28/10/09 Update: Open Skies 2009 is now over and sadly I have to pack all the equipment in the next few days to take to France. Thank you very much to everyone who attended - it was wonderful to have you. The response was fantastic - 45 people over three nights - and it was especially nice to have so many enthusiatic children - some of them so keen and well informed that I couldn't answer all their questions!
Monday night was disappointing, but considering this was England in October and the weather was in a cyclonic pattern we did pretty well to get two nights out of three. Many people have said that their first sight through a telescope of the craters on the moon or the rings of Saturn was one of the most memorable of their lives. So we must definitely do this again! - not only for the people who missed seeing anything but for the several others who couldn't come. I am not sure yet exactly when this can be but please keep tuned to Whitton Ways and to this webpage.
Thank you again, Philip & Chris Perkins
--
2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. Come
and see some celestial wonders with your own eyes through a professional
class telescope. Free of charge. Children welcome!
See:
- Craters and detailed structures on the moon
- Jupiter’s moons and cloud belts
- Jupiter’s Great Red Spot (only visible Monday night)
- The constellations Lyra, Cygnus, Andromeda, Pegasus
- The Great Star Cluster in Hercules
- Alberio, the most beautiful double star in the night sky
- Epsilon Lyrae, the famous double double star
- Identify Vega and other bright stars
Venue: 52 Ashley Piece, Ramsbury –
entrance through the garage into the back garden. Refreshments available.
Dates: (with current attendees in brackets)
Sunday 25 October 2009 (12)
Monday 26 October 2009 (14)
Tuesday 27 October 2009 (17)
Time: 6pm - 8pm all days (winter time, which starts on Sunday 25 October)
Weather permitting!!
Please check the viewing forecast (below) before arriving:
Viewing Forecast:
Update 27/10/09: The weak warm front (that
brought cloud and light rain last night) has passed over and the associated
cold front is approaching. It is expected to be over us around midnight
but before then there should clear periods.
Tuesday 27 October 2009: Predominantly
cloudy but in the early evening there should be enough clear spells to
make some viewing possible. Please try to arrive early if possible as
cloud will increase through the evening. Chance of light rain later in
the evening.
If the weather is poor on the night: -
all is not lost - I will have a pre-recorded webcam video of some highlights
which you can see on a computer monitor much as you would see it through
the eyepiece. You can also see the telescopes and how they are used. You
can also see large prints of some fascinating deep space objects (see
below)
Analysis:
Sunday 25 October 2009: Sunday was a great
success - mostly clear and everyone was able to see the main sights through
the telescope. There was a period of cloud cover during which the indoor
display of prints and live video proved popular.
Monday 26 October 2009: The weak warm front
unfortunately made its presence felt earlier than expected and cloud cover
was too dense to allow any viewing though the indoor display of prints
and live video provided some interest.
We will have to do this again at some stage! Hopefully when we are in a stable weather pattern with much greater chance of clear skies. I am working out how to do this.
Large prints will be on display, showing some of the most fascinating celestial objects including deep space nebulae, galaxies, the moon, and comet Hale-Bopp over Stonehenge. These were captured through the viewing telescope but are too faint to be seen visually. However the camera can show very faint objects because it is able to accumulate light.
Space is limited - to avoid disappointment please
confirm attendance by 20th October:
by phone: 01672 520515 or
Please note: owing to limited capacity this event is only open to people from the local Ramsbury area including, if space permits, those from Aldbourne, Axford, and Chilton Foliat.
Philip & Chris Perkins -- 01672 520515 -- www.astrocruise.com
Sample Astrocruise Images
