Southwest Astrofair 2024

[Herbig]

The Southwest Astrofair at the NLO is back in 2024 after what seems a very long break.

In 2024 it will held on the 29th of June rather than in August as previous years. We are hoping this will give us better weather!  
For more information visit the NLO website http://normanlockyer.com/astrofair/

2024 will be better than ever with more trade stands and other exhibitors. 
During Lockdown we have revamped our foyer and entrance area with new interactive touch screen displays. We have renovated and erected the Mond Astrograph as a display piece in our recent extension. The telescope was originally located in the Mond dome where the Lockyer 6.25 refractor is currently. The Mond telescope was removed from the site in the late 70’s but was gifted back to us a few years ago. 

[John]

That is excellent news 😄

I always enjoy my visits to the NLO 👍

[Stu]

Thanks for the heads up. Pretty close to me so I’ll likely make a trip down to take a look.

[John]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

Thanks for the heads up. Pretty close to me so I’ll likely make a trip down to take a look.

Hope to see you there Stu 🙂

[Stu]

6 minutes ago, John said:

Hope to see you there Stu 🙂

Ditto John. Don’t think we’ve ever met so would be good to see you.

[Herbig]

Just to let you all know tickets are now on sale for entry and the lectures. See link in OP. 

[JeremyS]

On 21/02/2024 at 00:16, Stu said:

Ditto John. Don’t think we’ve ever met so would be good to see you.

Pics or it didn’t happen 👍🏻

[kev100]

Definitely considering this, thanks for the heads up 👍🏻
 Edit: tickets booked 👍

Edited June 13 by kev100

[Zermelo]

Thanks, just booked tickets.

[Mark at Beaufort]

I just booked my tickets for the show.

it will be nice to see as many members as possible. I have met John and Stu before and it will be good to meet up again. It will  be good to meet up with kev100 and Zermelo and to make things easier I will be wearing my SGL tee shirt.

look forward to a good show

.

 

 

[kev100]

On 24/06/2024 at 16:26, Mark at Beaufort said:

I just booked my tickets for the show.

it will be nice to see as many members as possible. I have met John and Stu before and it will be good to meet up again. It will  be good to meet up with kev100 and Zermelo and to make things easier I will be wearing my SGL tee shirt.

look forward to a good show

.

 

 

Looking forward to meeting you too, Mark. As well as any other SGL'ers there 🙂

[kev100]

Anyone still around?

[Zermelo]

The weather is great, if anyone is contemplating a visit.

[kev100]

1 minute ago, Zermelo said:

The weather is great, if anyone is contemplating a visit.

You still here?

[Zermelo]

9 minutes ago, kev100 said:

You still here?

Currently in the Mond dome

[John]

I must have missed you 🙄

I was there from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. Very enjoyable event.

I did meet up with @Mark at Beaufort again, which was lovely and had good chats to Grant and Ian from FLO 🙂

FLO very kindly have loaned me a set of the new Ursa Major eyepieces to try out and report back here on. That should be fun 👍

Ursa Major | First Light Optics

Congratulations and thanks to the folks at the Norman Lockyer Observatory for the welcome return of this event - it was good to be back under sunny Devon skies 😁

Edited Saturday at 21:05 by John

[Mark at Beaufort]

Yes it was an enjoyable show. It was good to meet up with John although I missed seeing Kev100 and Zermelo. I had a chat with Grant and the others from FLO.

I made the decision to stay in Sidmouth from Thursday so I walked to the show.

 

 

[Stu]

Glad it was a good show. Despite saying I would be there, I ended up double booking myself so couldn’t come; I owed Mrs Stu a weekend away from her birthday in September (!) and the stars happened to align finally this weekend in terms of child and dog care! Maybe next year 🤞

[GordonD]

I was there from about 10 till 2. Must put up a mugshot for next time so I have a chance to say hi to folks from here. Really enjoyed visiting the various domes and chatting to the very knowledgeable volunteers about the scopes, the siderostat (spelling??) and the meteor and aurora work in the Connaught dome.

Attended the Archeaoastronomy (spelling??) talk from Carolyn Kennett from which the big take away for me was just how many ancient monuments there are in Devon and Cornwall. 

I have not been to the Norman Lockyer observatory before so it was great to do that, especially on a warm sunny day.

Thanks to the organisers, all the volunteers and staff, and to those providing the many solar scopes for viewing.

(Shockingly I didn't buy anything although it was a close call on an Ethos 17mm .......)

[GrumpiusMaximus]

I've heard it all went down well.  My Dad's a longstanding member of the NLO and I've been a member (I might have forgotten my subs, must check...).  I've been to the astrofair before and it's always a great time.

Even better, my cousin went along with her two sons and one of them in particular seemed to be absolutely fascinated by everything so hopefully we've got another convert on our hands!

The NLO is always a great place to visit and they're a nice group.  The 20" Dob is particularly fun on a clear night...

Edited yesterday at 14:29 by GrumpiusMaximus

[GrumpiusMaximus]

17 hours ago, John said:

I must have missed you 🙄

I was there from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. Very enjoyable event.

I did meet up with @Mark at Beaufort again, which was lovely and had good chats to Grant and Ian from FLO 🙂

FLO very kindly have loaned me a set of the new Ursa Major eyepieces to try out and report back here on. That should be fun 👍

Ursa Major | First Light Optics

Congratulations and thanks to the folks at the Norman Lockyer Observatory for the welcome return of this event - it was good to be back under sunny Devon skies 😁

I bought one of the 10.5mm Ursa Major eyepieces a couple of weeks ago and it's absolutely miles better than the Celestron 9mm Plossl it is going to replace.  I'm impressed with it.