddy - similar conditions to Tuesnoad, I would say (except Rother Valley has a much better entrance) - my car was sliding on the grass just like it used to at Tuesnoad.  Walking around there were patches of "spongy" grass and patches of harder grass.  The area around my tent and the area around my scope very quickly became quite boggy due to walking around - large lumps of mud congealed on my boots.  I reckon December will be worse (unless it's frozen "permafrost").

Mark

Were you in the normal spot?

Maybe pitching right next to the road would help.

If the ground is frozen it won't be an issue.

You did well Mark, good job Mick did not take the van there.

I was outside for a while, last night & conditions were similar, Still drying out equipment, & was only out there a round an hour or two.

I did have visions of you in that dark field, on your own with that french drink, Good job you are not a nervous person!! 

Jackie did say we could park just outside the field in the gravel bit, as the caravans would be gone, there would be no lights on there either. The tents could then be put up on the left as you go in. ALthough Mick said about the house on the left, may have lights on.

Thanks for that Mark

The good entrance means you can get in but can't get out  ;)

I think the problem is the rain and poor drainage (at the moment)

In October it was about 50:50 rain during the week before, this weekend it has been raining nearly every day for over a week.  If by a stroke of luck there is no rain during the week prior to December DSC, I think the ground will stand a good chance of dryng out.

Failing that there's always the hope for permafrost  :-?

Some pictures:

You can see the tents of everyone who came:
(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2010/Nov2010_DSC1.jpg)


Unbelievable I couldn't reverse out (front wheels had sunk into spongy ground)
(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2010/Nov2010_DSC2.jpg)


Breakfast!
(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2010/Nov2010_DSC3.jpg)


Newenden public firework display - seen from site.
(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2010/Nov2010_DSC4.jpg)


Imaging (& drinking) at last!
(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2010/Nov2010_DSC5.jpg)

Great pictures Mark. Such a lonely little tent, but I know you were ok as you still had your famous breakfast. Fireworks looked a bit near

No wonder you look so sickly  :(

You need a bigger pan so you can have a proper breakfast  ;)

Mark,

If there was no one else down there, why did you cook breakfast for 8 people? :-?

Tony G

It's because he missed his chums  :cry:

Quote from: Fay
I was outside for a while, last night & conditions were similar, Still drying out equipment, & was only out there a round an hour or two.

Interesting - maybe the damp and mist was a more general than just Rother Valley then.  But I do think the river makes it worse.

Quote from: Carole
Does the little mobile phone symbol next to Marks entry show that he's posting from a mobile site, and if so at least shows he's not kidding us from home.

Interesting - what does the mobile symbol mean?
What I do know is that I only had access to a stripped down, simplified version of the forum on my Blackberry.

It was very foggy and smoky in Beckenham last night. I could still see a few stars and Jupiter out the bedroom window, but at in the garden I could hardly see the pond, it would have been damp and extremely dewy.

Quotemaybe the damp and mist was a more general than just Rother Valley then.  But I do think the river makes it worse

Quite likely because it's settling into lower ground, a bit further away from the river may be clearer

Quotewhat does the mobile symbol mean

I think it must be a Blackberry thing, I sent a message straight from my Pulse and the symbol was the same as normal

Tony & Mick, you are so funny regarding Mark's frying pan & breakfast       :lol: :lol:

I see you had plenty of fuel to keep you going ;)  but I agree with Mick, you definitely need a bigger frying pan !

Robert