Physopto

Hi Peter,

Yup sods law. Thanks for your post. Funny I was thinking about you only a few days ago. Glad you are on the mend anyway.

I was looking forwards to the Star Camp, but not to be this time either. Last one my computer locked up because of a program malfunction. Something to be said for a pair of bins! No lecky 🤔

Thanks Jon  and Damian.

I am gutted to miss the camp.

I spent quite some time sorting out the problrm with the computer that stopped me at the last camp. It was  failed update to a program I have used for years. Took a call to the computer seller to find out a way to get it to boot. Not the normal method as it is a special one for signage displays. So a bit of wasted effort almost. Still glad it was in the end a simple fix once I sussed the program that was causing it.

I will miss all you guys and the banter. ( errrr, OK whisky).

I will try to get over before the camp ends.

As for enthusiastic tent help, should I send an action plan for you to follow Damian.. 😂

Maybe in a glass fronted box with a wee hammer, signed " Break in an Emergency" 😁

Bad news for me.

I came down the stairs this morning carrying a weight and something in my left knee went.

So at present can hardly walk let alone carry any thing.

I am almost certain that I will not be at the Star camp.

But If I do manage to get there,  it will be with no gear at all and towards the end.

I know from previous experience that walking on a field in this state will be near impossible.

Sorry folks.

On a seperate note:

I was also informed that Uplooker may not be there either as he has had some bad news.

I must appologise to any new attendees as I would have liked to meet them personaly to welcome them to the Star Camp.

I am sure that you, ( Damian and Jim ), can and will  make them welcome without my intervention   😊.

I spoke to Lesley this afternoon to let her know the state of things.

On a more personal note, a friend of mine has had a heart attack and I will need to see him.

So walk or not I will be across that way towards the end of the Star Camp come Hell or High Water ! 

I will try to see you all then if at all possible.

Wishing you all Clear Skies.

On 23/01/2024 at 16:33, LandyJon said:

Don't worry, we'll have the initiation bat at the ready 🤣

Damien brings The Hubble's twin sister and uses a tent for storing it through bad weather etc, he sleeps in his van.

See you there 🙂

Amazing realy. Might be expected to have been the other way around realy!

Scope in van and the Damo in utility tent, knowing the work sweat and tears that
 were put in to ' Hubbles Twin '🤣

2 hours ago, Grimly said:

I have just booked, this will be my first star camp and I am really looking forward to it.

Be nice to see another new face at the Star Party.

I am sure you will enjoy it. Meeting all the other members of the stargazing community that attend hopefully will prove be good experience.

Just remember lots of warm clothing and if in a tent be sure to make sure it is an all weather type and strong enough to withstand the worst weather.

Hopefully it will not come to that , but we must be prepared anyway.

Glad you are going to give it a try.

Hi Everyone!

Just a short notice.

Whilst I will always try give up to a years notice of the next Star Camp dates, this time:

I am awaiting the outcome of this next star camp to see how it goes, as it is set for this February as opposed to the March as before.

If it goes well and hopefully it does, we will be changing to February in the future.

It is a wait and see situation at present.

If it does work out better for us all, then I will publish the next dates ASAP.

Both dates in 2025 will be set during the following few weeks after the 2024 February Star Party.

Please pass on this info to others you may talk to.

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas and New Year.

3 hours ago, estwing said:

Unfortunately due to other commitments I cannot attend this star party, but the autumn will be my next one👍

Shame, we see you in the Autumn then.

Hi Peter,

Sorry to hear the recovery will take longer, but look on the bright side, at least you are getting better. That is a big PLUS.

We will miss you at the Star Party. Hope to see you at the next one.

All the best.

I would like to take this opportunity to :

Wish Everyone past and present who has attended the only regular Scottish Star Camps at Drumroamin in Galloway:

A

Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

None of these Scottish Star Camps would have been possible with out the dedication of first organiser

Steve Foy and then for the next 10 years by Mike Chastney.

I have tried to continue Mike's friendly organising for the last few years, (tough act to follow).

Serious flooding then Covid 19 caused us some problems to say the least.

We seem to have weathered that and although attendance numbers suffered,

they are now thankfully once again increasing.

These Scottish Star Camps would not have been possible without the original and continued support from the owners of Drumroamin.

So a BIGG thank you to Lesley and Ralph Shell.

Best wishes to everyone for the festive season and next year.

