Short Notice Observing Meet - April 4, 2014

[L8-Nite]

Our next South Wales Group observing session will be Friday April 4 th at the Blaenavon radio tower site.

For those who haven't attended before, the site coordinates are .......

+51*  47'  25.57"  ,  -3*  4'  10.74"

The forecast looks to be great, with excellent seeing from early evening to midnight. We will be 4 days in to the new Moon, so skies will be quite dark.

Since some of you have to travel far (including me), I'll post if the meet is going ahead based on the immediate forecast; so check this thread in the afternoon, on the day, to see if it's either a "GO or a NO GO".

Clear skies to us all.

[AstroJOE]

As per previous post.... I'm in.

[Russko13]

Hi how can I locate the radio tower on google maps I'm unfamiliar with using co ordinates although I should probablly learn lol

[Newbie karl 1]

Google entering coordinates into google maps, that's what I done as I didn't have a clue either!!

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[lennylovit]

its called " fox hunters grave" car park , off the B4246  up past the old Ironworks , Riflemans arms (pub) ,1/4 mile further up the road a right hand turn , you can see the masts a long way off

Lenny

[AstroJOE]

Hi how can I locate the radio tower on google maps I'm unfamiliar with using co ordinates although I should probablly learn lol

Google entering coordinates into google maps, that's what I done as I didn't have a clue either!!

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Try cutting and pasting the coordinates into Google Maps in this format instead...

51°47'25.7"N 3°04'11.1"W

[Newbie karl 1]

Fri 4 Apr 0:00 92 % 0 % 81 % 1 % 62 % 7 °c 7 °c 5 mph 20 mph 0 6 8 No

3:00 92 % 0 % 84 % 1 % 71 % 7 °c 6 °c 5 mph 20 mph 0 6 8 No

6:00 40 % 1 % 13 % 1 % 39 % 12 °c 9 °c 3 mph 20 mph 2 7 8 No

9:00 21 % 1 % 7 % 1 % 20 % 16 °c 9 °c 4 mph 21 mph 3 7 8 No

12:00 1 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 16 °c 9 °c 6 mph 23 mph 7 7 8 Yes

15:00 1 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 13 °c 9 °c 6 mph 23 mph 7 7 8 Yes

18:00 1 % 0 % 0 % 1 % 0 % 7 °c 5 °c 3 mph 14 mph 8 7 8 No

21:00 8 % 0 % 3 % 0 % 8 % 6 °c 5 °c 4 mph 7 mph 8 6 9 No

Sat 5 Apr 0:00 50 % 0 % 34 % 0 % 49 % 6 °c 5 °c 5 mph 6 mph 2 6 9 No

3:00 58 % 0 % 35 % 2 % 57 % 6 °c 6 °c 6 mph 5 mph 1 5 9 Yes

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[Newbie karl 1]

That didn't work, supposed to be a metcheck screenshot for Friday.... Skies looking good so far

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[L8-Nite]

Hi how can I locate the radio tower on google maps I'm unfamiliar with using co ordinates although I should probablly learn lol

The site is easy to find as Lenny said, however, if you are using a conventional road map, just find the intersection of the B4248 and B4246 roads in Blaenavon ( there is a Texaco petrol station at the junction ). Head north on the B4246 about 1/2 mile to the top of the hill. You will see the towers to the East (your right) and the road leading to them. Hope this also helps.

[L8-Nite]

Conditions still looking great for Friday night !

[valleyman]

Don't tempted fate Mike

 

[L8-Nite]

Don't tempted fate Mike

 

Hi Pat !

I tempt it every day, and night.   

[Russko13]

Thanks I think I've found it in google maps I will let you know If I can make it

[valleyman]

If you Copy and Paste this into Google Maps it is where the GREEN ARROW is

51.790515,-3.069575

Hope this confirms your findings

Pat

[L8-Nite]

Update.....

Forecast not looking good at the moment, rain and about  95 % cloud predicted for Friday night.

[stevetynant]

Not looking great mike is it, although I'm selfishly slightly happy as it's making my decision for me whilst I'm full up with flu.

[AstroJOE]

Update.....

Forecast not looking good at the moment, rain and about 95 % cloud predicted for Friday night.

Metcheck showing rain and heavy cloud but no rain mentioned on the been at the

moment..... For once could the beeb be right?

He says, desperately trying to hold on to what little hope there is left!! Lol

[Newbie karl 1]

I am clinging on to a shred of hope... metcheck seems to change its mind every day! Failing that, I have a nice bottle of penderyn in the cupboard!

[stevetynant]

I'm coming to the conclusion James is rain cursed... 2 meets in two years tells its own story lol

[lennylovit]

my luck this year is not much better Steve  

Lenny

[AstroJOE]

I'm coming to the conclusion James is rain cursed... 2 meets in two years tells its own story lol

Pretty appaling record really isn't it. Maybe I'll try fooling the weather by always saying I can't make it and then racing up to the site last minute before the clouds have worked out what's really going on.... Sshh don't tell them!

[L8-Nite]

I'm going to make an early call.  The forecast is for about 90 % cloud cover, along with rain;

so the Observing session is cancelled, its a NO GO folks.  

Was hoping we would have a bit of luck and  weather would hold to the earlier predictions.

It would have been good to catch up with old friends, and meet some new members of the group.

[lennylovit]

i am going for a day out to SGL9 sat    , any others going ????

Lenny

[AstroJOE]

Thanks for the early call Mike. Definitely the right decision.

[Rhys Hardwick]

Thanks Mike,

That's a real shame, still waiting for my first trip up there this year.