FAO Oxford and surrounding area members

[Jim Franklin]

I have been really cheeky - looking for decent and reasonably dark sky sites in the area I have been investigating Chalgrove Airfield - However, it is currently leased by Martin-Baker for the testing of ejection seats. I have emailed them and asked, politiely, if it would be possible for some of us to use part of the airfield grounds, opposite the buildings, so away from anything sensitive, for observation purposes - I have been there at night and it is pitch black. 

It is highly likely the answer will be a definitive NO, but you never know, something may come from it....I'll keep you informed. 

[Swoop1]

I shall keep my eyes on this one.

[Jim Franklin]

On 23/08/2024 at 14:02, Swoop1 said:

I shall keep my eyes on this one.

Sadly, they contacted me and said no. 

"Dear Mr Franklin

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the use of Chalgrove Airfield for astronomical purposes at night, sadly, however, for both security and Health & Safety reasons we are not in a position to aquiese to this request. We have very strict policies regarding security, which would require all visitors to undergo an enhanced background check through the Ministry of Defence, which can take up to 4 months just for basic visitors, persons who do not hold British Citizenship are barred from the site without MoD approval and everyone would require an escort at all times. 

With regards the Health & Safety concerns, all persons entering the site must undergo a full site induction and pass a test to be allowed in the facility. There are no facilities available that you, and others, would be able to use as all buildings are security badge entry only and locked outside operational hours, this would be a breach of company policy and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. 

I am sorry that we cannot accomodate you, I hope you understand the restrictions that Martin-Baker operate under as we do not own Chalgrove Airfield, we lease it from Homes England, who plan to redevelope the site. 

I hope you find a suitable location for your endeavours

 

Regards"

[Swoop1]

@Jim Franklin thanks for the update. 

Sad but woth a punt. Well done for trying.

[Jim Franklin]

Just now, Swoop1 said:

@Jim Franklin thanks for the update. 

Sad but woth a punt. Well done for trying.

Thanks - I am not giving up on finding a site in the area that will be nice and dark - safe and legal so i will post when I find one. 

[Ouroboros]

Bad luck. Reasonable under the  circumstances though. 
 

You’ll be on some MI5 file now as a potential spy or whatever.  

[Ouroboros]

@Jim Franklin.  I believe Aylesbury has an astronomical society. They even have an observatory I believe.  I know nothing about them mind. The observatory is between Thame and Aylesbury. I know I’ve driven past it a few times.   Abingdon has a society too.  They used to meet near Frilford for observing nights. That would be a trek. 

 

[Jim Franklin]

1 hour ago, Ouroboros said:

@Jim Franklin.  I believe Aylesbury has an astronomical society. They even have an observatory I believe.  I know nothing about them mind. The observatory is between Thame and Aylesbury. I know I’ve driven past it a few times.   Abingdon has a society too.  They used to meet near Frilford for observing nights. That would be a trek. 

 

 I have emailed them a few times in the last couple of years that I have been in Oxford - never got a response. 🙄

[Ouroboros]

8 minutes ago, Jim Franklin said:

 I have emailed them a few times in the last couple of years that I have been in Oxford - never got a response. 🙄

Mmmmm. I just Googled their website which doesn’t appear to be working. 

[Tiny Clanger]

I'd worry about the ejection seat testing of any hi tech company whose employees can't spell 'acquiesce', 'accommodate' and 'redevelop', or even notice their spell checker flagged those words up ...

[TiffsAndAstro]

2 hours ago, Ouroboros said:

Bad luck. Reasonable under the  circumstances though. 
 

You’ll be on some MI5 file now as a potential spy or whatever.  

Everyone already is

[Jim Franklin]

1 hour ago, Tiny Clanger said:

I'd worry about the ejection seat testing of any hi tech company whose employees can't spell 'acquiesce', 'accommodate' and 'redevelop', or even notice their spell checker flagged those words up ...

I did notice that - likely just an intern as the email has no job title, just the "communications department" 😂

[icpn]

Where abouts are you in Oxfordshire as there are a number of darkish sites in the south of the county? Light pollution in Oxfordshire is so bad that you are not likely to get a really dark site but if you are an imager that might not matter.

[Xilman]

Check out the Abingdon Astronomical Society, http://abingdonastro.org.uk/

I was a founder member back in 1979. It was still going very strong when I last visited a few months ago.

[Jim Franklin]

9 hours ago, icpn said:

Where abouts are you in Oxfordshire as there are a number of darkish sites in the south of the county? Light pollution in Oxfordshire is so bad that you are not likely to get a really dark site but if you are an imager that might not matter.

Littlemore - on the south side of Oxford. I did, during lock down, find a few fields that I managed to set up on with the farmers permission, but I don't want to keep going back to the same places as I feel it "takes the P". I would like to find somewhere that is reasonably permanent and otherts are able to use too. 

[icpn]

I think most AAS and Oxford Astro people (who are mostly imagers) observe from their home sites. The AAS used to have a site at Tubney but after the co-ordinator moved we could not find anyone willing to run the observing sessions and the light pollution from Abingdon was bad. The Oxford guys have used Bury Down for sessions and we have used the White Horse car parks for observing but there are issues with jobs at most of the dark sites and this leads to security issues if you are taking expensive equipment out. If you go up high then the lights from the Vale are overwhelming. I suggest that you come to an AAS meeting and have a chat with people there.

[Jim Franklin]

15 hours ago, icpn said:

I think most AAS and Oxford Astro people (who are mostly imagers) observe from their home sites. The AAS used to have a site at Tubney but after the co-ordinator moved we could not find anyone willing to run the observing sessions and the light pollution from Abingdon was bad. The Oxford guys have used Bury Down for sessions and we have used the White Horse car parks for observing but there are issues with jobs at most of the dark sites and this leads to security issues if you are taking expensive equipment out. If you go up high then the lights from the Vale are overwhelming. I suggest that you come to an AAS meeting and have a chat with people there.

Sounds like a plan to me...Epic.