Post by bigeye155 on Nov 4, 2012 23:34:36 GMT
Hi Folks,
The IAA has teamed up with the NI Space Office to launch the Dark Sky Discovery programme this Autumn, see front page for more info and links. The IAA is delighted to be involved in such a programme in which it is hoped as many people as possible will be encouraged to join us and safely enjoy the dark night sky at Delamont Country Park on the 9th-10th November. This is being run in association with Down District Council who have arranged for the toilets to be open on the night so lets hope the weather cooperates on the 9th. If not, then we will try again on the 10th. Please check this forum thread again on the 9th at 6pm for confirmation. We will have a wide range of telescopes there including the associations 16" Lightbridge, which will show thousands of objects, but the sky is so good at Delamont, you don't need a scope to enjoy the Milky Way spanning from one horizon to the other
Please note that the main road just outside Killyleagh on the Downpatrick side is closed due to subsidance, see IAA member Sharon Maxwell's directions:
Currently the road out of Killyleagh is closed a short distance before Delamont. So you can not drive through Killyleagh - well if you do you will just have to turn!! This would affect anyone travelling from Comber and is due to roadworks - the footpath caved into a field!
Ok if you are coming from Comber this is what i would do. Once you get into Killyleagh turn right at the first turn into Frederick St (the Citroen garage is on the corner of this). Follow this straight on past the castle and the war memorial is on an arch at the end of the castle wall - this is not a good bit of road at that wall as there is not a lot of space. You go along past the castle wall and a row of trees - the alphabet trees!! Turn left onto the Coily Hill Road - there is a white primary school on the corner and then take the next left about a mile along this onto the Shanes Road which when you come to the end of this turn right and you are almost at Delamont gate. The road is closed just past the entrance of the Shanes Road.
It should not affect anyone coming from Crossgar- i don't know if anyone comes that way heading towards Dpk and then turning off along the Finnebrogue road onto the Killyleagh road at the Quoile bridge. At the bridge there are signs saying the road is closed but it is closed after the entrance to Delamont so it is ok to go along it. Maybe anyone coming from Crossgar takes the Crossgar/Killyleagh Road and then comes down my road the Scaddy Road anyhow in which case you turn left and do not worry if it says road closed. I would point out though there is more traffic on both our road and the Shanes road because of the closure.
The road is meant to be closed until the 19th November. I hope this makes sense as my directions are a bit long winded!! Sharon Maxwell.
David B Stewart (Observing Coordinator)
The IAA has teamed up with the NI Space Office to launch the Dark Sky Discovery programme this Autumn, see front page for more info and links. The IAA is delighted to be involved in such a programme in which it is hoped as many people as possible will be encouraged to join us and safely enjoy the dark night sky at Delamont Country Park on the 9th-10th November. This is being run in association with Down District Council who have arranged for the toilets to be open on the night so lets hope the weather cooperates on the 9th. If not, then we will try again on the 10th. Please check this forum thread again on the 9th at 6pm for confirmation. We will have a wide range of telescopes there including the associations 16" Lightbridge, which will show thousands of objects, but the sky is so good at Delamont, you don't need a scope to enjoy the Milky Way spanning from one horizon to the other
Please note that the main road just outside Killyleagh on the Downpatrick side is closed due to subsidance, see IAA member Sharon Maxwell's directions:
Currently the road out of Killyleagh is closed a short distance before Delamont. So you can not drive through Killyleagh - well if you do you will just have to turn!! This would affect anyone travelling from Comber and is due to roadworks - the footpath caved into a field!
Ok if you are coming from Comber this is what i would do. Once you get into Killyleagh turn right at the first turn into Frederick St (the Citroen garage is on the corner of this). Follow this straight on past the castle and the war memorial is on an arch at the end of the castle wall - this is not a good bit of road at that wall as there is not a lot of space. You go along past the castle wall and a row of trees - the alphabet trees!! Turn left onto the Coily Hill Road - there is a white primary school on the corner and then take the next left about a mile along this onto the Shanes Road which when you come to the end of this turn right and you are almost at Delamont gate. The road is closed just past the entrance of the Shanes Road.
It should not affect anyone coming from Crossgar- i don't know if anyone comes that way heading towards Dpk and then turning off along the Finnebrogue road onto the Killyleagh road at the Quoile bridge. At the bridge there are signs saying the road is closed but it is closed after the entrance to Delamont so it is ok to go along it. Maybe anyone coming from Crossgar takes the Crossgar/Killyleagh Road and then comes down my road the Scaddy Road anyhow in which case you turn left and do not worry if it says road closed. I would point out though there is more traffic on both our road and the Shanes road because of the closure.
The road is meant to be closed until the 19th November. I hope this makes sense as my directions are a bit long winded!! Sharon Maxwell.
David B Stewart (Observing Coordinator)
