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

This might be a daft question, but surely one of the requirements for gaining a dark site award would be that there are places to go and observe, like camp sites or parking areas?

There's no point in awarding it if everyone has to stand in a lay-by or the middle of some farmer's field.

Hi Stevie

I'm pretty sure there would be something
like that around.. I sent an email to the South Kerry Astronomy Club
but I've had no response back yet..

So Seanie if you have any contacts in South Kerry
you can give them my Number and we could get a couple
of possible venues.

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut

Hi Roy,

As part of the Cork Astronomy Club we have been down to the Kerry dark sky reserve twice over the past two years.

Both visits have been late in the year October,November and stayed in hostel in Ballinskelligs which they have kindly opened and made available to us for the weekends with help of Julie Ormonde and other members of Kerry club.
Great viewing is possible from large paved area outside hostel and hostel itself has accommodation for upwards 20 to 30 people or possibly more but of course off season.
Hope this is some help.
John.

,

Nice1 John..

Comments like that is what gets more people
like myself and like minded astronomers to get
involved with an event like this..

I also notice that this thread seems to be slowing down
when it was gathering pace, we need to get our foot back on the pedal
and keep this thing happening...(Don't let it slip through our fingers)

I'm going to contact Julie after the bank holiday weekend
and see what type of input and advice she could give about the
area, like where is the best flattest horizon with nice camping facilities.

I'll keep you all posted when I get more information.
But lets keep this rolling.

P.S thank you Seanie for passing on Julies contact information.

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut

Hi Guys.

Here's a quick link for you all..

www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/tale-two-festivals/

Who knows! If all goes well it could be a big annual event on these shores.
Remember this is the ONLY Gold Tier Dark Sky site in Europe.
Not even Sark has been given that honor.

Cheers Roy :scope:

If this does get off the ground for August, and proves to be popular, then there is the possibility of holding a similar event sometime in the winter, early new year perhaps. As John has stated, there are hostels that could be made available, I for one would dearly love to see the winter constellations from a truly dark site and to explore those regions in the winter south that are denied us, such as the southern regions of Puppis, Eridanus and Hydra, along with Fornax and Columba.

Paul