Deep sky camp

Rocket Pooch · Feb 16, 2004, 22:38:00

Hi,

I just wondered who else is going on Friday and what time are you getting there?

Also is anyone interested in helping me setup a 3m square cover, I have one and it might come in handy if it rains a bit (not a positive thought I know), but I will need help setting it up and taking it down as well.

Bye

Greg · Feb 16, 2004, 23:49:00

Yes, we are going to try to be there for Friday.

Greg · Feb 16, 2004, 23:50:00

I have had a word with Penny at the field and she knows that we are all coming. Same arrangements as before (perhaps just the weather might be different!!)

Rocket Pooch · Feb 17, 2004, 00:15:00

Ok, what time will you get there? I don't like being johnny no mates

malcolm · Feb 17, 2004, 02:30:00

I hope to get there mid to late afternoon.
Pleased to help.

Mike · Feb 17, 2004, 02:42:00

Chris,

I plan on getting there by 1400 to set up the tent (and hopefully scope - weather permitting) before it gets dark.

Greg · Feb 17, 2004, 17:11:00

OK. So we are the ones spoiling it for everyone else with the torches on while we set up. Sorry you guys. We'll try and keep it to a minimum.

Mike · Feb 17, 2004, 17:42:00

The weather forecast so far looks good. They are predicting clear skys friday and saturday nights. However, they are also predicting 16mph winds and the temperature at night will be -1°C so bring plenty of blankets.

Rocket Pooch · Feb 17, 2004, 18:20:00

Well if you feel like being optomistic the BBC thin it's going to be calm and 0c.

Does anyone want me to bring the 3m squared shelter thing? If not then I'll leave it at home.

Mike · Feb 17, 2004, 21:15:00

The 5 day forecast on Multimap reckons Friday night will be down to -4°C !!!

Your best bet is to plan for every kind of weather - this is England after all. Remember Michael Fish saying it would be a nice day just before the hurricane !?!

[ This Message was edited by: Mike on 2004-02-17 13:16 ]

Rocket Pooch · Feb 17, 2004, 21:40:00

So it does. I think I'll go with the BBC forecast it sounds better and will not encourage me to find a hotel.

And, yes I will be taking some warm clothing, after 31 years of night fishing in the winter I know how to stay warm.

Actually, do they have sheep there?

Ian · Feb 17, 2004, 23:58:00

Chris,

31 years of winter night fishing. You're looking good for your age

winter is about 50% of a year (generous)
night is about 50% of the day (less generous in winter)

This means you are the grand old age of 124 years old. Do you do it every night then?

Rocket Pooch · Feb 18, 2004, 00:10:00

"do it every night" don't be so personal

No, now you know exactly what I mean.

Mumble mumble.......

Mike · Feb 18, 2004, 02:15:00

By the way, if there is someone lurking out there who would like to go but doesn't have a tent - I have a 4 man dome tent that we wont be using. if anyone wants to borrow it for the DSC weekend let me know and i'll bring it along.

Mike

malcolm · Feb 18, 2004, 02:24:00

Chris, The 3m shelter is a good idea, (I was going to bring a fishing brolly.) If the winds do reach 16mph however, i won't bother bringing my kite, the shelter will do!

Rocket Pooch · Feb 18, 2004, 02:34:00

Got one of those fishing brolly's as well, but its not as old as I am.

Ok, I'll bring the shelter thing, but someone will have to help me set it up because its a bugger to do. Also I think we're going to have to tie it down.

Shall I also bring my air gun and my rocket as well?

I also have a pack of cards and a small table

Oh yes and the beer.

Mike · Feb 18, 2004, 18:51:00

Bring plenty of daytime amusements. I will help you get that thing up as I will be there at about 2pm. In return you can help me put up my tent

I am bringing beer also, I think Greg is bringing a suckling pig !! I will also have an RC plane, as will Paul (big kids or what - who cares - We had fun with the wheelbarrow last time but I think we knackered it).

If you don't have such things it will be boring in the daytime otherwise - no TV, DVD player, PC, Xbox, etc.

Has anyone got a football?

[ This Message was edited by: Mike on 2004-02-18 10:52 ]

Rocket Pooch · Feb 18, 2004, 19:31:00

I have got a football, I don't have a domain called http://www.jumpers4goalposts.org.uk for nothing you know

Must remember to bring the telescope.

Mike · Feb 18, 2004, 21:40:00

Aaaaah telescope !!! I knew I had forgotten something !!

Whitters · Feb 19, 2004, 06:58:00

Telescopes don't talk to me about telescopes...
At the moment my C8 is in bits and a rather important bit is in Crew having new shiny stuff put on it. I am optimisticly hoping that it might be back before Friday.
But I will be bringing Beer, a kite a very mad RC plane and Beer.
Oh yes I will also be arriving after dark so Greg you wont be alone in the trying to find the thingamy that goes on the wotsit, that keeps the tent up which has just been droped onto the ground in the dark.
See you all Friday.

Whitters · Feb 19, 2004, 07:00:00

Chris, what was that about sheep! you'r not thinking of bringing your wellies are you?

Mike · Feb 19, 2004, 08:32:00

Wahay !! Don't forget the beer !

Rocket Pooch · Feb 19, 2004, 17:43:00

Got the wellies, mine have been adapted with velcro on the front for added grip!

[ This Message was edited by: csuddell on 2004-02-19 10:46 ]

Mike · Feb 19, 2004, 18:34:00

The weather forecast is till looking good, though it's now supposed to be even windier !

Fri Sat Sun
Weather Sunny/Cloudy Sunny Sunny
Max Temp 4 7 8
Min Temp 0 2 -1
Wind 21E 18NE 19NE

Paul, my Bugs Bunny Binoculars should be arriving today so hopefully I will have them at DSC for you to laugh at !

