Don't want to speak too soon, but the forecast on my trusty Yr.No site is looking promising for next weekend.
http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/England/Northiam~2641331/long.html
Carole
Hopefully it should be good sky conditions. We will be there.
Yep count me in, got to give the new tent a first outing!
Weather permitting does anyone stop on till Monday?
Where u thinking of, Is it Rother... Cheers, John.
More than likely. I will confirm with Jackie we can get our corner.
I'm not working Monday so if the sky is clear would like to.
I often stay until Monday if the weather is decent Jon.
Mick sometimes stays but not sure if he is coming.
Carole
Message from Jackie.....
Hello Mike,
Yes at present the field is OK as it has dried out yesterday and today, so unless we have any prolonged rain between now and then it should be fine.
I will keep the corner free.
Best Wishes
Jackie
I'll be there ...
I'm hoping to come along just for Friday night, what are the rules about booking a pitch and cancelling if the weather isn't suitable?
How late cna you turn up? I'll be lucky to escape the office at 17:00 so I'm not sure I'll get there before 19:30
The proposed site is the one near Bodiam Castle?
Sort of near Bodiam castle, it's between Northiam and Newenden.
If you turn up after dark, car lights might be a problem, but as it will have only just got dark at 7.30, you might be able to get away with it. Will you be able to pitch tent and kit in the dark though without using lights?
I wouldn't book if you're not sure then you won't need to cancel, I am sure the field won't be overbooked at this time of the year. Or book at the last minute once you know you're definitely coming.
I returned to the site at midnight once and so I parked the car in the caravan store on the other side of the field so I didn't have a problem with the car lights.
As I say I doubt if any-one will have started much by 7.30. so it will probably be OK, but if you're later than that be aware of comments above. See what the others say.
Carole
Ivor,
We're on a site open to the public, so other campers do drive towards us with headlights on or shine torches in our direction. It's annoying but it's just one of those things we have to accept. However, amongst ourselves, we do try to avoid doing the same.
At this time of year it's quite usual for members to arrive in the dark after others have started imaging, so don't let that put you off. It is courteous to drive with sidelights only, if possible (slowly!). It's what I do - once my eyes have adjusted to the dark. If you're unsure, you can always walk up the field first to find us and someone will willingly come down and guide you. Putting up a tent in the dark is quite usual for us - just avoid shining lights towards any scopes.
It's only a problem if we are imaging: if it's a cloudy night then feel free to drive up with full beam halogen headlights, foglights, search lights and anything else you are able to switch on :-)
Mark
Quote from: MarkS on Oct 08, 2012, 10:43:43
...It's only a problem if we are imaging: if it's a cloudy night then feel free to drive up with full beam halogen headlights, foglights, search lights and anything else you are able to switch on :-)
Mark
We'll still swear and curse at you though ;) :twisted:
Great, i'll aim to turn up with full beam on, fingers crossed for the weather then. Putting the tent in the dark shouldn't be a problem I've build myself a red LED light which be pretty bright.
Unfortunately I can only make Friday night as I'm teaching Jitsu Satuurday morning and my wife has already booked Saturday night so I can't come back.
What's the normal routine for food, eat beforehand, bring your own or did I hear mention of a curry house nearby?
Now to choosing a target...
some of us have started at 7.30 :lol:
weather not looking that good
Quote from: Fay
weather not looking that good
Need extra beer then ...
Yes weather forecast has deteriorated - so much for five day forecasts.
There is an Indian restaurant at the entrance, or bring your own.
Carole
Quote from: Carole on Oct 08, 2012, 14:21:36
There is an Indian restaurant at the entrance, or bring your own.
What! bring your own Indian restaurant.
Sounds like a Victor Kiam quote, 'I liked the curry so much, I bought the restaurant' :lol:
Tony G
So are you going to be there to try out the curry Tony? I am sure they do lamb dishes. Or is that dishy lambs :baa:
The forecast is now looking dodgy. Rain forecast Saturday and overnight :!
got to decide what we will do then
Looks like Friday night might still be clear though...
Quote from: Fay on Oct 09, 2012, 10:08:07
got to decide what we will do then
Well that is up to each individual. I don't personally like all the hassle of travelling and packing, etc. when the weather is crap and I could be doing something else. Plus there is nothing worse than packing away a tent in the rain.
But, if people are still willing to go down then so be it. As Jon says, the forecast for Friday night might be OK (although it doesn't look like it will be particularly clear).