Well another Star Camp over. I would like to thank all those who attended the camp. I especially must thank Lesley and Ralph for their unwavering enthusiastic support and help during each and every Star Camp including this one.

Although the weather was somewhat inclement, a good number of attendees managed to get some nice pictures during the clear periods. Also it gave the visual guys a chance at least to get in some decent viewing.

As for me a computer malfunction put the Kaibosh on my acquisition of images. Well it happens ..........😈

But for me better luck next time, must remember to make shure that windows cannot update !!!!!

Still it was nice to see so many enthusiastic stargazers enjoying  their visit to Drumroamin.

Hope everyone is looking forwards to February 24.

1 hour ago, wookie1965 said:

can you camp in a tent with ehu please.

Yes you can.

But as I have said before it must be a substantial tent capable of taking high winds and heavy rain at times. You will need plenty of heavy duty tent pegs, not the small thin normal pegs, as they will just pull out in high winds.

On 15/11/2023 at 21:05, LandyJon said:

Had an hour of reasonably clear so far, managed to setup, check PA, focus imager but clouded up as I was focusing guide so didn't get chance to test by backlash adjustment. 

Possible clear spell coming in another hour or so, hopefully get it tested then.

Heres my Cocoon Nebula, 3 hrs processed from Friday night ...

Another excellent picture here at the Star Party. 🙂

On 15/11/2023 at 18:33, OutThereSomewhere said:

A couple more pics that I took at the star party.

I will look at these pics in moredetail when on my home computer. Looking realy good on the phone though. 🙂

Well now had a good look at your pics. Amazed at the detail. Let me know the details of camera and filters please by PM. 

Safe trip home Damian.

11 hours ago, OutThereSomewhere said:

Back from 4 great nights, 3 with clear skies that allowed me to get lots of hours of images. It was great to be back at a GSP and meet old friends and make new ones. I loved looking through Damien's Dob at the NGC891 and NGC898 galaxies, and M13. Thanks to Derek for organising things. 

I hope that the weather keeps up for those who are staying on. The journey home today was difficult on the M6, with lots of rain, standing water, high winds and crashed BMWs and Audis.

Here's a pic of my astro-clutter. Hopefully I can get my head around PixInsight and post some images from the starcamp soon.

 

Glad you enjoyed the skies. Hope the next years Spring Camp is even better. (well you have to be optomistic 😁).

Nice to see you again.

Yes we knew the weather was going to turn for the worse. There is still a dlim chance of a few clear hours to come for the remaining few.

Crossed fingers, toes and other extremities 😊

Wind has got up during the last few hours. Due to hit 40+ mph for much of the day. Rain lashing down at present.

Had a few medicinal lubrications with happy campers last night.

Although only 2 good clear nights it has been a good Star Camp.

It has been nice to catch up with regular attendees and meet new interestrd parties.

We have met and made some new friends. 2 of which, Steph and Alison, travelled up from Swansea. I was glad that they were not dissapointed after their long journey. We hope to see them again next year.

4 hours ago, Uplooker said:

Arrived back at 1500hrs, good journey but with heavy rain most of the way.

Another excellent GSP, good to see old and new faces not to mention 3 clear(ish) nights in a row.

Thanks to Derren for all the organising and Leslie and Ralf for a fantastic campsite.

Still not seen one of Derek’s images 😮😮

I will. mske sure it may even be another 10 years......... 😈

Start of Galloway  Star Camp

Looking good for tonight!

13 hours ago, jamie56 said:

When you all turning up, we will be there as usual Saturday, but won't stay for the following weekend, 

Good few here already, as Damo says. Get yer selves here ASAP. 😁

1 hour ago, James111 said:

Looking good guys. Catch u with u guys tomorrow afternoon at some point. James and denise

Is that Denise or Dawn  😂

23 minutes ago, mapstar said:

As you may be aware it may be raining at the time of arrival?? 

Some clear blue sky on the way in. And the usual suspects 😁

Beers in hand, err signs of things to come 😁

Problems with connection at present. 6 pitches now taken and another on the way in the next few minutes.  Looks like a couple of good nights to come tomorrow (Friday)  and Saturday with luck. Raining at present but due to clear soon. 😀

I am sure pictures will follow.

2

Oops missed one

😅

1 hour ago, LandyJon said:

We playing golf now !

Hoping to get finished work and up there before it goes dark, Friday night is actually looking promising 🤞 

3 .........tomorrow...........🙂