Physopto

Things are not looking too good at present as Nicola Sturgeon has now locked down Aberdeen because of a doubling of Corona Virus cases in the last 24 hours. NICOLA Sturgeon has confirmed that a local lockdown in Aberdeen will begin immediately - after cluster cases rocketed to 54 overnight. There has also been a surge of cases in Dundee. (according to The Sun newspaper) We need to keep a close watch on these events especially as Northern England also has areas in current lockdown. Derek

Enjoy it whilst you can. I would think the weather is improving towards the week end. Thursday should be nice and Friday even better, at least I hope so.😃😃

Welcome Steve. You are in the right place. Lots of informed people to get information from about virtually any subject. Enjoy you hobby. Derek

Damian missed the point of der post me thinks 😂

Just a thought Ian! How many Corbett's does it take to make a Monro? 🧐 Or on the other hand, how many Corbett's (as in Rony), does it take to make a Munro? 🤣 A very nice picture Damian, looks like you had a very nice day out, is the view to the East? It's just the horizon is higher on the left of the picture, so I would guess it is going up towards the Scottish border !🧗 Derek

Smarty pants 🤣

😱 I am putting a note in the book about this 🧐. If something happens Ian , we will blame you for that "tempting providence" comment !! Derek

Oh. Blast🧐 need my glasses 😃 Away to look at a caravan tomorrow. Getting to be missing the freedom, just to go when we feel like it! Derek

Maybe they have heard of you before then Damian...................... 🤣 Derek

That is a shame Damian. I expect it may be the reports of the virus rates increasingly spreading in some parts of the UK. Maybe try Spain 😱 Derek

Hi Peter, My wife read that report a day or so ago. It is good news for us if it works! As for masks we have been wearing them from the start. I found two old wood working masks in the garage and sterilised them in 99.9% pure alcohol. Been using them ever since when leaving the house shopping for food, then resterilising them each time. Common sense told us that something is better than nothing. We still see a lot of people not wearing them, even with a world of evidence to the contrary. Arrogance and stupidity is rife in the UK and apparently not just in the younger generations. Well it is their lives! Unfortunately it may in some cases and certainly seems affect or impinge on other peoples chances of catching the virus. The sooner the vaccine is proven to work and is rolled out the better. It will be nice to meet up at the Spring 2021 Galloway Star Camp. Keep well, Derek

Same here, it has been a long difficult year so far. Hopefully your ankle will be completely healed by the start of the Star Camp and you are fighting fit. In the meantime I just hope Dawn is doing her wifely duties, bringing you your whisky and a slipper.......🥃🥃🥃🌌🔭🤣 Derek

Well just under the 3 month point now to the start of the Star Camp. For those attending on the Sunday before the start it's 11 weeks to go. With the increase in Covid around the world at present we will just have to hope we are OK. I see that in Spain Covid is on the increase, enough for our Government to now insist on those returning to go into 14 days isolation. So let's hope Scotland remains open to visitors and travel in the future and Covid is kept at a low level or is almost eliminated (OK a big hope there ! ) Keep safe, Derek

Hi Lee, Yes, the Spring Star Camp is in March, please see under :- Star Parties & Astro Events and then goto 2021 Spring Galloway Star Camp You would not have been able to attend the upcoming Autumn event anyway as it is fully booked. We are limited to 25 pitches due to the Covid restrictions at present. Please book early as I expect the camp pitches will fill very quickly, some pitches are already booked !! We have had to turn away some members for the present upcoming Autumn Star Camp as they were too late in attempting a booking !!! You must book directly with the Camp Site Owner Lesley. Please leave your full name and SGL name, with the number of pitches needed. This is so we can ensure there are no mix ups. I do suggest strongly that you read all through the present Autumn posts before this one, so as to ensure you fully understand what is happening due to present COVID RESTRICTIONS ! You will be very welcome to joint us all, I look forwards to meeting you. Derek

Well that's a shock! I hope you were not in too much pain Jim. Nasty thing to break an ankle. I hope Dawn is looking after you well 🥃🥃🥃 My neighbour over the road fell about 10 days ago and she broke both wrists. Had to have plates inserted to aid the healing. So I hope you don't need an opperation like that. I know the camp site is now open. I spoke to Lesley a couple of weeks ago and she was taking bookings. I haven't posted anything as nothing new to report. I will give you a bell later on ☎️ Look after yourself. Derek

Well I guess you did not really need those 22 inchesafter all then !

Very nice. I will have to get up early and try to see it. Been a bit lazy of late. 😴 Derek

What about in an alternative universe ? 24 !

I vaguely remember the original series, a bit like Monty Python 😱

Y 🧐

I see Mike is struggling once again with year 1 GCSE maths 🤣

Hi Moodyolio, You will be very welcome. Just make sure you book up asap to avoid disapointment 😃 Derek

Hi Jiggy, I have thought of these things and as I did say earlier we will have to respect social distancing. As we are meeting in a field so that should pose no problems. I do not want to try to lay down the law, as I would be inappropriate. We are adults and responsible people so it must to some extent be up to us to use common sense. I for one will still be using a mask when appropriate and as I did say the warm room will be probably restricted to around 4/5 people, with masks on. I strongly suggest everyone purchases plenty of masks for their own and others protection. At present they are easily available at Home Bargains, around the area where I live, for a couple of pounds for 6 masks. These can be sprayed with disinfectant and reused when dry. This will depend upon how the site owner Lesley wants to proceed. She has to abide by what ever the Law at that time warrants. A lot of things can change between now and the start of the Star Camp. To be quite honest I think it is way too early to try to set down any real expectations as yet. If you want to look through another members eyepiece it will depend upon their and your common sense. They may want or not, to disinfect the eyepiece as the case may be. That will depend upon if the eyepiece is water proof, or if it can be damaged by cleaning. Personally and using common sense I would say NO to that at the present time. My idea and hope is to enjoy a Star Camp with as little chance of cross contamination as possible. We can have a safe camp with 2 or more metres distance between us, after all it is in a field ! As a physicist the obvious thought is that a virus possibly expelled in the breath/cough will expand as a cone of air mixture based on 1/r^3, this also depends upon many other factors including wind direction / strength of wind! To give a simple idea of what this means, at 1 metre the chance of possible infected particles reaching that distance is 1/1, at 2 metres 1/8, at 3 metres 1/27. and so on. So at 2 metres 1 in 8 chances but at 3 metres 1 in 27 chances. Difference at 3 metres 1/27th the chance of catching the virus. You decide your own fate! I know what I will do...... I hopefully intend to order up pies and cook up gravy and peas for the Pie and Peas night. To do this it will take care and socially sensible precautions. As I am married to a woman who spent over 40 years as State Registered Nurse/Sister, I will follow her directions, mixed with Covid-19 related COMMON SENSE ! Any ideas from those attending are welcome. Stay Safe everyone.🙂 Derek

Hmmmmm, I never mentioned any names, it is all in your mind!

CORRECTION (4 months!!! ) 3 & 1/2 Months 😱Mistakes like this cause "going the week earlier or even worse later"!!! 😱