IAA Observing at Delamont 21-22/2/14****CANCELLED****

[bigeye155]

ADVANCE NOTICE

The IAA's next scheduled observing session at Delamont Country Park is planned for the 21st-22nd of February, which is our second choice for observing this month. The mighty Jupiter will be high in the sky plus all the winter nebulae/star clusters. If it stays clear later on, we'll have a look for some springtime galaxies in the east. We will also be picking out the recent supernova discovered in the "Cigar Nebula" aka M82.

Usual rules apply, wrap up well and bring something to eat/drink etc. Please take care on any icy or untreated roads in the area.

If you enjoyed the Stargazing Live events last month at QUB and Cultra, you'll find observing at Delamont much more relaxing with a more varied selection of things to look at. If you are considering buying a telescope, please come along to any of our observing sessions so you can view through a wide variety of scopes to help you decide. Plenty of good sound advice available. All members/non members/general public welcome.

Please note: If you are planning to bring a group of people to any Delamont observing sessions, please let me know so we can plan etc.

Check this IAA forum thread again a couple of days before the 21st, by which time I should have a reasonable forecast available.


Clear skies

David (Obs' Co-ord')

[bigeye155]

Hi Folks,

ADVANCE NOTICE

There are blustery showers forecast for Friday with a possibility of showers easing on Friday night with a few clear spells (forecast a bit vague) before another weather front blows in for Saturday afternoon. Saturday night isn't looking good though, so I'll do another update around 6pm on Friday.

Fingers crossed



Clear skies

David.

[paddyman]

I need more fingers to cross

[keithm]

I'm crossing everything!
bbc are saying clear skies in Killeagh from 9 so I'm hopeful... I think
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2645613

[bigeye155]

Hi all,

Unfortunately the weather has beaten us again with showery conditionns persisting into the evening, so tonights observing session is cancelled. Check here again on Saturday for an update, I'm not hopeful though.

Lets hope March brings us some clear skies!!

David

[keithm]

I was thinking that might happen while I was walking home in the pouring rain! :-(

[fatrick]

Was looking forward to this tonight, forecast looked good up til about 3pm. O well, such is life. I got the scope out last night for an hour in the clear skies last night, first time out in 2 weeks. Had a good time, seen orion nebula for the first time. So spectacular. Also seen M31 for the first time. Tried to hunt down M82 but couldn't get it. Might need some more experienced guidance.to help me find those faint grey things in the skies. Hope to see.some.of.you in the near future.

[britestar]

Hi everyone im a new member I was looking forward to meeting you all hopefully soon.

[bigeye155]

As I write this, the sky is totally clear in Belfast but half an hour ago it was raining with strong winds, so its difficult making a call. There's no point going down to Delamont, setting up expensive gear and then the high winds blow in another shower to spoil things. Intermittent cloud and windy conditions is one thing, but add some rain into the mix stacks the odds against us

Weather for tomorrow night is poor, so is now cancelled also.

Patience is one of the most important things that is required for practical astronomy, we certainly need plenty in our climate. While we are all waiting for clear skies, how about an astro related project to while away the many hours etc........... how about building a dobsonian style telescope in memory of the late great John Dobson, and bring astronomy to the masses with a scope you made with your own hands, would be a great talking point at any of our outreach events.

Its raining again.....

David

[paddyman]

Hi Britestar, welcome to the forum, Like the others I was looking forward to getting down to Delamont, unfortunately us poor mortals can't do much about the weather I don't know what it was like at Delamont last night but it stayed dry here, tho it was very windy, I wouldn't chance setting up my scope in that amount of wind, plus everything would have been shaking too wildly for viewing. Hope for better luck next time