I recommend the uDSC dates for June are the 11th to 13th as the New Moon is on the 12th.
Venue to be arranged.
Hi Mike.
Will the imaging session for 11th June be re-scheduled then?
Carole
DOH!!
OK so the next best bet is the 4th to 6th June as the moon will not rise till around 2am.
The weekend of the 20th I am at MotoGP and the weekend after that the moon is up all night.
So Friday 4th to Sunday 6th it is.
Oh dear, you're going to hit me.
5th June is open day at High Elms on the Sun.
Can I suggest we stick to plan A and re-schedule the imaging session.
Carole
Problem is that the Imaging Session is an official event and is a date in the diary. The Deep Sky Camp is an unofficial one.
What time does the Moon set over the following weekend? It's first quarter, so I guess it could be after midnight, which ain't ideal for dark skies. Then again, it's almost solstice, so there's not a lot of night anyway...
Mike's on the money. We shouldn't reschedule for a uDSC. Particularly as there would only be one meeting to announce the change.
The last weekend in June the moon is up throughout most of the night. Rises about 8pm so it is not ideal.
I say we make it weekend of 5th to 6th anyway as most of the persons who go to DSC are not the people who also turn up to society events. If anyone really wants to go to both there is nothing stopping them driving back up to Orpington for the day. it's only a 45 minute drive.
Quoteit's only a 45 minute drive.
From Devon :o
Rother Valley is in Kent you plonker.
Weekend of 19th/20th the Moon is at first quarter, and sets about midnight (BST), and the solstice also bites hardest that weekend, so there's only a few hours of relative darkness anyway.
Weekend of 26th/27th is full Moon.
I can't do weekend of 20th anyway (MotoGP - Silverstone :) )
Weekend of 4th to 6th looks best.
Guys, if the DSC's are organised by the people who mainly go and not by the commitee (see other posting) then can we just leave it to the people who go to sort it out, thats probably me, mike, mick, mark, duncan, fay and mac.
The DSC's are published and thats ok as far as I know for the year, but the venue may need a change.
The uDSC's can just be worked out and personally I think they should be used to find another location anyway.
I think the nearest new moon weekend should be used at all times to define when they are on.
I don't think June is going to be a big issue anyway, there is only a couple of hours of darkness anyway. So lets try somewhere new.
Chris
Sounds good to me.
Top of the list so far is Rother Valley, as near as damn it 3 miles due south from Woodlands.
Johns Cross Camping is about 8 miles away on the A21 for all your leisure battery needs - Tony, they also sell tents and CARAVANS ;)
OK so shall we try out Rother Valley for June?
Yup sounds good. :D (Although I 'm in Normandy playing for the D days landings :( so i wont be able to get to that one.)
One other point about Devon.
August is going to be very busy. School holidays, so most of the camp-sites will probably be full.
Not to mention all the traffic, and, the darkness value. Long days short nights.
The October one might be a better time to try.
Mac.
Quote from: mickw on May 18, 2010, 13:29:38
Tony, they also sell tents and CARAVANS ;)
Why bring me into this. :-?
Quote from: Space Dog on May 18, 2010, 13:04:08
Guys, if the DSC's are organised by the people who mainly go and not by the commitee (see other posting) then can we just leave it to the people who go to sort it out, thats probably me, mike, mick, mark, duncan, fay and mac.
Chris
It seems like the people that I have loved and worshipped, yes! worshipped over the last few years at
EVERY DSC and uDSC's since 2005 have just turned their backs on me, and discarded me like an old refractor with a dented tube which was bought on ebay for spares.
May be I'll just follow everyone down, and camp in the campsite next door, :cry: that is until the pink toolset is needed, and I'll come running back................................if you let me. :(
Tony G
Quote from: Mac on May 18, 2010, 14:07:49
One other point about Devon.
August is going to be very busy. School holidays, so most of the camp-sites will probably be full.
Not to mention all the traffic, and, the darkness value. Long days short nights.
The October one might be a better time to try.
Mac.
Good point! Agreed, October would be better for Devon. Darker skies earlier too.
Just avoid stonehenge between 1st Jan and the 31st december...
I won't be able to make the weekend 4-6 June. I might try out somewhere the following weekend and report back.
Mark
Are we all agreed this one is at Rother Valley - 4th to 6th June?
yep
OK I have contacted the site to say a gang of us will be down and that we want to be kept together. I think they have limited hookups but I have told her we have long leads if that helps.
You will need to ring up and make your own booking. Say you are from the Orpington Astronomical Society when you book :-
01797 253997
The ladies name is Jackie.
The hookups are obviously around the field too as she has reserved my one at the far end of the field away from the toilet block. Don't forget to call and make your own bookings.
