To all IFAS Members..

I have been thinking about this for a very long time
and now I finally have to put it out there..

I believe that we here in Ireland don't hold enough weekend
observing sessions... I am not affiliated to any club so this is not club motivated
it is being done purely from a passion for observing..
I know that we don't get that many clear skies but surely over the weekend we would get some nice
breaks in the clouds..
I have been talking with Stephen from Ktec telescope and Dave Connolly of the Midlands astronomy club
about this but now I'm throwing it out there into the IFAS Ether.

It is now a major possibility now that we have an official dark sky site in South Kerry..
So tidy up the tents and sleeping bags. Clean the BBQ's and Collimate your scope
cause this type of event is truly overdue.

PLZ send me your feedback on this as I believe this is obtainable.

Regards
Roy Stewart

Crazy Observational Astronomer and Lunar Nut

Definitely sounds like a plan. I know Michael O Connell and Dave were talking about this too, so lets pick a weekend, and get down there and have a bit of craic.

I'd be on for this.

The Dublin Stargazers have a thread about this but only two members (myself included) have expressed an interest.

I second Stephen's idea. Pick a weekend and go for it.

I'll link to this thread in the Stargazers thread.

Michael.

Sounds good Roy, thanks for volunteering in organising it!

I talked to Albert White and Terry Moseley on the day South Kerry got their endorsement and there are plans for perhaps an ILPAC+IFAS event, but I don't know at what stage it is at. I do know that early September was mooted as a date as heading into Summer it doesn't favour much night time observing, and the skies get a little hazy when clear, too.

I'd be up for any trip.

Seanie.

Hi Seanie.

I totally agree with you about sometime in Sept as we get the dark
skies back around then... I was thinking sometime around an early or late Crescent Moon
and looking at Starry Night Pro 6 there is a nice waning Crescent on Fri 19th Sept..
I was think we cant totally exclude the Moon as I know a lot of observers out there(I.E myself)
love a bit of lunar imaging and viewing..

If this ball is to get rolling (and I don't mind spearheading the project if ye want)
But we need to see who wants on-board.. Maybe organize a meeting between clubs
and hash out some ideas. If all goes well it could become a big annual event.
An astronomical event to put Ireland on the radar of the Astronomical community.

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut

Sounds like a great idea, I just signed up via Michael's link.

Looking at the Kerry Dark Sky website, it certainly looks to be an ideal location, I really like the images from the beach. I know sand, wind and telescopes are not a nice combination, but that would make a truly wonderful location.

Paul

I like the idea, but we would need a moonless night, otherwise we could do it in places a lot easer to get to?

Hi Dave..

If you look at the date I put down as a possible
date for the event you will see that it is a very late Crescent
Moon rising about 2.30am... Not bright enough to do any damage
for those seeking out those elusive DSO's..
Also as the weekend continues it enters new Moon.

At these type of events we have to cater for all aspects of the
hobby, some like DSO's other Planetary and others Lunar.

So I thought a late rising waning Crescent would be an Ideal
time as it gives all those attending a good chance for
Lunar, Planetary and Deep sky Imaging(opening all doors).

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut

I get ya Roy, i do, but the Dark Sky site, is just that.
If the moon is up i don't see the benefit, maybe I'm wrong, some much more experienced observers on here would maybe know.

Hi Dave..

The Moon on the 19th of Sept is 24.94 days old
and by the 21st it will be 26.73 days old..

On the 19th the Moon is only 3degrees above the horizon at 3am
and by 21st is will be 3.5degrees above the horizon at 5am..

So I think that leaves a hell of a lot of time for us to go Globular,
Galaxy and Nebula hunting..
I do understand what you are saying.. But New Moon will
occur in Midweek not the weekend and an early setting Crescent
Moon occurs a lot closer to Oct when we all know the weather will more than
likely not be on our side.
I do understand that these type of events run around the same time as new Moon
but in Ireland we don't get that luxury.

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut #ClearSkies

Hi Roy,

I was talking to John Flannery yesterday and he said Cork Astronomy Club have gone down there a few times.
They have a contact down there (Julie Someone - I'm awful at names).

Perhaps you should have a word with them?

Regarding dates have you considered the October weekend?
New Moon is the 23rd and would be out of the way for the weekend. We would also get two nights doubling the chances of being clouded out

Hi Michael...

Late Oct on the south coast of Ireland is a bad combination..
But I have been scrolling the Starry Night Pro Plus 6
and there is a new Moon on the weekend of 22nd-25th of August, and Astronomical twilight
occurs just after 10pm... Just a thought!.. Cause October heading into November is not a good time
to be on the south west coast(taken from experience).

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut #ClearSkies

Hi Roy,

I understand, I saw the new Moon in October and thought I'd put it out there.

August could work, 4 hours of astronomical twilight.
It would still be warm(ish) for those of us unused to camping.

It's close enough to the start of the School year that the holiday season would be tailing off.

Michael.

Hi All..

I hope you don't think this a bit presumptuous of me
but I did a rough draft of a flier that we could use should this
event start rolling(and I believe that that if you don't kick the ball it doesn't go anywhere)
It is open to all types of improvements so ALL opinions will be great-fully accepted.

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut #ClearSkies

are we aiming for a family friendly Star-B-Q or an imaging/observing expedition to an official dark sky site?

or can the both co-exist? will people be upset if they are asked for dim red-lights only during darkness? or will the imagers mind cars coming and going and the odd smokey all night bonfire?


Graham

Strictly red light at night and BBQ's only by day..
No car head beams if they want to live..lol.

Cheers Roy

Hi Roy,

You may have this link, but just in case.

www.camping-ireland.ie/

Michael.

Nice1 Michael.. A very helpful link.
This looks like it might start to be gaining momentum.
So it looks like a proper trashing out of ideas is needed
because as we all know time flies and before we know it
Aug will be upon us.. So let not let this pass us by..

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut

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.

Agreed Seanie..

This is really gathering momentum.. I think I should
get in contact with Julie Ormonde about a good place
for setting up camp with a nice flat horizon..

I also believe that we as members of IFAS and individual
Astronomy Clubs need to get together.

So with yer permission I would like to contact Julie
and speak with her about hold this event on their patch
of turf.

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut