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Astrofest feedback?


centroid

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I went on Saturday. The train I was planning to get was cancelled so I had to find an alternative.

The circle line was shut so I had to use an alternative route.

I attended the talk by Sir Patrick , Gary Hunt , Reg Turnhill about the Apollo moon missions - very entertaining. The talk on the Jupiter red spot was very informative.

Usual crowds - the venue just cannot cope - the floor area available is far to small - the crowds round one stand entangle with people from the next stand along.

The price of some of the equipment was mind boggling. One sales person tried to interest me in a CCD camera - price 3,000 + , more than the price of my 130mm APO.

There did not seem to be the deals available this year. I was trying to get a discount on one item , but the sales man would not budge. Telescope House was giving 5%.

Had a nice chat with Bern from Modern Astronomy.

Don't think I will be going to the next one.

John

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Dave

I went both days and this being my 3rd year I feel I have a fairly good idea of what is good or not about the event.

This year the numbers were definately down and I believe the number of stands were also down.

There was nothing that really caught my eye at the show. he impresion I got from quite a few of the stands were they were trying to clear their old stock.

I enjoyed the Friday PM & Saturday AM talks.

Cheers

Ian

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Thanks for the feedback guys, and it is reassuring to know that it doesn't get any better, and as such not worth the effort for those of us that don't live in, or close to London.

Although, having said that, as I've said before, I'd sooner drive the three hours to somewhere in the Midlands, than travel through central London, to visit that awful venue to hosts Astrofest.

Tried it twice, and that was more than enough.

Dave

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I went but I think knowing I wasn't allowed to buy anything made it a bit pointless. Then I bought a pair of 10x50 Bressers for £20 (I can't believe these have been going in Lidl for £10-15 :shock: - bargain).

the highlight was buying a set of sketching pencils in WHSmiths down the road and then only having to wait 2 minutes for a circle line train. Remarkable.

Oh yes - and I shook the hand of Markus Ludes and told him how nice the APM 20/40 x 100 bins that I bought second hand were. :(

probably won't go next year.

Dan

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Hi Guys

Just thought I'd post my views on Astrofest this year.

I've been going for over ten years now and treat it as a day out to see first hand the equipment under one roof, and speak to some of the manufacturers, don't know anywhere else you can do this. I don't go just for bargains because there aren't usually that many. The usual 10% was down to 5% this year although Starlight Express were giving away a free autoguider with all cameras.

I travelled form Essex and had no train problems, same with the underground.

It was definately less busy, even when the lectures weren't on it was easy to move around but that's quite understandable, given the weather conditions to the west of the country.

I don't know if there were less vendors as I didn't check but as some drop out so other seem to take their place. Telescope Planet was new this year and Artemis/Atik was new last. The Webb society seems to come and go although the Society Rooms now seem long gone.

New equipment, well Starlight Express had new cameras and Artemis/Atik had one on demo'. How about an equatorial mount for £30,000!

Just my 'rose tinted glasses, glass half full', view (grin)

Graham

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Thanks for the feedback, it kind off confirms that I made the right decision not to go - weather and all that coupled with a 400 mile + car journey.

Judging by some of the comments and those on other forums it's outgrown the venue so perhaps it's time to consider moving to somewhere like the NEC which has good transport links and more space ? Being central it would probably then attract a lot more people from "up North" !

I went to the Leeds Astromeet a few months ago and that was excellent, it could have probably done with some more exhibitors though but I still got myself some terrific deals :-)

Andy

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I have not been so I suppose my opinion does not count for much really but I feel that if you are not interested in the lectures, which I am not, then with no discounts to be had the trip is pointless.

I can go to a shop and see the scopes available, The Widescreen Centre has quite a range and carries all the bits and bobs etc and online the prices are the same if not cheaper.

I personally think that based on the above reviews it would be better to save the £30.00 train fare and spend it online.

Just my thoughts.

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I've been once, and enjoyed it, but the cost of getting there (train plus overnight) means that I really have to want to go to at a least a few of the lectures to make it worthwhile. This year there were only a couple that I thought might be interesting to me, and only one (SPM, Apollo) which I would really have liked to have heard, so decided to save the money for astro gear instead. And as it turned out I would have been snowed in anyway...!

Helen

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i wanted to go, but im a poor student.

i went last year, and loved it. I got my 1/10th wave 10" custom made f4 from OO for £650...what a bargain!

i would have gone regardless of whether its overcrowded, whether or not there are deals.

Then benefit is getting to meet some of the manufacturers of astro goods...last year talked to Michael Barber, President of SBIG, and Barry and John from orion optics.

