Physopto

On 09/04/2024 at 15:58, Uplooker said:

Cheers Derek, I will be there😀

Aye, I should hope so.

If not I know a certain female police officer I might send after you. 😂

See you there.

On 03/04/2024 at 09:02, LandyJon said:

Thanks Derek hope you're feeling better, shame people choose not to honour the deposit, perhaps it should be taken at booking and refunded if cancelled over a month before, but that could be more of a headache for Lesley I guess.

Hope we get a better turn out this time, I'll be there for a break if nothing else, fingers crossed for clear skies, see you there.

Thanks Jon.

Had to strap the knee. Still struggling.

Had a reaction to the strapping and skin started to blister. So waiting for it to settle at present.

I was so annoyed that I wasn't able to attend the Star Party and  spend some time with you all.

Still come hell or high water I will be there for the Autumn event. 🤞

We need a really good turn out.......

Hi Folks,

As usual, I am announcing the dates as soon as practical,

so that those people who need to give employers very early dates for holidays can do so.

Scotland's Premier Star Camp for

Autumn November 2025

It will be held at Drumroamin Camp Site.

at:

1 South Balfern, Kirkinner, Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, DG8 9DB 

  Between Tuesday 18^th and Monday 24^th November. 

(The New Moon is on Thursday the 20^th November) 

These dates contain the weekend following the New Moon.

Location: Drumroamin

Latitude: 54.83253

Longitude: -4.45677

This means that observers and imagers are still able to view/image some days before

and after the New Moon, without moonlight pollution affecting them too much.

(This time the weekend after the new moon is better).

Some time ago I was asked by an SGL member if I had any information regarding

the Past/Long-Term Weather around the Wigtown/Newton Stewart area.

I hope it is of some interest as to how and why

 I picked the dates that I have following these data and others on line.

For example, November seems the better month for the Autumn event compared to October as it has longer nights.

November also appears to have slightly less rainfall and colder nights.

The diagram below indicates that mid to late November seems the better time,

as the colder nights could mean the ability of the sky to hold moisture is reduced, hence clearer viewing.

All this depends upon the New Moon dates and the availability to book the camp site and where these dates fit in the month.

I also try to see if I can fit the New Moon date as close to a weekend as possible.

Lesley also opens up the camping area just for us and so excludes the general public.

Date and site availability has to bear in mind her yearly opening schedule!

Some interesting information for Wigtown.

(Precipitation and Temperatures)

Dates of the Star Camp picked because of likelihood of best weather combined with hours of darkness,  

The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 14.5 °C | 58.0 °F. At 4.2 °C | 39.6 °F on average,

February is the coldest month of

the year.

As always those wishing to attend a day or so early and/or stay longer can request this with Lesley at the time of booking!

Hope to see you all there.

Best wishes.

Back home tomorrow so I will be posting new  Star Camp dates for 2025 within the next week.

Had a few computer stability problems over in Port patrick area.

Just need to confer with Lesley about the proposed dates.

On 25/02/2024 at 12:46, LandyJon said:

Yes, I need to put some time in to learning the processing now I've got some good data collecting kit.

Was at this point 2 years ago with the 6", now I've finally got everything I need for the 9.25 and got it working I can start concentrating on learning photoshop techniques.

I hate processing. Like the rest, 😃

On 20/02/2024 at 22:58, LandyJon said:

Got the caravan away back to storage finally and had chance to process my images.

Think I had the screen brightness up so they looked faint once transferred to phone 🙄

Stu done a proper job for me ...

Quite pleased with the collimation.

Very nice Jon. So Stu is doing it all for you then...................   😂

Only teasing

me, me too 🙂

Hi  everyone.

I was going to write this on my laptop but due to forgetting the power supply....

So. on the phone I am afraid (takes ages).

I wish to thank everyone who managed to attend the Spring 2024 Drumroamin Scottish Star Camp. I gather everyone had a good time and those first time attendees gave the thumbs up.

I managed to get there on Saturday for a brief visit and see some of those left at the end. Everyone I talked to was happy and new attendees also said they wished to return in the Autumn 👍. Great news!

So finally I wish to once again thank our hosts, Lesley and Ralph for their continued support.

See you all in the Autumn. 🙂

Glad you enjoyed  Our Scottish Star Camp. It was a pleasure meeting you this afternoon. I am glad you are wanting to return in the Autumn. Please make sure you book early to avoid disapointment.

So happy for you all.

Jon, I will see you in the Autumn, have a safe trip home. Nice picture as well.

Got up into the area by 1435 hrs this afternoon my friends health is slowly improving. So happy about that. Whilst returning to our caravan we could see Orion quite clearly. So I hope those staying on tonight get some good viewing in. If Damian and Ian maybe Jon are there tomorrow. I will pop down to see you all.

4 hours ago, mapstar said:

Morning all.

Strong winds over night are still raging but set to die off towards lunch time. 

A quick look out this morning and everyone's tents and gear seem to be o.k. which is a relief. 

Glad Alistair got home safely and hopefully Roy will have too. Thanks for supporting the event, even with the forecasted poor weather. 

