Cloudy Cambridgeshire!

[Geesus]

Hey all!

Given that there are a couple of us in and around Cambridge, I thought it would be a nice idea to have a thread of our own in order to keep track of what's going on close to home, as well as get to know a few of the more local skywatchers!

I'm hoping others will help me keep this thread updated etc. with relevant information and events!

This website seems quite helpful in that it'll tell you how good the conditions will be for astronomy up to a week in advance, so here's a link to the Stargazing forecast for Cambridge:

http://www.accuweather.com/en/gb/cambridge/cb2-3/astronomy/327200

(Thanks squeaky!)

If anyone knows of any decent dark sky sites in (unlikely...) or around Cambridge, this would be most useful as I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a hard time finding a decent location!

Some of the other groups have a Recent Buys section - that'd be interesting to hear too!

Maybe we could organise some informal mini-meets every now and again?

Of course members from other areas are more than welcome, and hopefully we'll see some of you at some mini-meets if you're around, but if we could keep this thread Cambridge related that would be wonderful!

Clear skies,

Ginger

[NickW]

Thanks Ginger...

Do I detect avoidance going on here where even hoovering suddenly seems important when compared to revision

[Geesus]

Do I detect avoidance going on here where even hoovering suddenly seems important when compared to revision

No... Well not really... actually maybe a little... yes .

At least it's slightly more productive/useful than computer games or staying in bed .

Ginger

[NickW]

Damn this weather is just getting worse!!!

[Donkeiller]

I live in central Cambridge. Lots of LP- I have a sodium light at the end of my garden and tall houses surrounding. Not the best- particularly when it has a lid of cloud.

Best dark skies nearby for me are out on the Gog Magogs.

[NickW]

Hi Don

I am out St Ives way.. pollution round here too. Never been over to the Gogs but can imagine it would be a good site. Have you ever been along to one of the Cambridge Astronomical Association meetings... they are out Madingly road.. they seem to have scopes out there so I am guessing it can't be too bad.

[CGolder]

the scopes are pretty old i think. i suspect that the light polution has crept up on them. i have some decent skies in hardwick :-)

[Donkeiller]

Hi Don

I am out St Ives way.. pollution round here too. Never been over to the Gogs but can imagine it would be a good site. Have you ever been along to one of the Cambridge Astronomical Association meetings... they are out Madingly road.. they seem to have scopes out there so I am guessing it can't be too bad.

Yes I sometimes go to Madingley Rd, but skies aren't great and lots of tall trees.

Some very good lectures/presentations though.

[russ.will]

I live in central Cambridge. Lots of LP- I have a sodium light at the end of my garden and tall houses surrounding. Not the best- particularly when it has a lid of cloud.

Best dark skies nearby for me are out on the Gog Magogs.

I thought of going to the Gogs, but decided Cambridge is too close to the North and Linton too close in the south. Am I wrong?

I'm particularly interested as I was content to spend my first winter learning my way round scopes from my back garden in Rampton. Having dumped the complexity imposed by wanting to image, I'm keen to get out and explore this autumn and winter.

Russell

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Donkeiller]

I thought of going to the Gogs, but decided Cambridge is too close to the North and Linton too close in the south. Am I wrong?

I'm particularly interested as I was content to spend my first winter learning my way round scopes from my back garden in Rampton. Having dumped the complexity imposed by wanting to image, I'm keen to get out and explore this autumn and winter.

Russell

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Russell, you are probably correct, but it is a significant improvement for me and not too far to drive.

[badgers]

Where abouts in the Gogs ?

I need to find a closer site to the one I'm currently using near Duxford.

[GSR]

Apologies for picking up this thread so late but I belong to a small but friendly astronomy club which meets on the first Monday of the month –St.Neots astronomy association –at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve which is quite a good dark site and we all set up in the car park when it’s not cloudy. Link to web site in my signature below.

Regards Graham

[russ.will]

I've been looking for a decent(ish) dark site within 15mins of Cambridge. Now, my search has been targeted in areas to the east of Cambridge, principally because I commute to north Essex and this area is therefore on my way home. However, the area south of Newmarket, north of Haverhill and south west of Bury St. Edmunds, is also a bit of a black hole in terms of urbanization or main roads - Read, there's stuff all there.

I've sort of homed in on the area of these co-ordinates:

52.179721,0.428123

Plug it into Google maps and let me know what you think and if anybody is interested in meeting there. If so, I'll look harder and if it requires the permission of a farmer to use a hard standing area, I'll go ask.

Russell

[badgers]

That site looks pretty good to me.

It's near the end of a road, so no passing motorists. Few high trees around, and I'd reckon that should be around the darkest spots in Cambs.

Key thing would be to make contact with the farm through the gate so they would know a car parked to the side of the road wasn't thieves or other unsavories.

[Turnwood]

I live in Brockley and can vouch for the dark skies there

[russ.will]

I've been looking a little harder, as the road those coordinates centre on is hedge lined and stops outside a house at a farm/stud gate. They were really only a pointer to the general area under investigation.

However another member, more local to the vicinity has looked at the road that was a focus of interest and took the time to send me some pictures he took last night. It's a dead end, with parking for 3-4 cars and a raised embankment alongside a dyke (which is a public footpath) giving clear views. I won't 'out' him, but it looks very promising with some nice images of Cygnus, Lyra, even in the haze of recent nights.

52.171931, 0.447736

Russell

[Steve Ward]

I'm pretty sure he won't mind being "outed" , he's obviously not a bad sort of chap............

[russ.will]

Okay - It's you and it was very kind of you to invite us all round to yours for a spot of pre-observing tea and tiffin.

Russell

[Steve Ward]

[Steve Ward]

As tonight looks a more promising night than Saturday for Perseid potential I'll be heading down there for another look-see.

Shan't be carting much kit , just the EQ3-2 and camera for some better wide stuff.

So if you head down don't be put off by the grubby Escort van parked up ......

[russ.will]

I finally managed to pop down to the site on the way home. It was way before dark and if it had been, it was cloudy anyway.

It's not quite horizon to horizon viewing, but there's a lot more sky than my back garden, so I'm looking forward to giving it a go when the dark nights roll in.

Russell

[russ.will]

Oh! And good news - If a planned observing session goes belly up, there's always The Blackbirds at Woodditton to console ourselves.

Russell

[Steve Ward]

Hi Russell ,

Been over a couple of times now and although it's 'dark' it's far from ideal , especially in the Low South department .

The LP from Haverhill is pretty horrendous to be honest , I've been checking out some general areas that look more promising in the area due south of Haverhill , Steeple Bumpstead ish .

Nothing pinned down yet but getting closer.

Steve.

[badgers]

Nice work checking out the last site Steve, sorry it's not as dark as hoped.

Looking at the LP map, somewhere around Hempstead looks most promising light wise ?

[badgers]

I'm currently in the bright purple area inside Cambridge, so anything is an improvement for me though!