It's only Tuesday. I think it's too early to make a call on the weather. But Friday night is beginning to look quite hopeful.
I quite agree, I normally don't take much notice of any forecast beyond 48hours and even then they often get it wrong!
The forecasts are changing by the hour. Metoeblue now says it will be a bit damp Saturday but both nights will be OK if not completely clear. You never can predict these things exactly, unless Fay can be convinced to come along and pack up early of course.
is the print smaller on the forum? or is it me?
its you, :cheesy:
Quote from: Fay on Oct 09, 2012, 16:10:12is the print smaller on the forum? or is it me?
I've not changed the size of the print... :bug:
Fay, have you got the right glasses on?
check you have not changed the zoom settings, its somewhere on the tool bar
Mac
Hey, tone that font down a bit will you ! I'm having to use reversed binoculars to read it :lol: :lol:
Oh my tool bar has gone!!!!
You sure it hasn't just gone very small too?
For gawds sake!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Well I could have said something a lot worse.
The forecast seems to have changed yet again according to the met office, still clear Friday night, dry and sunny Saturday day time and partially clear Saturday night, rain Sunday afternoon and partially clear Sunday night....
I'm going to wait until I see the forecast on Friday morning before I make my decision.
I really want to go but not if it means packing away a wet tent.
Quotenot if it means packing away a wet tent.
Ditto
I won't be going to Deep Sky Camp this weekend due to being hit and knocked off my motorbike by a car last week. I am not able to walk too far, having been left with severe soft tissue damage to my right leg and torn calf muscles in my left leg.
Bummer
Not that you have much choice but take it easy and get well
Really sorry to hear that Julian - Get well soon
Sounds awful Julian, hope you get better soon.
Carole
It must be hard having to take Jake for a walk with only an Astrotrac for a crutch. Hope you get better quickly and don't let the physios bully you too much.
Really bad news Julian. Hope you make a fast recovery!
Julian,
Forget about your leg, that's nothing.........Claim for whiplash, and get a new scope, everybody is doing it. :-?
Seriously though, get well soon.;)
Tony G.
PS........Talk about hijacking threads.......some people are so blatant :D
Bloody nora, Julian, that`s `orrible!! Hope you make a speedy recovery and the car was a write-off.
Doug.
Get better soon Julian.
Back on topic.
The weather is looking good for Friday night so I am definitely going, I will decide on Saturday night on Saturday.
Julian,
really hope you start to recover by next week, best wishes
That was my next question, who is going, i need to pack, or not, today
I don't know which wether forcast you are looking at, but met office is now saying nothing but cloud Friday night followed by rain from about 4am!
Quote from: JonH on Oct 11, 2012, 09:54:47
I don't know which wether forcast you are looking at, but met office is now saying nothing but cloud Friday night followed by rain from about 4am!
Met office is not reliable enough. These two are my preferred sites.
http://www.meteoblue.com/en_GB/weather/forecast/tab/b/pictocast/northiam_gb_20874 (http://www.meteoblue.com/en_GB/weather/forecast/tab/b/pictocast/northiam_gb_20874)
http://7timer.y234.cn/index.php?product=astro&lon=0.597&lat=50.98&lang=en&ac=0&unit=metric&tzshift=0&site= (http://7timer.y234.cn/index.php?product=astro&lon=0.597&lat=50.98&lang=en&ac=0&unit=metric&tzshift=0&site=)
I'm still planning to come Friday night, I assume I can leave my pitch booking until Friday?
What targets are people planning on ? I've thinking of doing M33. I had a practice last night with my first script for AA5, which went OK with 5 mins subs, as I don't want problems on the night with arrriving late.
QuoteI assume I can leave my pitch booking until Friday?
That's a good point as I also haven't made a booking yet just in case. I'm going to assume it should be ok, they can't be all that bust this time of year?
Those forecasts do look quite a bit more promising than what the met office has to say so will get everything ready this evening but still not going to make a final decision until tomorrow.
Remember be careful, if you book and then cancel due to the weather, you will be ex-communicated and banished to the pits of brimstone and fire, because you do not have the right to cancel (allegedly)..............I've just encountered Deja Vu :roll:
Tony G
i am thinking that the weather will not justify the effort. hence 95% i wont go but may visit on saturday
Sacrificial the :baa:
Thank you all for you get well wishes. For those that do go to the DSC this weekend have a great time and don't forget the waterproofs!
Julian
your legs look good in your avatar Julian..............
Let me just check to see if I got this right, if Fay was going to go but now decides she won't are we to expect some of the clearest nights ever? :cheesy:
Quote from: JonH on Oct 11, 2012, 17:13:21
Let me just check to see if I got this right, if Fay was going to go but now decides she won't are we to expect some of the clearest nights ever? :cheesy:
Spot on, but Fay has to have started packing her car with scopes and gear and them unpacked it or it won't count as a proper astro sacrifice. :cheesy: :cheesy:
Duncan, I think she has to have actually setup, given up and gone to bed for the rain gods to go away - well that's the way it seems to have worked best in the past (sorry Fay).
Julian, I'm very sorry to hear of your accident. I hope you're not in too much discomfort though it sounds very painful to me. Best wishes for a speedy recovery !
Robert
Sorry to hear that Julian. We hope you get well soon and also hope your bike isn't too mashed up (or at least you had fully comp. insurance).
Not sure that Fay's sacrifice is working - 3 out of 4 forecasts now show cloud and rain for Friday night :-(
Message from Jackie this morning....
"Dear Mike,
As you might imagine the field is quite wet after the recent rain.
The top corner is not too bad if you pitch well away from the boundary.(we can always lend extension cables if necessary). We are extremely quiet so no need for your guys to book if they wish to come but please can they stop at Reception and let the Caretaker know they are on site.
Many thanks
Jackie"
I'm starting to wonder if it will be worth the effort.
A majority of forecasts say it will be wet and cloudy.
If anything it now looks like Saturday night will be the best and even then not very good....
I'm having second thoughts also ...
I'm going to decide at midday. The forecasts keep changing.
The forecast keeps changing because there are a random load of clear bits, windy bits, calm bits, cloudy bits, rainy bits and heavy rainy bits all heading towards us in no particular order.
No forecaster can make sense of that ...
Which to me loosely translates into they don't know what the weather will be like because it keeps changing and will continue to do so.
Thus the best conditions to be expected will be patchy.
There's been a fair bit of rain the last couple of nights. Might it be worth checking the camp site's ground conditions again?
Was thinking of going on Saturday, but this puts me off
QuoteAs you might imagine the field is quite wet after the recent rain.
Also if no-one else is going I think I might stay home and if it's clear have another go at narrowband.
Carole
well even if the weather changes a bit for the better, the ground will still be awful, and rain on sunday, for packing up.
I will be out back as well, if we get a few hours
So it looks like set up in the garden and hope the weather is better for Mark's next Saturday.
I managed to clear enough space in the wilderness that is my garden do should it clear that's where I'll be!
If I have to put my tent away in the rain then get it out again at home to dry a happy camper I shall not be...
Sorry to hear of your accident Julian, hope your leg mends quickly.
Roy and I not up to camping but had been hoping to come down to visit on Saturday and stay late though not to be!
Spent two weeks in a remote corner of Wales with no clear spells long enough to set scope up for astronomical use, glimpsed stars briefly through masses of cloud on a couple of nights but did spend some days monitoring flow of river way down in the valley through the patio door in the holiday cottage. Bit sad really :cry:
So is anyone going tonight?
It looks OK until 01:00 but then clouding up by 04:00, but stil changeable.
What you can guarantee is if no one goes the weather will turn out to be great.
I'll go if others are going. As Ivor says, it's not looking bad for tonight, certainly seems nice enough just now!
At the moment it's a bit breezy with a couple of small clouds towards Northiam, but it's nice enough to sit in the garden and have a beer or several ;)
I won't be going this weekend due to problems with my laptop and the prat technician that's "fixing" it :!
Sounds like Micks back garden is the place to be!
Better hurry, the beer's going fast :lol:
:beer:
Well you can count me in, I have a night pass and I'm prepared to use it!!
I also have a bottle of red in the car ready to be drunk :)
Right then, just finished re-building my power supply and made a new longer extension lead, didn't take as long as I was expecting...
To feck with it! I'll go if only to get out of unpacking the last of my stuff!
So long as I'm not the only one?...
I'm starting packing. See you there!
Come on the rest of you wimps! Just because it's no longer summer.
I'm no wimp - I'll be there!
Arriving around 7:30-8:00pm
Mark
On a practical note there are lots of roadworks on the A21 from the A26 junction near Tonbridge to Pembury you should check the traffic before leaving tonight.
Quote from: Ivor
On a practical note there are lots of roadworks on the A21 from the A26 junction near Tonbridge to Pembury you should check the traffic before leaving tonight.