This year I would loved to have talked to Kevin Nelson of QSI, and olivier thizy of LHiRes

thats why you go...not to a attend some lecture, but to meet folk, talk to suppliers and socialise

i couldnt care if the venue is too small, its such good fun.

And the 2 G+T's I had after signing the deposit for my 10" were the best I've ever had.

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Hi Guys

Just thought I'd post my views on Astrofest this year.

I've been going for over ten years now and treat it as a day out to see first hand the equipment under one roof, and speak to some of the manufacturers, don't know anywhere else you can do this. I don't go just for bargains because there aren't usually that many. The usual 10% was down to 5% this year although Starlight Express were giving away a free autoguider with all cameras.

I travelled form Essex and had no train problems, same with the underground.

It was definately less busy, even when the lectures weren't on it was easy to move around but that's quite understandable, given the weather conditions to the west of the country.

I don't know if there were less vendors as I didn't check but as some drop out so other seem to take their place. Telescope Planet was new this year and Artemis/Atik was new last. The Webb society seems to come and go although the Society Rooms now seem long gone.

New equipment, well Starlight Express had new cameras and Artemis/Atik had one on demo'. How about an equatorial mount for £30,000!

Just my 'rose tinted glasses, glass half full', view (grin)

Graham

David Hinds Ltd had a minimum of 10% off all items, and 10% off the clearence prices as well. e.g. 80 ED refractor for £192.91...

That £35K mount was sooo annoying after a couple of hours!!!

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I and various fellows from the cloudy nights forum went both days and sat in for many of the lectures which were OK but not brilliant and I don’t think I will repeat that experience again, maybe just selected lectures will do next time. Bargains were far and few and all the prices had been put up anyway due to the pounds performance. I spent £35.00 on a couple of books but did not buy any equipment even though I had about £600 to spend. One of the guys bought a pair of Williams optics bino viewers for £160.00 which The Widescreen centre wanted £200 for. The food and drink is a complete rip off so make sure you take your own. All in all not much to write home about except nice to meet some of my fellow astronomers from cloudy nights. My advice is to save your money and check all the on line prices especially people like FLO, Modern astronomy & Rother valley optics; who give very good service and are extremely quick and helpful if anything goes wrong. Steve

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I must admit I enjoyed Astrofest this year despite the journey from Hereford to London with the road conditions.

Booked the Travelodge at Kew for the Friday night costing just £19 and then had a good breakfast at Morrisons on Saturday morning. Drove to Kensington and parked underneath - a bit costly for 8 hours (£24).

With regard to the show really enjoyed looking at scopes and accessories and bought a SCT focuser plus an Orion windup red torch. Had an interesting talk with Dr Wainwright from Telescope Planets showing real time astro cameras. Usual good display of books.

I attended 4 lectures in the afternoon - listened to the NASA Constellation project and especially appreciated Alan Chapman's talk on Thomas Harriot and his Welsh connections.

Would I go again - 'yes'. Is Kensington the best venue 'no'. But I don't know the costs for the Hirers of the NEC in terms of display area and a separate lecture theatre but the car park is cheaper!!

Mark

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If it HAS to be London, then why not somewhere around the M25 ring, as opposed to in the middle of London, with congestion charging, and ridiculous car parking charges.

Travelling on the 'grubby' London Underground, is hardly the most pleasant experience. Especially if you time it wrong, and then end up packed like sardines in a tin.

I doubt very much that there isn't a suitable venue, around the perimeter. For example the Excel Centre (close to the motorway network, and London City Airport), or Alexandra Palace, to name but two.

I think that there's more to it than that, and that AN are contracted to Kensington year on year adifinitum. Lets face it, its hardly the most sensible/convenient place to hold Astrofest, either from a visitor or dealer perspective.

Dave

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You don't have to hire the whole of the NEC by the way.... :( I never go to exhibitions in London, too much hassle transport wise. I sometimes do stands at places like the Excel and Wembley Arena and I hate it. Last time I did Excel it took me 4 1/2 hours to do the 180 or so miles home, 3 hours of which was spent getting onto the M1..........London, love it........

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Astrofest is hailed as "the UK's biggest Astronomy show"..... I totally agree with some of the previous postings... if it was at, say, the NEC... then it would cater for the "UK".

This ought to be Europe's biggest Astronomy show, so why not hold it at a venue capable of entertaining ALL the people willing to go?

Come on A.N. Get a grip!

Phil.

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It's like the Olympics. London gets it as it is London. A number of times the midlands has been the obvious place to build stuff or hold events as it has such a central position and easy access compared to London but guess where the events and money mostly go. As for the Olympics they should have gone to Paris.

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