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MWAS - Mid-Wales Astronomy Society.


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I have just formed this society.

Based half a mile from Llanwrtyd Wells, it has super pollution-free light. Unfortunately it also has clouds.

Membership so far is one. Me.

At the first AGM yesterday I was unanimously appointed President, Treasurer, Secretary, Press officer and coffee-maker. However, we (er, I mean I) would happily welcome new members living within sensible travelling distance, in which case my megalomania would suddenly be replaced by a vast sense of relief that I'm not the only star-watcher in the village!

Seriously though ...

Are there any SGL users alive in this wet-but-dark-and-incredibly-beautiful part of Wales who might like to get together and form a club? The nearest alternatives I've found are way down south (Swansea-ish) or far, far west (Preseli-ish).

Or perhaps you know better?

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Hi there, was in the elan valley yesterday, I can imagine the skies there would be fantastic as it was so remote. Bit too far from so wales to meet on a regular basis but we downs a lot of time in ceredigion so will watch your thread to see if theres a chance of meeting up in the future. Good luck with your endeavours, your right it is a beautiful part of wales

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

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  • 2 weeks later...

We (er, I mean I) just had an Extraordinary General Meeting. Due to the underwhelming demand from Mid-Wales astronomers for membership of MWAS, we have had to restrict membership.

From now on, if you're in the area and you wish to join the MWAS, you have to indicate that you are really, really interested in astronomy.

Try to answer the following question:

The nearest planet to Earth is:

[a] Pluto

Titan

[c] Fomalhaut

The MWAS Chairman's decision is final, regarding any answer you're daft enough to submit.

But if you're serious, and you do live in mid-Wales, please do get in touch!

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Hi there, was in the elan valley yesterday, I can imagine the skies there would be fantastic as it was so remote. Bit too far from so wales to meet on a regular basis but we downs a lot of time in ceredigion so will watch your thread to see if theres a chance of meeting up in the future. Good luck with your endeavours, your right it is a beautiful part of wales

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

Let me assure you, the skies in the Elan Valley area are truly marvellous. *sigh*

I've been talking to the new head ranger there (I visit Elan a lot for the walking) and she's very keen to run some astronomy activites in the future.

Edited by Beulah
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Let me assure you, the skies in the Elan Valley area are truly marvellous. *sigh*

I've been talking to the new head ranger there (I visit Elan a lot for the walking) and she's very keen to run some astronomy activites in the future.

Has anyone observed from the parking area below Claerwen Reservoir ?

Its about four miles west of the Elan Valley, as the crow flies, looks like a great place for observing.

There are toilets next to the parking area, and the road in looks to be in good condition.

I've been studying the area on Google Earth. The area roads appear to be accessable, as the streetview cameras would indicate.

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That looks like a good spot - nice one, I hadn't thought of that.

I was thinking of driving up to the top of the reservoir and parking on the right hand side.

I know someone who lives in the area, and they say it's DARK.

The ranger has said it is perfectly fine to observe in Elan Valley and its associated dams, provided the Countryside Code is adhered to.

The only disadvantage is that mobile phone reception is virtually non-existent, so make sure you pack basic survival stuff if your car breaks down. The farmers are quite helpful in that event.

Here's another area to consider: elan valley - Google Maps

You have to consider any traffic though.

I just cannot wait for my next trip. (3rd time this year!)

Edited by Beulah
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Thats a fair hike from S Wales but if theres a group meeting there on a nice clear weekend I'd travel up - will keep an eye on this thread - every now and again its worth the travel for truly dark skies- good luck folks

Hi Steve,

This is the site I was talking about on my post in the South Wales Group. I know its a fair distance, but then again I like an excuse for a road trip. :D

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That looks like a good spot - nice one, I hadn't thought of that.

I was thinking of driving up to the top of the reservoir and parking on the right hand side.

The views to the south, east & west look to be unobstructed from the below dam parking area. It also looks like there are paved spots to set up.

Hmmm :D, might be a good idea to take along an extra bog roll though. :)

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Yes, there are so many good viewing places here in the middle of Wales. Me, I wouldn't bother to travel the few miles north to the Elan Valley when, on a clear night in the summer, I can see the Milky Way as a striking, vivid band of light just by going out of my back door! And that's with the kitchen light on!

When I posted my initial message here, I was really just trawling to see if there were any SGL addicts who lived in 'lets-get-together' distance of me for the occasional evening's sky watching. Organising a real Society of, say, 15 people living inside a 40-mile radius, would be nigh on impossible. No-one can travel those sort of distances for monthly meetings these days, where there's no public transport and petrol costs are so high.

