Dark Sky Trips or observing events
Planned dates
When: We are planning in dark site trips for the last quarter Moon so that we will have dark skies until the early hours of the morning
Place: We have a dark site in the South Downs National Park which has the potential for mag 21+ skies, and are also exploring other options slightly nearer.
Place: We have a dark site in the South Downs National Park which has the potential for mag 21+ skies, and are also exploring other options slightly nearer.
- 24th or 25th January 2020 - Dark sky trip - cancelled
- 14th or 15th February 2020 - Dark sky trip - cancelled
- 13th or 14th March 2020 - Dark sky trip - cancelled
- 26th March 2020 - Painshill Observing event. Members can attend with scopes, please see Painshill website for ticket bookings otherwise - CANCELLED
- 24th or 25th April 2020 - Dark sky trip - CANCELLED
- 30th May 2020 - 1st Quarter Moon observing
- Possible West End observing session
- 28th June 2020 - Meeting plus Solar and 1st Quarter Moon observing
- 6 or 7pm start
- Possible West End observing session
- 16th July 2020 - Meeting plus Solar and Jupiter/Saturn planetary opposition observing
- 6 or 7pm start
- Possible West End observing session
- 21st or 22nd August 2020 - Dark sky trip for Milky Way observing - TBD
- 18th or 19th September 2020 - Dark sky trip - Expected to go ahead
- 7th October 2020 - Mars Opposition observing - Expected to go ahead
- 16th or 17th October 2020 - Dark sky trip - Expected to go ahead
- 13th or 14th November 2020 - Dark sky trip - Expected to go ahead
- 11th or 12th December 2020 - Dark sky trip - Expected to go ahead
- 21st December 2020 - Jupiter and Saturn close conjunction observing - Expected to go ahead
Rules
Corona Virus advice
Given the strong possibility of contamination when sharing views through a scope due to the regular touching of eyepieces and scope with hands and eyes, the following is recommended if observing others:
1) Setup a safe distance from each other - minimum 5m, more if possible
2) Use hand sanitiser before and after touching kit and other normal precautions ie no handshakes
3) Only use your own scope, do not touch or look through other peoples' scopes
4) Get good at describing the views as a way of sharing with others, or use a smartphone to share images!
5) Use the Facebook and WhatsApp groups to stay in touch when we can't meet regularly
Standard WAG rules, for when life returns to normal
1. Respect people and their equipment
2. Do not touch other peoples' equipment without their permission
3. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult
4. No excessive consumption of alcohol
5. No lasers
6. A minimum of 3 people should attend each observation
Given the strong possibility of contamination when sharing views through a scope due to the regular touching of eyepieces and scope with hands and eyes, the following is recommended if observing others:
1) Setup a safe distance from each other - minimum 5m, more if possible
2) Use hand sanitiser before and after touching kit and other normal precautions ie no handshakes
3) Only use your own scope, do not touch or look through other peoples' scopes
4) Get good at describing the views as a way of sharing with others, or use a smartphone to share images!
5) Use the Facebook and WhatsApp groups to stay in touch when we can't meet regularly
Standard WAG rules, for when life returns to normal
1. Respect people and their equipment
2. Do not touch other peoples' equipment without their permission
3. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult
4. No excessive consumption of alcohol
5. No lasers
6. A minimum of 3 people should attend each observation