First "Skelligs Star Party" August 22nd/23rd 2014

I'm not familiar with the area, has a specific location been muted? Flat ground, easy access and southerly view?

Paul

Hopefully somewhere in the Core area?

Dark Skies Map

I would be interested in coming down for this, although it would need to be nailed on clear skies, as it would be a 5 or 6 hour trip. I'm sure some others from up this way might fancy it as well.

I would favour August, especially the weekend of 22nd to 24th. One reason, Sagittarius and Scorpio.

As you all know, Sagittarius is not visible for long at these latitudes. On 19th September, Antares in Scorpio is setting as it gets dark, and the Teapot asterism starts to set about one hour after dark.

However, on 22nd August, Antares will still be visible for a while after sunset, and the Teapot does not start to set until 11pm, one and a half hours after dark.

I have never seen the three globular clusters at the bottom of the Teapot (M54, 69, 70) in a telescope, only in binoculars (in Lanzarote) and I have only seem M6 twice and M7 once in a telescope from Ireland.

I have often thought about coming down to the south coast to try and see them.

BTW, the moon does not rise until around 4.30am on the 23rd August.

However, if everyone favours September, then I would try to get down, again, as long as clear skies were nailed on.

Have to agree with Steve, the chance to see the Tea Pot would be a major motivation for me to make the trip.
I think what we need is to find a site. I see there is a GAA club in ST Finians Bay, I wonder would they give us some space to camp out for the night?

I have to echo the previous two comments, with the southern constellations so difficult to see, especially from the light pollution riddled east coast, any opportunity to get the chance to observe them has to be taken, and I believe that it would be a major reason to attracting people down south.

Paul

michael_murphy wrote: They have a contact down there (Julie Someone - I'm awful at names).

Julie Ormonde, she help setup the club.

This thread is gathering pace, I like seeing progress!

Seanie.