Night 3 & 4 of my dark sky adventure in Namibia

[DirkSteele]

Nights three and four of my dark sky adventures in Namibia which includes a visit to some ancient San Bushman cave paintings as well as another observing session than ran from dusk till dawn and another attempt at Comet ISON.  Unfortunately night four was a rare cloudy night with occasional glimpses of the celestial treasures in the holes in the cloud, otherwise known as sucker holes. Full report on the link  http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2013/10/27/observing-in-africas-first-international-dark-sky-reserve-night-three/

Night One (introduction to the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge and the NamibRand Dark Sky Reserve and the equipment available and the first nights stargazing) http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2013/10/13/glorious-dark-skies-at-the-sossusvlei-desert-lodge-in-namibia-night-one/

Night two (the world’s highest sand dunes found in Sossusvlei, as well as a stargazing session that ran from dusk-till-dawn, including a comedic search for Comet ISON before sunrise) http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2013/10/19/stargazing-under-fantastically-dark-namibian-skies-night-two/

Hope you enjoyed reading them all.  I am heading back out in September for a full two weeks of stargazing.  Cannot wait.

A giraffe cave painting

Clear Skies,

[alan potts]

Absolutely excellent write up Matthew, very interesting, shame I was not there to work the LX 200 for Ison.  I have to say though that this site in Namibia which I am sure is expensive to stay at is really in need of other scopes. I well know how the 3048mm of the Meade is nothing short of useless if you wanted to view the whole Veil, and a good few other targets. Need one of you showstoppers out there.

Alan