I also will not be able to go on the June one
Booked.
Only booked friday & saturday, jackie said not a problem to stay sunday if wanted
Who's actually going then ?
Did you book ?
Just noticed you are thinking of trying Devon in October.
I know some-one who has a farm on Dartmoor and asked her a while back if she knew any campsites we could use and was it dark?
She said yes it was dark and this campsite is on the edge of Dartmoor:
If you don't already have somewhere in mind, this is the link if you want to look into it, prices are not bad but doesn't look like there is hook up for tents, although might be able to to a hard standing one with a long cable:
http://www.lydfordsite.co.uk/
Carole
You can get hook ups for tents - see tariffs pitch price.
Looks good - but
Trees and need to book at least 2 night with £25 deposit
Quote from: Carole on May 29, 2010, 09:26:42
I know some-one who has a farm on Dartmoor and asked her a while back if she knew any campsites we could use and was it dark?
As long as it doesn't turn out like your friend at Stairs Farm ;)
:cheesy:
Carole, you know a lot of people around the country!!
QuoteAs long as it doesn't turn out like your friend at Stairs Farm
Yeah I thought that was coming.
I'm taking no responsibility for the one in Devon, I know nothing about the campsite except it's dark and on the edge of Dartmoor, you'll have to read it up, make enquiries and decide for yourselves.
Incidentally the person at Stairs farm was not my friend, she was just the person who ran the place, I only knew her by name as I spoke to her beforehand.
QuoteCarole, you know a lot of people around the country!!
Such as......
I only know this person who runs the Farm near the campsite in Devon as she used to be a neighbour many years ago and moved down to Devon and our parents were still friends. I met up with her in November as I went down to Devon for a family party, and just asked her if she knew any campsites on Dartmoor.
Carole
I'm sorry I can't get to Rother Valley as it sounds a promising venue.
Carole
Unexpected change in social calendar means I can now get there - will try to book today.
Mark
I can't been camping the last three weekends out of 4, I need to sleep in a normal bed before I go off on my motorbike in two weeks camping again (France, Switz, Spain, Andora etc).
But I'll probably pop over for a chat..
Good news Mark.
I've received confirmation from Rother Valley.
See you there :-)
I may be coming down for a visit on Saturday - trying to sweet talk my Fiona - wish me luck!
Bring her with you. We've never seen her anyway so she probably doesn't exists.
Better not let her drive :o
Looks like I have a pass for Friday night so I'll see you all there.
Yay!!
So far I make that myself plus :-
MickW
Mark
Robert
Anyone else?
No overnight stays for me, but I'm looking at having a drive down on Saturday to visit my old comrades. ;)
Tony G
Oi - I'm not that old :(
Hope you all have a great time. The weather looks set to be nice & warm, I am sure there will be a couple of images to show after.
Julian, wants me to tell you he is going to UDSC, this weekend.
He cannot reply to posts etc & is not sure how to sort it out. I have sent a mail to Rick
I think if Julian posts a message in "Introductions", Rick will let him loose ;)
I don't think he'll be able to see any "Behind the Scenes" stuff though unless he joins OAS.
Ok, Mick will tell him Thought that as he is listed in members, he was ok.
I think Julian needs to go on probation, he has not done anything dangerous or stupid yet as DSC.
Big baby :roll:
Quote from: mickw on Jun 02, 2010, 16:25:29
I think if Julian posts a message in "Introductions", Rick will let him loose ;)
I don't think he'll be able to see any "Behind the Scenes" stuff though unless he joins OAS.
Spot on, both ways. ;)
He has paid his subscription & joined
Quote from: Fay on Jun 02, 2010, 20:55:38
He has paid his subscription & joined
It's explained over there --> http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=1799.0
Looks like another attempted thread hijack...
Lets get it back on track.
I hear some miserable Meldrew types have taken all the hookups :evil: Trouble is I'll probably need mains power for a couple of things - will someone let me hook my extension lead into their power?
Cheers
Glad Julian is going. The more the merrier.
What time are you getting down guys? I plan to be there about 5pm
About 7:30pm Friday - see you there!
Weather forecast is a bit uncertain - cloud wise.
I've got it clear from late evening Friday through into the early Saturday morning so lets hope my forecast is better than yours !
Around lunchtime
Weather forecast is looking excellent for Friday night but some clouds Saturday
I have Friday night clear right through to the morning too. Saturday looking mainly cloudy and some showers for Sunday day.
Mick, I was positive I saw your old van on the M23 yesterday afternoon?
just got here.
2.5 hrs. A21 choca.
Entrance to site is next to Station House pub.
There is 1 tent still here seperating us.