Thanks - I'll avoid that route then. :lol:
So far we have the following definite attendees:
Mark, Duncan, Ivor, Jon
well being that I have now cleaned the whole house, done 5 loads of washing, have set up in the garden, and am now worn out.........................I fear i will have decline. good luck to you all
5 loads of washing :o
Was that a years worth then ?
Pair of pants, socks, T shirt then then fresh stuff on Sunday - clean trousers if I can't bend at the knee any more :D
Got some clouds coming over Northiam but seems patchy with more clear bits than cloudy bits, still breezy but beerable ;)
On.my way. Disaronno is onboard so we can drink to absent friends.
:cry:
Well just had really bad hailstone storm here in Banstead - Clear blue skies now. Fay - hope your scope is well protected...
Good luck to all those that are venturing down....
John
Just rushed out to cover it John, a tad late!
Cloud cover increasing :(
Just arrived, some rather nasty looking clouds hanging around and a slightly feeble attempt to rain! :-?
OK, I quit as weather forecaster -
It's sunny, clear and raining :!
Escaping Canary Wharf and on my way via home.
Well I don't know how you guys are getting on at Rother Valley but it is about 80% cloud cover here in Orpington.
100% cloud now and the satellite image is showing a huge blob of cloud that looks like it will be around for the next few hours at least.
We set up and aligned at Rother Valley then it clouded up. It might rain and then it might be clear. Pastis is delicious!
Heavy rain now. All squashed into Duncan's tent drinking Disaronno.
Well i'm glad you are enjoying yourselves despite the weather. I set up in my garden tonight and had all kinds of problems. Also, my 8 year old trusty Pentium M laptop has started to die. The screen has gone all weird :( But i'm glad it died at home and not whilst I was at Rother to be honest.
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/25623517/2012-10-12%2020.31.45.jpg)
Weird laptop!!!
clear ish here Auriga look great
Have U got room for 4 tents + mounts + Pastis?
Quote from: MarkS on Oct 13, 2012, 00:41:22
Have U got room for 4 tents + mounts + Pastis?
Yes, Yes and Definitely, but I just got back from the football so I'm sure by now your all a bit emotional...
Pouring down with rain at the moment but tonight looking very good. Sky scored excellent SQM of 21:00 last night.
Did anyone get any images last night?
No imaging - because although the sky was fantastic after the rain, there was more cloud on the way. Conditions here are temporarily quite boggy after this morning's heavy rain but it's brightening up now. Tonight could be a stunner!
Yeah i'm hoping tonight will be good. I've installed all my astro software onto my other laptop and hope to use that successfully tonight.
had a brainstorm, is it Daylight Savings yes?
Fay,
That is a record.......asking a question and answering it in the same sentence and using only 5 words.
Please control those brainstorms :boom: as sometimes they hurt. ;)
Tony G
It is BST up until 28th October.
so a YES then?
I have a lot of brainstorms Tony!!!!!!
I always work in GMT. It makes it much easier.
weather looking dicky for tonight
Yep. Most forecasts are now saying cloudy until early in the morning.
Quotedicky
So Fay is that a Meteorological term.... not heard that one before...
Lovely clear sky here. SQM 20.85
Pastis is v cloudy so I guess it is getting cold.
Geomagnetic storm: Keep a look out as you're in a dark site, as not sure how far south it will come. They saw some in France during the last GM storm.
Quote:
Space Weather News for Oct. 13, 2012
http://spaceweather.com
GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A persistent G1-class geomagnetic storm on Oct 13th (still underway as this alert is being written) has sparked bright auroras around the Arctic Circle, spurring reports of Northern Lights from Scandinavia, Greenland, Canada, and several northern-tier US states. More auroras are in the offing. NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of continued storms on Oct. 14-15 in response to a high-speed stream of solar wind.
Weather isn't dicky but the sky is really really grotty here in Orpington. I'm not sure what your meter would read where I am Mark but I can only see four stars in Casseopeia (no cloud) :(
Robert
hmmm, well its 02:00 and the sky was clear. havent checked in the last 30mins or so.
One Asteroid, M35 & the christmas tree.
Just waiting for M42 to pop up.
Cant believe everything is working at the moment.
Mac
We all did a full night imaging in great conditions.
Min temp -1.5C.
Everything iced up this morning. Ice on inside and outside of tent.
Excellent sky here also - SQM only 20.8 about 1:00 am
well done all of you, glad it payed off. you will now be known as "The Hard Core Four"
Suprisingly, there were quite a few other caravans and mobile homes in the field - 7 in total. Quite a busy weekend!
