South Wales Astronomy Group (SWAG) Star Party 2023

[mistuk]

I’ve got a team of Met Office forecasters who work for me - they suggested Sat night was the best bet too!

[reddoss]

I have arrived!!!!!!!!!! 

I am up for the pub tonight if anyone is going to book a table.

See you guts later,

                               Justyn

[Freff]

Cath and I have booked a table for 2 at 6.30.

Can always join a bigger table.

[cajen2]

I'm now here too - pitch 4. Drop by and say hi.

[mdstuart]

I am on 12. Just waiting for the shower to pass before putting the tent up.

Mark

[Guest]

2 hours ago, cajen2 said:

I'm now here too - pitch 4. Drop by and say hi.

Look behind you.  Ok just kidding

[mdstuart]

So the last of the rain should come through over the next few hours and behind this frontal showery rain are clearer skies ( see sat image below). No guarantees but I am still hopeful.

[mistuk]

Might be time to open the wine! 🙂

[mistuk]

Well it’s still raining but I can see some stars!

[mdstuart]

Lovely time looking around at globulars, galaxies and clusters.

M67 looking pretty special and I renewed my acquaintance with the sombrero galaxy.

Lovely sky right down to the horizon.

Here is a 4 second exposure with my phone. Leo is to the bottom right.

 

[Freff]

Well done Mark, glad the skies cleared for you.

Sorry I didn't make it out last night, I have a nasty chest infection and last night it came on with a vengeance.

I was up most of the night so I made an early start to get going. So apologies for not getting out last night and not say cheerio this morning.

Many thanks to all who attended, it great to put faces to names and meeting up again with the regular stalwarts.

Shame about weather, but at least all made it to the pub.

Hope to have another SP in the Autumn.

Safe journey home.

[mistuk]

Great to meet everyone - what a lovely venue for some stargazing. @Freff - thanks for organising and @mdstuart thank you for being so generous with your time and help in finding some great objects and for helping me improve my Dob!

[mdstuart]

Sorry to hear that Freff, get well soon.

Really enjoyed the break, the walk, the great company and observing some lovely objects.

Some new friends made and re-established.

Mark mdstuart 

[cajen2]

Had a great time (well, I'm still here and having a great time!) - good food and beer at the pub and some very convivial company. Mark @mdstuart was a real star: finding DSOs amongst the clouds and doing some serious work on my dob's collimation. Thanks once again, Mark. I'll test it out tonight and let you know how it goes.

Hope to see.lots.of you at Cymdu.

[reddoss]

A big thanks to Tony of organising. 

Well at least we got to see stars on Saturday night.

 

Looking forward to the next SWAG star party.

Justyn

[LEW]

Thanks for organising Tony, hope you feel better soon! Loved coming back to Pencelli. Thanks all for the company, conversation, advice and minor repairs! See you all again soon.

Lucy.

[Xsubmariner]

Thank you to everyone for a great Swag, it was a pleasure meeting you all. Kudos to Mark for showing me some excellent DSOs using my non-aligned EQ mounted telescope without a finders scope. Hope you get well soon Tony.

Martin

[cajen2]

15 hours ago, cajen2 said:

Had a great time (well, I'm still here and having a great time!) - good food and beer at the pub and some very convivial company. Mark @mdstuart was a real star: finding DSOs amongst the clouds and doing some serious work on my dob's collimation. Thanks once again, Mark. I'll test it out tonight and let you know how it goes.

Hope to see.lots.of you at Cymdu.

Well, that didn't go as planned! After a nice warm afternoon sitting in the sun, the sky clouded over and there was rain at nightfall. I got up several times during the night but solid cloud.

Thanks, Tony, for organising it and get well soon!

[Freff]

I'm glad everyone was able to  enjoy themselves despite the weather.

I'm off to the Dr's hopefully this afternoon if I can get an appointment for some antibiotic.

I got a better chance booking five clear nights in Brecon than getting an appointment when needed.

Thanks for the kind words, hope to see you all in the Autumn.

Take care.