Observing with WAG
Walton Astronomy Group, or WAG as we are known, was set up by local astronomy enthusiasts who wanted to be able to observe or image as a group more regularly, and without having to travel long distances to do so. For some time we met at Esher Rugby Club, and observed on the training pitch or even just in the car park; challenging when the floodlights were on, and a little better once they went off.
We moved our meeting place to the Prince of Wales some time ago, and the combination of a warm watering hole, with a convenient green and relatively controlled lighting (given the proximity to London) has proved to be very good. It has enabled us to meet more frequently, and more importantly to observe as a group more often. Whilst the skies are not dark by rural standards, there is still enough to be seen to make for enjoyable sessions, and when the skies play nicely we can often be there until the early hours, enjoying the peace and quiet, and the views of course. The horizon to the south is good, meaning that the lovely targets in Sagittarius are visible in the summer months, plus obviously the Moon and Planets can be clearly seen when well positioned.
Meeting dates are here
More recently we have ventured to a dark site on the South Downs a few times where far more faint objects are visible and we can really get the best out of our scopes. These trips are harder to plan in as we have to commit in advance and then see what the weather does, but the results are well worth it when everything comes together. As a group we aim to try to get to this site more often in future, and would love to show interested people the delights of a dark sky.
A schedule of proposed dark sky trip dates is here, we plan a Friday or a Saturday and I will make a call in the afternoon as to whether we go or not based on the forecast, and a quick check of the tea leaves ;)
We moved our meeting place to the Prince of Wales some time ago, and the combination of a warm watering hole, with a convenient green and relatively controlled lighting (given the proximity to London) has proved to be very good. It has enabled us to meet more frequently, and more importantly to observe as a group more often. Whilst the skies are not dark by rural standards, there is still enough to be seen to make for enjoyable sessions, and when the skies play nicely we can often be there until the early hours, enjoying the peace and quiet, and the views of course. The horizon to the south is good, meaning that the lovely targets in Sagittarius are visible in the summer months, plus obviously the Moon and Planets can be clearly seen when well positioned.
Meeting dates are here
More recently we have ventured to a dark site on the South Downs a few times where far more faint objects are visible and we can really get the best out of our scopes. These trips are harder to plan in as we have to commit in advance and then see what the weather does, but the results are well worth it when everything comes together. As a group we aim to try to get to this site more often in future, and would love to show interested people the delights of a dark sky.
A schedule of proposed dark sky trip dates is here, we plan a Friday or a Saturday and I will make a call in the afternoon as to whether we go or not based on the forecast, and a quick check of the tea leaves ;)