There's the Preseli Astr. Group 68 miles to the west of me. The Marches Astronomy Group looks good, but it's almost as far to the east. Swansea is £30-worth (round trip) of petrol to the south. And here I am, with a 6" Newtonian on a posh mount (shortly to become an 8" jobbie) and I've got no-one to share the experience with! More to the point, there's no-one to give me hints, tips, advice on how to improve my observing!

But if there are really any astronomophiles (is that a word?) anywhere near me, please do get in touch!

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Yes, there are so many good viewing places here in the middle of Wales. Me, I wouldn't bother to travel the few miles north to the Elan Valley when, on a clear night in the summer, I can see the Milky Way as a striking, vivid band of light just by going out of my back door! And that's with the kitchen light on!

When I posted my initial message here, I was really just trawling to see if there were any SGL addicts who lived in 'lets-get-together' distance of me for the occasional evening's sky watching. Organising a real Society of, say, 15 people living inside a 40-mile radius, would be nigh on impossible. No-one can travel those sort of distances for monthly meetings these days, where there's no public transport and petrol costs are so high.

There's the Preseli Astr. Group 68 miles to the west of me. The Marches Astronomy Group looks good, but it's almost as far to the east. Swansea is £30-worth (round trip) of petrol to the south. And here I am, with a 6" Newtonian on a posh mount (shortly to become an 8" jobbie) and I've got no-one to share the experience with! More to the point, there's no-one to give me hints, tips, advice on how to improve my observing!

But if there are really any astronomophiles (is that a word?) anywhere near me, please do get in touch!

Yes the distances are surprising - it's a 50 mile round trip to get to Newtown (nearest 'big' town) for us. Aberystwyth is 60 miles- the price of diesel doesn't help.

I can concur that the blackness of the sky at Claerwen is complete having spent an evening there once. You can park near the top of the dam or even go a little way along the north access road which is a Right Of Way almost to the far end of the reservoir. From this road you have a relatively unobstructed view.

Claerwen is in the centre of this light pollution map:

ELANVALLEYLIGHTPOLLUTIONMAP.jpg

I am about 40 miles due north of Claerwen, with nothing but high moorland in-between the view south can be quite good- Milky Way down to the horizon is possible if the sky is clear.

_DIR7788STACKED_NOISE_curves.jpg

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Hi Steve,

This is the site I was talking about on my post in the South Wales Group. I know its a fair distance, but then again I like an excuse for a road trip. :D

Mike if you fancy some company and we get a good forecast let me know - looking at that light pollution map that looks about as good as we will get in Wales.

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Mike if you fancy some company and we get a good forecast let me know - looking at that light pollution map that looks about as good as we will get in Wales.

Hi Steve,

OK, I'll keep you in mind. I don't fancy hiking though, I'd rather drive there. :D

Yeah, the area sure looks good as far as minimum light polution goes.

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I sense an expedition from S Wales some time in the future - only issue is at the moment is the nights will be getting lighter for some time so bearing in mind the distance, for me at least, we're probably talking end of August , September perhaps? (although if theres an advance scouting party I'm still up for it)

Actually looking at that map I spend quite a bit of time in Tregaron which is just to the West of Claerwen- just doesn't look like theres any decent road network there which doesn't suprise but perhaps I can take an advance reccy sometime over the next few months when I'm in that part of the World.

Some serious Welsh name pronounciation required in Mid Wales though Mike- might be another challenge lol

Edited by stevetynant
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I sense an expedition from S Wales some time in the future - only issue is at the moment is the nights will be getting lighter for some time so bearing in mind the distance, for me at least, we're probably talking end of August , September perhaps? (although if theres an advance scouting party I'm still up for it)

Actually looking at that map I spend quite a bit of time in Tregaron which is just to the West of Claerwen- just doesn't look like theres any decent road network there which doesn't suprise but perhaps I can take an advance reccy sometime over the next few months when I'm in that part of the World.

Some serious Welsh name pronounciation required in Mid Wales though Mike- might be another challenge lol

In a dark sky site you really notice the twilight effect. In June here it never gets truly dark even at midnight- there's always a blue glow to the north horizon. I would definitatley put it off till later, September is when I consider the 'season' to start. Would be worth scouting out potential sites to set up beforehand though?

Getting from Tregaron to Claerwen by road is not easy- even with a 4x4 the direct route over the mountains is now closed to motor vehicles. Google maps suggests you can drive the direct route (15 miles) but I think this is incorrect. The route north is 43 miles and south is 48 miles!

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