db-astro.org

bwh · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 137 Location: Dalgety Bay

Star party tonight - this morning was clear crisp skies with a moon and saturn in view, so hopefully we may have clear night.

If you are coming tonight, look south (towards bridges from most of dalgety bay) just after sun sets (6:30pm) and there should be two very bright objects in the sky, this is Jupiter (higher, on left) and Venus (lower and much brighter on right).

These two are racing towards each other, with Venus closing in on Jupiter 1 finger width each day ........ they are side-by-side in early december

so remember, 7:45 at kabin tonight - with responsible adults.

best wishes

_________________
bwh

Meade 8inch (228mm) LX5 Smidt-Cassegrain fl=2000
Skywatcher 5inch (120mm) Refractor fl=1000m - For Sale
Meade DSI Pro
Toucam Pro II 840k

Cosmic · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 126 Location: Dunfermline

Brian
such a shame you can't make it. Alas I fear by the time we set up venus and indeed jupiter will be long gone. However should be lot's of other stuff to enthrall the younger and older generations.

Could we please have a show a hands of committee members who are going to endeavour to make it tonight? and or events planned indoors?

cheers
Cosmic
_________________
Skywatcher Skyliner 12" Flex-tube Dob
Astronomiser DSO CCD imager
Meade ETX 70
15x70 Astro Binoculars
10x50 Binoculars

When I was a child I had a dream......now I own a telescope ....it's no longer a dream.

Alderney99

Cosmic wrote:

Brian

Could we please have a show a hands of committee members who are going to endeavour to make it tonight? and or events planned indoors?

cheers
Cosmic

Dead beat after Aberdeen trip, but will be there OK - are we "setting-up" at approx 7.15-7.30pm I'm presuming???

IJ

Cosmic · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 126 Location: Dunfermline

Iain
sounds ok to me

Cosmic
_________________
Skywatcher Skyliner 12" Flex-tube Dob
Astronomiser DSO CCD imager
Meade ETX 70
15x70 Astro Binoculars
10x50 Binoculars

When I was a child I had a dream......now I own a telescope ....it's no longer a dream.

cazza · Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 60 Location: Rosyth

Hi, I'll be there and Claire (my daughter) will be coming with me so can help set up. I think someone is in the hall before us and so we'll probably have to wait until 7.30 pm before we get in.

See you all tonight.

Cheers.

Radge Badger · Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 22 Location: The Bay

Jolly fine evening. I know I spoke to lots of people who were there for the first time and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Many thanks to the catering team for their teas, coffees, juices, sweeties and very fine moon and star biscuits! Yum!

The variety of activities also went down well, although someone nicked my word search before I had finished it ....

Alderney99

Was really great to see the good turnout and the interest shown
so hopefully we'll get some new members in as a result.

And indeed, well done to the "catering team" for keeping everyone
going with tea/coffee & biscuits - the piggy bank at the "tea bar"
also collected over £18 in contributions.

Big effort all round, so well done everybody!

Cosmic · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 126 Location: Dunfermline

Yes a resounding success!

The weather was tragically unkind to us however, we did manage to get a couple of targets shown to the masses. Pleiades and M37 before cloud cover overcame the site.

Light pollution was awful! so perhaps next one could move to the "Dark Site". That aside everyone I spoke to said it was a great experience and I'm sure we will benefit from a few more attendees applying for membership.

The night was all about the kids. How they all seemed to enjoy it. Enthusiastic throngs eagerly queuing up at the scopes to see the wonders of the night sky. Many had never seen the Pleiades (nor had their parents Very Happy

). Both myself and Paul were giving lessons on the different scopes available and thanks to all members for bringing a fine selection of scopes and binoculars.

I didn't get a chance to go inside until much later but thanks must go to Cazza and the "inside team" for keeping the multitudes entertained.

Yes a special thanks to my wife Makbule and daughters Ruyana and Melisa for the excellent catering facilities and special thanks to Melisa who spent the afternoon baking the "Moon and Star biscuits".

Iain, for turning up (after a tiring journey from Aberdeen) and providing security at the scopes and Brian and Bob for taking time to talk to all the visitors about various Astronomical things and the club in general.

Astro George for bringing some fine photos taken with a normal 35mm SLR camera. Showing that Astrophotography need not be an expensive hobby. (George travelled from Kirkaldy to make the event)

Paul rounded off the night with a rousing demo of Stellarium and I remarked that some of the very young visitors seemed to have a better knowledge than he did Very Happy

(only joking Paul).

This to me is what our great hobby is about. Sharing the wonders of the night sky with those of us less well informed and involving the younger generation. Indeed it is through them that the future of Astronomy and Space exploration will survive and flourish.

I look forward to working with you all in the future to promote more events and thank you for all your hard work.

Cosmic
_________________
Skywatcher Skyliner 12" Flex-tube Dob
Astronomiser DSO CCD imager
Meade ETX 70
15x70 Astro Binoculars
10x50 Binoculars

When I was a child I had a dream......now I own a telescope ....it's no longer a dream.

seabay

Hi everyone - sounds like a great night! I think it's so important to hold these kinds of events, in spite of potential weather and light pollution problems, as it's vital to engage people of all ages, to show that that astronomy can be endlessly fascinating and fun. Holding such a successful event, with so many members turning out and giving up their free time, shows that the Club is well and truly on the right lines, and well on the way to becoming an important part of the local community as well as fostering interest in a fasciniating hobby. Congratulations, and keep up the good work. Cheers, Emma
_________________
Emma H

bwh · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 137 Location: Dalgety Bay

thanks for the quick write up as its good to see even was a hit.

Stellarium does seem to allow events like this to still show spectacular views as its ability to alter time + can shows progression of planets over a week, nebula images, and means if weather against event it can still be full of wow factors.

scopes + stellarium , and if lucky real stars...

well done all

Smile

_________________
bwh

Meade 8inch (228mm) LX5 Smidt-Cassegrain fl=2000
Skywatcher 5inch (120mm) Refractor fl=1000m - For Sale
Meade DSI Pro
Toucam Pro II 840k