South Wales Astronomy Group (SWAG) Autumn Star Party 2020

[Freff]

I am pleased to announce that the South Wales Astronomy Group (SWAG) has arranged pitches to be available for an Autumn  Star Party at the superb Pencelli Castle Caravan & Camping Park. Sited in the Brecon Beacons National Park and Dark Sky Reserve, this location offers some truly dark skies which are excellent for observing and imaging. Please read Site Conditions.
 

The main nights will be Thurs 15th, Friday 16th and Sat 17th October 2020. The New Moon is on Fri 16th.  Anyone wanting additional nights outside these dates please confirm on booking.
 

 Bookings this year will be made directly to the Pencelli Camp site. Fees for your pitch etc will be paid at time of booking. If you have any queries please PM me and I will try and sort them.

All pitches and hard standings for us are in the Oaks area. All pitches have EHU and have the least obstructed views of the night sky. If bookings exceed the pitches on the Oaks, there is the Meadows, an area that can be used for tents only but has no EHU. This area also offers excellent views. The Meadows cannot be booked until the Oaks have been filled. This will avoid unfilled pitches on the Oaks being used by the public during the event.

Please Contact Pencelli Caravan Park direct for Bookings. Please ensure you tell them you are with the Astronomy Group so pitches are reserved together. If you have a favourite pitch, please ask them to try and reserve it for you.
After booking please could you post here your SGL name and the Pitch number you have been allocated. This will help other members to see what pitches are available and who is attending.

The site amenities are available from Saturday 25th July.  If the situation with Covid 19 changes then I will post the update here.
 

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me either email or PM.

Tony

Edited July 21, 2020 by Freff

[Steve Clay]

Are none SWAG members allowed to attend?

Cheers

Steve 

[Freff]

Yes Steve you are most welcome. 

[reddoss]

Count me in Tony!!!!!

 

[Xsubmariner]

I have booked a pitch for the period and look forward to meeting the group.

Martin

[Freff]

1 hour ago, reddoss said:

Count me in Tony!!!!!

 

Don't forget to book your own pitch Justyn.

[reddoss]

Tony, I booked my usual pitch this morning!!!! Had a long chat on the phone with one of the son's. 

In March, I was the last person to leave the site before lock down. 

 

Pitch 13 has been booked by me. 

Edited July 26, 2020 by reddoss

[Freff]

Yes I remember Cath and I came to see you, I was quite ill then. 

We went to see them a couple of weeks age to get the latest regarding the virus situation.  

[AstroArgy]

Hello lovely peeps,

Well I just spoke to them and swapped my dates from the previous SWAG Star Party (to which due to COVID I didn't attend) to these new dates, so looking forward to meeting you all 🥳

[tich]

I missed this post which is a bit odd as I usually get notifications, unfortunately we're booked for Kelling (providing it goes ahead) If the event gets cancelled I'm sure we can shift venues so I'll keep you updated 

[MickD]

With all the lockdowns in South Wales I'm not sure if this is still going ahead.

Would have been really good to meet up again but Jill & I have decided to give this one a miss. 

Hopefully things will be better by spring. 

Mick & Jill. 

[L8-Nite]

We are in the Rhondda Cynon Taf lockdown, so highly unlikely to be able to travel.  Look forward to catching up with you all again if and when possible.

Cheers,  Mike & Dorothy

[AstroArgy]

Hello all,

After cowering away to the March Star Party due to this everlasting COVID situation and considering that Pencelli is not on lockdown through these new measures.... I'm going!!!  just hoping the weather allows us some clear nights 🤞🤞🤞

Can't wait to meet you all and have a nice old geekout, whiskey at the ready to warm the cockles 😁

 

[reddoss]

I can quite justifiably state that my visit to Pencelli would be a work related exercise, based on educational activities.  

[Freff]

10 hours ago, reddoss said:

I can quite justifiably state that my visit to Pencelli would be a work related exercise, based on educational activities.  

If that's the case Justyn we should all go, watching you perform is always an education. 😃

Take care.

 

[Xsubmariner]

Do to the ongoing virus spike in South Wales, I will have to pull out of this weekend.  Site informed, hopefully third will be better next spring.

Martin

[GeekyPete]

Hi,

I invited myself to this, hope you don't mind, but is it still going ahead?

Covid aside, the forecast looks terrible too!

Pete Towers

[Imd]

It was a lovely clear night last night. A few people arrived last night and we look forward to meeting more today. 

[AstroArgy]

Lovely evening of clear skies yesterday here at Pencelli.

Thought I'd leave you with a few subs acquired yesterday, would be lovely to meet more members of the SWAG group, yet very happy to have met the present peeps here now!!