Last night my laptop suffered a similar fate to Mike's:
(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/webdisk/laptop_screen.jpg)
I took this picture in a darkened room so those are not reflections on the screen but some weird kind of banding. The laptop still functions but the windows are very difficult to see. I'll have to replace it :-(
Mark
how strange
You could just change the LCD, unless it's time for an upgrade of course ;)
How bizarre that should happen to both your laptops in a few days of each other.
Glad you're having a good time every-one. I managed to get out and do some narrowband from home last night and yes it was pretty cold at 3.45am!!
CArole
Quote from: mickw
You could just change the LCD, unless it's time for an upgrade of course ;)
Yes, time for an upgrade I think. I just need another cheap (probably refurbished) power efficient laptop I can run directly off a 12v car battery. It just needs sufficient power to run the applications to control the mount and download the images from the camera.
why not get a new monitor?
Mac
Quote from: Mac
why not get a new monitor?
Its really old - a Toshiba Portege R100 from 2004. I bought it for £100 about 3 years ago. It's not worth spending money on it unless I can source a cheap secondhand LCD replacement. Probably better to spend another £100 on a more recent laptop.
Mark
morgan computing have some. They have refurbished Lenovo machines, I've always been impressed by those.
Managed to install all I needed on my backup laptop in time to do a full night's imaging last night :-)
I'll tell you the reason now why I didn't come to DSC last weekend.
Wasn't that well - getting chest and left shoulder pains - ended up taking myself to A&E to get checked out as I was worried about angina - or worse. Luckily all the tests were negative, but I still had the pain which they put down to indigestion caused by all the stress of my mum over the last six months.
But I wasn't convinced of that diagnosis as the position of the pain and no relation to food, and took myself to the GP again today who I think has sussed it out.
A form of Costrochondritis. For the layman that's inflammation in the cartilage in between the ribs and in my case also between the collar bone and left shoulder joint. Very painful.
I think lifting my NEQ6 is not going to do it any good so it's lucky I don't have to move it that often. Will take about 2 months to recover. But off to the Isle of Wight on Thursday, so will have to grit my teeth, weather forecast looks crap though.
Carole
well hope you recover soon Carole. i also have a lot of back & hand pains, i also think due to lifting all the equipment, and doing the knobs up etc
Quote from: Carole
A form of Costrochondritis.
Glad it's nothing serious. It's not related to the injuries caused by that cyclist is it?
QuoteIt's not related to the injuries caused by that cyclist is it?
No Mark, it's the other shoulder. Doctor thinks it might be affected as I could be using it more in compensation though.
Carole
Probably too much sleeping on the couch ;)
Quote from: Carole on Oct 15, 2012, 20:34:15
I get undressed properly once I've switched off.
I thought the idea was to get undressed properly once you were turn on...........................sorry about that. :oops:
Tony G
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Quote from: Carole on Oct 16, 2012, 12:11:45
A form of Costrochondritis. For the layman that's inflammation in the cartilage in between the ribs and in my case also between the collar bone and left shoulder joint. Very painful.
If you think that's bad wait until you have that, then add in arthritis in all the joints in your hands, elbows, feet (big toes especially) and knees. That's been my word for the last year or 10. Hurts dunnit!
Chris did not know you had all these pains!
Jon, are you related to Einstein? :o
Quote from: Fay on Oct 16, 2012, 23:26:02
Chris did not know you had all these pains!
Yip
Hi Chris, yes it does hurt, hopefully it will get better, but arthritis is another matter.
Carole
Looks like Mac's 'I'm Sorry' has been pipped by Carole's DSC October'....... 171 & counting....
Would that be for the number of posts or number of posts off topic ;)
QuoteWould that be for the number of posts or number of posts off topic
Yeh - was thinking that myself.... :-)
QuoteLooks like Mac's 'I'm Sorry' has been pipped by Carole's DSC October'....... 171 & counting....
Surely not, Mac's thread was massive. Also wasn't there an old one about Leisure batteries that went on forever.
Carole
QuoteHow do I get Iris to tell me dynamic range of each channel?
Don't tell him Mark :twisted:
Hey don't listen to him, he didn't even bother coming to DSC :cheesy:
I was there in spirit - I even drank loads of beer :lol:
Quote from: mickw
I was there in spirit - I even drank loads of beer :lol:
A very clever trick. We did wonder why our beer disappeared so fast!