Adrian Condon

Hi Derek, Glad to hear that you survived the weather. The hills covered in snow look very good. The weather is meant to average out over a year, so the Autumn Star Party will be dry, sunshine for solar imaging and of course those brilliant dark skies are a dead cert! Given my trusted forecast, I cannot see how we will have time for a drinking session..... Anyway, thanks for your efforts. See you in the Autumn. Adrian

Hi Damian, Great shots of Merrick, I have been to the top on numerous occasions and on a clear day you can see quite a distance, Isle of Man, Lake District, Mountains of Mourne and your feet.I have been there when We could hardly see anything with the driving sleet in a very strong wind. The last time I tried I only got up to the top of Benyellary when I ran out of puff! Have a safe trip home. Adrian

Hi Damian, Great to see the enduring sight of those hills in daylight. The night images show what celestial glories are available from Kirkinner. Yes, I can see some of the objects in the frame from down south, but the skies here have light pollution from London. My back is currently killing me, so I need to stay inside in the heat. I am having a whiskey to resurrect the memories of the campsite games room. All the very best. Adrian

Hi Damian, Glad you can go to the star party in comfort..... Trust you have arranged for clear skies. Cheers Adrian

Hi Damian, There is always the Harbour Inn in Garlieston just 4 to 5 miles from the campsite. (They are on the internet.... https://the-harbour-inn.co.uk ) I have not stayed there, but a number of us campers have had good meals there over the past few years. Their drinks are reasonably priced. I am giving this star party a miss.... booking for October..... Trust you are in the very best of health. Adrian

Hi Ships and Stars, Sorry I don't know your name. I have the following comments..... I think you would get a wider response by starting a new thread. The NE of Scotland would be a two day drive for at least 3 to 5 of the members who attend the Galloway Star Party, from London, Bridgend in South Wales and the Isle of Man (500 to 550 miles). The majority of attendees come from the Newcastle and of course from the Greater Manchester areas. Plus a camp site with electrics would be necessary for the astro gear and computers and of course heating in the winter months. And toilet facilities need to be thought about. I don't believe the astronomers would be overly happy about setting up in car parks or lay-bys, given the value of the equipment. Incidentally, there is sometimes a star camp organised that takes place in Perth. Anyway, we do get members from the Perth area who come to Galloway Star Party in Kirkinner and who greatly enhance the event with their knowledge and drinking abilities. So I wish you the best trying to organise a star party. Cheers Adrian

Hi John, Given that the announcement has come from Julian, I would believe that it is true. i have informed Derek, so awaiting confirmation from Derek in the next 24 hours. I have sent a private message to Derek. It is sad that the weather has ruined a really first class star party. I was planning on going up this Sunday but given the forecast for wind and rain, I decided to delay putting the roof rack on the car. Wishing all those who were intending on attending the very best Adrian

Hi Folks, It is 13 days to the start of the Galloway Spring Star Party...... if you are still trying to make your mind up about coming..... save yourself the agony and just book with Lesley the camp site owner. It really is a great friendly party, I spoke to Lesley on Tuesday and the site is drying out beautifully after a very wet winter period. She hopes that this weekend's promised storms miss the site. Some of the regulars arrive before the start and even remain after the end dates, it is so enjoyable. Some people bring astro gear and more important Whiskey and Jaffa cakes. Hope to see you all there. Cheers Adrian

Hi Derek, I thought folk would like to know what it looks like early morning at a Spring Galloway Star Party...... Plus afternoons birdwatching at Wigton Bay and an Evening sky with no clouds. What could be better!!!!! Definitely worth the 800 mile round trip........ See you all there Adrian

Hi Carole, I am going both days, so I will see you on Saturday morning if you are not too busy. I also hope to meet some SGL attendees and members of the Wycombe Astronomical Society. Cheers Adrian

Hi Derek, Booked......... Adrian

Hi Derek, Thanks for adventuring into organising the events....... Sorry to hear that Mike is not too well. Trust you had a peaceful Christmas. I wish we could get some clear nights over Watford. Thanks Adrian

Hi Folks No stars at present as it has clouded over There is a very heavy dew. On one dob it looks like someone has washed the primary mirror and forgot to dry it!!!!! i am packing in for the night as I need to get away early in the morning Trust everyone who came enjoyed themselves cheers Adrian

Hi Damian, Had not realised that you would be gone by the time I got back. Yes, we saw mist forming in the dips on the way back from the Isle of Whithorn earlier, ie. the period just as dusk was descending. There is a mist forming at low level now in to which the Moon is slipping, we can see the Milky Way and a number of constellations, but dew is forming at an alarming rate. Going to watch the Qualifying Round of the American Grand Prix, games room is now in use..... Adrian

