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Post by nemesis on May 20, 2008 14:27:00 GMT
If either of you wants to check out some areas I'm happy to do the driving...we need more sites.
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Post by nemesis on May 21, 2008 22:47:49 GMT
Just to add this in. I was speaking with Brian (irishbloke) and he's been observing down near Comber by the lough. THis might be worth checking out, so I'll probably have a look at it. Would this be of any use to you too, Jonno? It's not a million miles away, I reckon.
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Post by jonno on May 22, 2008 8:38:21 GMT
Comber is fairly handy for me - I'd be up for it. Its nice and rural so you would have thought it would have a few dark spots. I don't know it very well though.. I'd also be happy to help scope for new sites but my geographical knowledge doesn't extend much from where the decent pubs are
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Post by Veronica on May 22, 2008 11:28:00 GMT
What about round Scrabo. There's a carpark there and the horizons are good from the top of the hill (short walk from carpark). Though there could be light pollution from N'ards...what about down near Castle Espie or Rough Island or there's the lay-bys on the other side of the Lough just as you've rounded the top of it towards Greyabbey. Bit of a way to go if you've not got motorised transport though...
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Post by nemesis on May 22, 2008 13:54:10 GMT
The Castle Espie area is what Brian was talking about. Might be worth a ramble there some evening next week. Up for it, Jonno?
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Post by irishbloke on May 22, 2008 21:48:18 GMT
Hi folks, Scrabo won't be great because of ards and belfast behind the hill! The spot I like is just before the causeway between the Ringneill Road and Reagh Island out towards Mahee Island. It's on the lough with low horizons and only a bit of ards light polution. Last time I was there I did have a bit of trouble with dew as the mist came off the lough, but it has given me the darkest view i've managed. (limited experience!) There are a couple of houses nearish, 100yards or so. Road goes right past the picnic area that goes out into the lough. It's a quiet road though. You can either head past castlie espie from comber or go through lisbane. The co-ordinents are 54 30'49.92" N 5 38'56.27"W. I've actually got the bookmark for a map: www.heavens-above.com/LocationFromGoogleMaps.aspx?lat=54.5148&lng=-5.65161&loc=site+1&alt=0&tz=GMTUse the whole line as link and then zoom in. Was looking at the met office forcast and see that Sunday night is possibly clear! You never know it might work out. Speak soon. B
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Post by nemesis on May 22, 2008 22:53:08 GMT
Hmmm...my birthday that night too!!!! Mind you, Metcheck is giving 100% cloud!
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Post by irishbloke on May 23, 2008 16:33:17 GMT
That Metcheck looks good. How good is it at predicting the weather? The metoffice has been my tool so far?
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Post by nemesis on May 24, 2008 13:03:48 GMT
Metcheck is marginally better than throwing darts at the wall. I can't do tonight, but can do tomorrow night, despite being on call on Monday. Typically tonight and Monday...the days I can't do...look great. The mark of Cain is upon me.
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Post by stevie on May 24, 2008 14:40:20 GMT
The night Mia and I had our brilliant all-night observing session last July, metcheck said it would be raining. The BBC and RTE are the best, along with the met office satellite images. By the way, I'm glad to see that Eamonn's boss took heed of the letter I sent requesting that he be given more on-call duties. Must remember to send a cheque to the usual swiss bank account.
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Post by irishbloke on May 24, 2008 14:49:42 GMT
Remind me not to tell you where I work!!!
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Post by jonno on Jun 6, 2008 9:32:06 GMT
Sorry I dropped out for a while. Between the pressures of work and family stuff I just can't seem to stay awake long enough to see much darkness of an evening so I'm having an unintential break. Hopefully I'll get back into it all in Aug/Sep when the nights lengthen a little and meanwhile I'll be lurking here.
Hopefully if there's still interest we can kick this thread off again in a month or two and find some decent safe dark skies.
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Post by nemesis on Jun 9, 2008 10:53:00 GMT
Well, we've no darkness until August, so there's no point in even dragging a scope out. I was down at Castle Espie yesterday, so I can see that there might well be something worthwhile around there.
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Post by Veronica on Jun 9, 2008 11:05:39 GMT
I'll bet there'll still be interest when the dark skies return. I actually managed to be out last night after 11 and had forgotten just how bright it is at that time. I'm really losing my touch with the night sky! I'd also like to think I'd be able to waddle about enough to enjoy a session or two or more come August/September.
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Post by Simon on Jun 9, 2008 15:21:52 GMT
Well you can be sure to see more of my face when the dark skies are back. I will not want to miss a clear night come the start of the new observing season until winter arrives then the cold gets to me.
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