The Galloway Hills looking very wintery 

So next it's on with the morning cuppa 😁

Galloway Hills looking nice. Glad you are all OK.

Throwing it down here. 

1 hour ago, Lucas M said:

The wind and the rain have definitely settled in now, unfortunately the cloud never cleared up last night with pretty constant high cloud and intermittent lower clouds too so couldn't get anything through the scope. 

Did manage to get a semi decent time-lapse covering from 8:30pm - 6:20am which just servers to highlight the cloud really 🤣

Also a nice image of the last glow of daylight

For those interested the time-lapse details are:

Olympus OM-D EM10ii mirrorless M4/3

25mm f1.7, ISO 800, 30 second exposures, 1 second interval, 15fps

Well at least you got something  Lucas. I am glad it has not been a total waste. I am sorry I could not get to meet up with you. I will try to be at the Camp on Sunday if you are still around about 1200-1300 hrs.

If not then hope to see you in the Autumn.

All the best.

Hi Folks some news on future Star Camp dates.

Today, I had a chat with Ian and Damian at the Spring Star Camp as I am unable to be there.

I enquired as to how things have gone so far at this camp.

I was advised that although there had been some clear skies, there was some high cloud obscuring the stars.

This is unfortunate to say the least as there apears to be little chance of better weather over the next few days.

😒

😟  Global warming or whatever is causing the bad weather recently, (last few years), is playing havoc with our hobby  🤕

It's way too "early days" to realy say if we are on to a better time of the year to have the Spring Star Camp in February as opposed to March.

So I am attempting to find the best compromise over these two months!

Lesley the camp site owner, opens up to the public at the end of our camps at his time of year.

We cannot go past the end of March.

 Therefore, I have looked at the Spring New Moon times for the next and subsequent years.

Next year, the Spring New Moons fall either on the 28th February or the 29th March.

The 29th March is far too late in the Spring to be of any use as Drumroamin is :

(1) getting ready to open to the public as mentioned, 

(2) the dark nights are becoming very short.

So I will place the Next Spring Star Camp on and around the 28th February 2025.

The next year after this in 2026 the New Moon will be the 17th February or 19th March.

Again March that year will be a bit too late and we will lose the dark skies.

-----------------------------

In  2027 I am looking at March as the February New Moon is too near the month beginning, but the March New Moon will be just about right on the 8th.

-----------------------------

So I will post full details and the dates plus information ASAP within the next two weeks for both the :

**  Spring and the Autumn Star Camps of  2025 **

Best I can do at present folks !

3 hours ago, Grimly said:

I'm always lookimg on the bright side

Hope tonight is a good clear one.

You will need more robust guy ropes and pegging for the next 2 days. The lads will help you.

Looking good for tonight at present.

Yer yer, fat chance 😱

21 minutes ago, Uplooker said:

Who am I going to borrow batteries, spatulas, dog ground pegs, rope, Ducktape etc. from? Very inconsiderate. What about Annette? What is she supposed to do now?

I am confused because the answer is very obvious.🤔 Look after me you numpty, what else. 🤣.

Ah!   brecky in bed.

Peel me a grape...... 🛌🛌🛌🛌

Enjoy 😊

Wish I was there. 🤕

41 minutes ago, LandyJon said:

Is that an angry surcharge ! 🤣

Thought I'd try out the water top-up bits I got from Dads van, see how it works.

I'm away Sunday, hopefully see you before I set off.

Hope you're on the mend and got some good pain killers.

off tbe best as not possible wih all the different meds I'm on. Will not be there before 12 maybe , 1300 Sunday at best.

27 minutes ago, mapstar said:

No that's John. All here (except Ian) with John o on the hard standing.

Apart from Ian 

Surchrage of 10% for that spot 😂

Just lost my post on this topic.

So start Again.

Can you keep a record of your feelings about the weather this camp.

I need real data by and of people on the ground, as I am not able to do that from here.

New Moon next February will be on the 28th.

So right on the month end which may have a positive outcome for next year, as opposed to 9th this year.

If we went for March it would be the 29th and loose some considerable dark time.

Any hoo,

Hope you all have a good time and at least see a star or two.

I will try to get across Sunday Morning. Damian knows why.

Clear Skies and all that stuff.

2 hours ago, mapstar said:

Me and Lucas just arrived. First ones here but dry at least  

Ye Gods!

You nicked my spot 🤣

42 minutes ago, Uplooker said:

I’ll be there😬

Glad you will be able to make it Ian. That is a bit of good news at last. 😃

5 hours ago, jamie56 said:

Hi troops, sorry I'm another non runner, work dictates I'm off shore then, stuck on a far away place hopefully I'll see some northern lights but who knows, hope the skies are kind and the Amber stuff flows, see ya all in the autumn

This is starting to be a disaster this year !

Sorry you will not be there Jim.

I still will need to see how the weather pans out as it is the first February meeting for some years. It will be a shame for first time attendees to miss out on meeting our regular members.

Struggling at present still as leg not getting any better. But I still have some hope to meet up with those there if at all possible around the 10th/11th.

Good luck all.