Hi Julian, Trust you got home safely with your load of gear. It rained at times during the night.... got up at 03:30 am this morning and we had clear skies...I looked at Orion in all it's glory...went back to bed after 15 minutes or so. Then up again at 05:20 am and it was clouded over except for one star in the North. The campsite was very soggy first thing, a number were up to watch the rugby watch and then group photo. I went to lunch at the Harbour Inn at Garlieston with Hadyn and Christina, excellent meal and then down to the Steam Packet in the Isle of Whithorn for afternoon coffee. The weather was fine, breezeless and perfectly clear. Tonight here is crystal clear sky at the moment with the Moon out and showing beautifully in a dark sky. The forecast is for clear skies for the next 6 to 9 hours, Galloway weather is totally unpredictable. Anyway, it was great to meet you again, trust you have some great images to process when you get a chance. All the Best, Adrian

Hi, Not the best of the mornings..... Today will be the worst of the weather, but may be better tomorrow. Think the games room will see plenty of action from lunchtime..... Cannot complain because we have had 5 good days and 4 good nights so far. Did somebody mention Whiskey? To all travelling to join us today, take care as the roads may be slippy after the fine weather. Adrian

Hi Ian, I have cancelled all my appointments for Thursday morning...... camera batteries will charge overnight on Wednesday and be ready to record this wondrous event. The weather for Wednesday is changing to GOOD. Maybe we will be lucky and have an interesting star party. Everybody is out looking skyward tonight, the only thing is that there is a breeze of 10mph to chill the bones. Cheers Adrian

Hi Ian Glad to hear that your car now works Do you need an erection team available for your tent? According to Scope Nights tomorrow night shows good signs of improvement over the earlier forecasts of heavy rain Have a safe journey Adrian

Hi Stuart, Currently viewing a beutiful morning after a good clear night, this is what one drives hundreds of miles for! The temperature at present is just about freezing. With these clear nights I might not have time to drink my whiskey ( or anybody else's for that matter! ) Have a safe journey.... Adrian

Hi Mark and Steve So sorry to hear that you have had to cancel a good star party I am currently attending the 10th anniversary of the Galloway Star Party, we have had two clear nights with a heavy frost last night We are looking at clear skies tonight and hopefully Tuesday night but the forecast for the remainder of the week does not look promising, but in Scotland that means we will be having a number of whiskey tasting sessions were the weather is later seen as hazy...... Anyway, the people here are sorry to hear your plight and hope the weather in Herefordshire improves over the coming weeks All the very best Adrian

Hi Ian, Busy doing sky things tonight, no time for whiskey tasting.... Hope your car gets fixed asap.... we need you to show how to handle seconds and thirds.... It was a frosty morning, I went to the facilities block at 04:20am this morning and it was white and crunchy, I found my way back to the tent following my footsteps in the frost!! Busy trying out my new Fornax Light mount with my Olympus OMD - EM1X taking shots using the Composite facilities on the camera shots between 2 to 4 minutes. Thinking of trying my Canon 100d which has been astro modded. This morning I went for a 2 hour walk with Lesley and dog Bud through the local woods, I tripped on a dead branch and hit a soft patch with my head, so no damage done..... It has been a beautiful day here, Hadyn and Christina arrived at lunchtime and once Hadyn had set up for tonight, we both set off for the Wigton hide to do some birdwatching...that was a complete waste of time as most birds were missing... we saw one Black Head gull, one Little Egret, one Heron, two Little Grebe and two Mute Swans. We usually see a lot more there. Just finished a hot cup of tea and about to go out again for another hour's observing, these clear nights are a killer!!! Sorry to hear that SGL Star Party at Lucsall is cancelled, as it is a nice campsite and a friendly bunch, but the River Wye is perilously close. Shame I used to enjoy the Hog Roast. I better get back out.... Cheers Adrian

Hi Predicted clear till midnight and then from 03:00am Monday till 09:00am. Temperature dropping to 3 degrees Wind to 4 mph Skies darken fast now. Cheers Adrian

Hi Ian, Sorry to hear that your car is naff!! Was looking forward to meeting up. All the very best Adrian

Hi Folks, The technical info on the above photos is as follows: The camera a Canon 5 IV was Not on a tripod..... it was on a table against a gas stoke, the shots were 15 seconds each..... as Damian left his frog / shoe for the tripod at home. He is currently dishing out whiskey in the Games Room to get us ( Derek and myself ) to forgive for not using a tripod! The photos have not been photoshopped, if he gives me more Talisker whiskey I will believe him!! He lefted his laptop at Home!!! I need more whiskey to be believe that as well. Cheers Adrian I

Hi Derek, The weather on Night Scopes has changed with Friday and Saturday 1 and 2 November from "cloudy and overcast " to Mostly Clear at 23:00 tonight. Give it another few days and it will be brilliant. Have a good trip. Adrian