Report from Kelling Heath

[MarkS]

Just back from Kelling Heath - had a great time - weather was excellent and the site has excellent facilities.  I was there for Friday and Saturday nights  - both nights were completely clear but very chilly.  The sky is very dark (better than Tuesnoad and Romney/Dungeness) but light pollution is still evident on long exposures.  The well-appointed toilet, shower and washing up blocks (with temporarily blacked out windows) had under-floor heating  so it was a great way to warm cold feet up!  Lots of sunshine during the day.  Great opportunities to talk to other imagers and observers about various setups.  Had a look through some massive dobs (16-20inch) owned by members of the Norwich AS - M51 has never looked so good visually.

I took 5 hours of M101 the first night and 5 more hours of M51 the second.

I'll put some photos on the forum in due course.

Thanks must go to Carole for arranging this for us - such a shame you couldn't get there!

Would I go back - definitely! 

Mark

[JohnP]

Excellent - can't wait to see the images... Your m51 was brill already can't imagine what another 5 hours from KH has done to it...! You were certainly blessed with the weather which makes a nice change..

[Carole]

Glad it was successful, have been wondering how it was all going.

I have postponed my booking to September rather than lose the money, but I gather September is already fully booked (but I'll check).  I won't be wanting to go on my own, so I'll see if I can further postpone whenhopefully some members will want to go with me either next spring or the September after if they want a change of sky.

How did you find the rules and regulations, was it restrictive?

Carole

[MarkS]

How did you find the rules and regulations, was it restrictive?

The rules (i.e. no lights) were O.K.  In fact they were pretty much essential given that there were so many people there all wishing to view the night sky.

But I did harbour a secret desire to launch a Khoom Fay with dangling lengths of burning magnesium ribbon across the campsite - just to hear the shouts of anguish!

Mark

[Ian]

luckily for OAS, we were represented by a fine example of an astronomer who is in complete control of his perverse urges. I can think of a good number of names who would have given in

[Fay]

 

[Delphine]

A big thank you to Carole who organised the Kelling Heath trip - it was wonderful and I am certainly up for going again. 
I will be writing a report and putting it on the website.

Cheers
Delphine

[RobertM]

Just recovered from sleep deprivation I think !!   The weekend was even better than I thought, great company, clear skies, excellent weather  and an excellent venue.  A big thankyou to the Norwich AS who organised the event and provided the cluster of big Dobs that they shared with everyone.  Visually seeing the dust lanes in M51 and the Leo triplet - what an experience !

Would certainly look forward to going again, it would really good to go to the September event to see the other half of the sky but I'd put up with next April !!!

Thanks again to Carole for organising it and we're all sorry that you couldn't be there to enjoy it with us.

Robert

[Sue]

Yes. A brilliant weekend. Great company and great skies : )

Thank you for all your efforts in organising the trip Carole, and I was asked to pass on a big thank you from Carol of Rugby A S who was thrilled to be able to take your pitch at short notice.

I have a group picture and picture of Carol talking to Mark which I have tried in vain to post here. Will have another go after lunch!

[Fay]

I think Kelling was a bit muddled at who was taking that space. They told me 2 other names!

[Sue]

There seemed to be several empty spaces at our end of the red field throughout the weekend and lots of pitches in the yellow area - although that was nearer to the main buildings of the center and perminent cabins.

[Fay]

Well, will be there next time!!!!!!! I hope

[Carole]

Having a go at uploading Sue's photos.

The group that went

Various views of the campsite and the sea as viewed from Kelling Heath




Carole

[Carole]

Bugger, done the thumbnails again.
I never learn!!!!

Try again:

the Group that went


the Sea from KH campsite


The campsite


Morecampsite


Carole

[Sue]

Well done Carole - succeeded where I failed!