Jim, don't forget to charge your car battery !!!!

[ This Message was edited by: Mike on 2004-02-19 10:39 ]

Anonymous · Feb 19, 2004, 23:55:00

Unfortunately I have done my back in so will have to give the wekend a miss. A shame as I was really looking forward to it. Mel has pointed out that surely beng flat on ones back is the ideal position for a star gazer... but I refuse to be drawn.

Hope you all have clear skies

Mike · Feb 20, 2004, 05:08:00

I'm sorry to hear you have done your back in - but, err....... who are you???

Is that Nigel??!!

Mike · Feb 20, 2004, 15:55:00

The weather forecast is not looking so good today. Whereas all week they have been showing sun, that has now changed to sunny/cloudy on all days over the weekend

Let's hope they are wrong and there isn't a single cloud in the sky!!

Whitters · Feb 20, 2004, 16:08:00

Too right Mike.
And to the Anonymous post I hope your back is better soon.

Whitters · Feb 20, 2004, 16:34:00

Chris, A thought on where to place your 3M shelter. If you can pitch it on a line of sight between the fire and the camping site it would block the light from the fire for those who are observing.
Any thoughts?

Rocket Pooch · Feb 20, 2004, 20:39:00

That would be ok, but it only has a roof. Anyway, I'm not sure I'm going to bring it now, last year it flew away in about a 5mph wind, so I don't think it will stand upto whats forecast, but who knows.

But if someone will be there to help me break it down I suppose I could drag it into the car, I'll also bring along a very large waterproof tarpauling I have, this is an excellent shelter providing I can find two trees.

Lastly I have me SAC8 now, but I havent installed the software read the manual or anything else so it should be fun.

I hate the british weather. Poo bar humbug.

Wibble

Whitters · Feb 20, 2004, 21:11:00

There is a geodesic dome we could lash the tarp to. How big id your tarp?
Weather forcast for tonight looks OK Saturday Pants and Sunday good. But they do seem to change their mind every hour.

Whitters · Feb 20, 2004, 21:12:00

Good news on the arrival of the camera. We will have a play.

Ian · Feb 20, 2004, 22:12:00

Whoohoo! First 3 page thread! (probably)

btw, I will not be able to attend the DSC again, Mrs has a belly like a cannon ball and it's due to burst pretty much any time.

Hope all goes brilliantly for those who do attend. If the weather cooperates, I'm expecting some seriously good photos!

JohnP · Feb 21, 2004, 00:23:00

I 2nd Ian's comments - Good luck to you all - Can't wait to see the pictures especially 1st light from your new toy Chris.

I also can't make it this weekend - I hope you all took your thermals... That wind sure is cold.

Good luck to you also Ian (if I understand what you mean) - although, never heard it referred to it as a Canonball before

Cheers, John.

Whitters · Feb 21, 2004, 02:23:00

Cheers mate, Good luck with the cannon ball extraction

Mike · Feb 23, 2004, 06:30:00

Ian - best of luck for you both.

DSC went down to -4.4°C on Friday night (and it felt it) and I reckon it will be even colder tonight !!

Paul, Chris and Malcolm are the mad ones braving it for the last night tonight and hopefully we should see some nice pics from Paul's new lens !

We got absolutely bladdered on Saturday night and spent the rest of the night singing Monty Python songs and falling over, which was hilarious. Despite it being cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey it was a bloody good laugh !!

All in all DSC2 was a great success and I am sure I am speaking for everyone when i say that everyone had a great time and some excellent observing was carried out also. I can't wait to see the images taken by Paul and Chris on Sunday night.

I am really looking forward to the Summer one now !!

[ This Message was edited by: Mike on 2004-02-23 20:36 ]

Miriam · Feb 23, 2004, 20:15:00

Hope those of you who braved the cold on Sunday were OK.
We got home safely about midnight, and are sorting things out in dribs and drabs.
I'm now looking at the Forum instead of working!
Best wishes to Ian and family, hope everything goes well.
Was that Jim with the bad back - we missed you.
Bye
Miriam

Jim · Feb 24, 2004, 17:48:00

Yes it was me with the bad back. For some reason I did not get logged on when I left my message. Glad you all had a good time, look forward to seeing the pictures.

regards
Jim

Rocket Pooch · Feb 24, 2004, 18:07:00

What images, the wibbly wobbly mount on the Meade proved useless for imaging. On the very rare moments of stability the optics of the Meade we're excellent, Saturn had excellent contrast and clarity with the planetary bands clearly visable, I also watched one of the moon's pop out from behind Jupiter and M90, M51, M95.

I then spend a few hours using the meade as a spotter scope (goto is great) and then finding the same objects with the Orion 8". Maybe I should write a comparative review for Toast?

What I might do is put the meade on my EQ5 mount, I noticed the built in mount plate on the bottom of the ETX and I may have a go with it on the EQ5 before I return the scope on Thursday. Err, providing I can get the drives working again.

Meade 7/10 optically, 1/10 jelly tripod mount thingy.

And I absolutely did not get drunk or fall off my chair, break my glasses or be sick on Saturday. Not me.

Oh and weldon Malcome for finding that comet, it did have a tail after all

[ This Message was edited by: csuddell on 2004-02-24 10:09 ]

Rick · Feb 25, 2004, 19:15:00

One image by Paul is on the gallery archive.

Whitters · Feb 26, 2004, 00:16:00

Cheers Rick,

Jim We were wondering if it was you with the bad back. You were missed, hope you are better soon.

News:

Deep sky camp

Anonymous

JohnP