Mike et al OK in the corner with one hook up.
And its expensive.
According to their price list on the website it should be cheaper than Blacklands new prices.
Classed as high season 17 for me and hookup £27 for me 2 x nights with hook up
Never was much good at sums ;)
I've got my shorts on to scare the kids
I might take my shirt off tp scare the adults :twisted:
Anyway it looks quite pleasant and Not crowded
Good. See you soon. Leaving house now.
Report from uDSC at Rother Valley :-
Nice campsite. Quiet and not crowded. Steam railway next to it so see steam trains going past now and then. River boat rides next to that to Bodlam Castle.
Facilities - Fine. Not quite as good as Blacklands, but adequate.
Skies - Excellent. Probably the darkest we have had yet. Lots of moisture in the air last night so transparency got worse through the night, but that showed us the light pollution levels which were minimal.
We will definitely be using this place as our regular DSC from now on.
Sounds good to me Mike, and there is Fishing and Kebabs.
:-)
They've closed the 2 nearest pubs - including the one at the entrance :o
:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
Anyway
The hook ups are a bit thin on the ground, so ideas of fan heaters, tumble dryers, electric toilets and gazillion watt halogen heaters may have to be ditched.
I think we should be able to get sufficient power for all kit though.
If we took 4 hook-ups and divided them between us all we would have enough. I don't think there are many people that use electric heaters and those that need them can have a hook up to themself.
You will need as many extension cables as you have though as the hook-ups are some distance from the pitches.
The owners have given us permission to use the far corner near the hook-ups from now on so we can squeeze ourselves together. The pitches are huge so if it was just 1 tent per pitch we would be very spread out.
Overall I really liked the campsite. It is nice and peaceful. Not a light in sight. Minimal light pollution, even better than Tuesnoad. Also plenty of things to do during the day such as steam train rides, boat rides, trips to the coast for fishing, Bodiam Castle, etc.
My comment about the hook ups was more of a caution rather than serious problem although I think we would need to book early - This may have repercussions with cancellations due to cloud or rain - Any thoughts ?
Admittedly if they moan we can always go elsewhere.
Quoteplenty of things to do during the day such as steam train rides, boat rides, trips to the coast for fishing, Bodiam Castle
Plus there's the naked sunbathing ;)
(LARGE FILE WARNING)
Panoramic image of the field :-
(http://www.earthshineelectronics.com/Images/TheField.jpg)
Dramatic Sky :-
(http://www.earthshineelectronics.com/Images/DramaticSky.jpg)
And the naked sunbathing is ........................................................
:-?
Did you all play with the laser pointers?
Not for long enough :(
Nobody had batteries.
Oh :-(
I did ;)
No spares though :(
QuoteMick, I was positive I saw your old van on the M23 yesterday afternoon?
It's possible, I know they were going to take it to some caravan show down south.
I love the panorama, Mike. How did you create it?
The Canon SX1 has an autostitch facility in that it lets you see the edge of the last photo taken and you can then line up the next one with that for making panoramas or mosaics.
Then I use the Photomerge function in Photoshop. Does it all for you. It's great.
In an email reply from Rother Valley concerning the dates :-
We are officially closed from November to February but I'm sure we can get round that somehow - the only potential problem with the winter dates is if the field is waterlogged.
Sounds good, thanks Mike.
Chris did mention about it being boggy, I wonder how he coped. Potentially caravans and motorhomes would be a no go.
Still if we have as much rain as we did prior to Stairs Farm, I think fewer campers would want to attend anyway.
She did say they have a 4x4 to tow us out if it got really bad.
Hi,
I can't remember the exact date I went there but I beleieve they were closed and I blagged my way in. It was slippery with the Subaru, I don't think Patsy would have any issues though.
Chris
Quote from: Mike
She did say they have a 4x4 to tow us out if it got really bad.
I guess that's the Cherokee the warden was driving around in.
Quote from: mickw on Jun 08, 2010, 13:10:19
Chris did mention about it being boggy, I wonder how he coped.
The field was a clay cap on a chalk subsoil (revealed on the path down to the railway). So it will have well drained bits and soggy muddy bits.
Plan: Put the tent on the hard standing area near the entrance to field (assuming no one else is mad enough to be there in the depths of winter). Trudge the scope to the appropriate part of the field and surround with windbreak. Take three bits of plank to support tripod legs in the mud. Lay out long hookup cable. Cover scope. Drink beer until sky clears.
QuoteDrink beer until sky clears
Duncan is a god :o
would that be, "is clear" or "looks clear"?
There's a world of difference, during a good DSC.
Quote"is clear" or "looks clear"?
There's a world of difference, during a good DSC.
No -
Drinking beer is the key :roll: