Welcome to the WDAS monthly newsletter for March 2016: a digest of the month's latest contributions to our website. Below you'll find Society News, Sky Notes and In-Focus articles printed in full. There's also future events, and trailers for other articles which appear in full on the website - just a click away!
On the website you'll also be able to comment on articles, and if you'd like to play an editorial role in creating new content, just let us know!
Quick Summary for March:
- WDAS Society Meeting on Tuesday 1st March from 19:30h. There'll be an "Ask an Astronomer('s assistant)" Q&A session: some fascinating questions have been submitted!
- Star Party Events: Fylingdales Primary School on Wednesday 2nd March, and for pupils of Ayresome Primary school in Middlesbrough, slated for Tuesday 29th March at Whitby Youth Hostel. Can you help? Please let Mark know.
Society News
It has been rather a hectic mid-month, with numerous star parties and events hosted to coincide with the schools half term. Here then is an account of proceedings.
An Unexpected Journey
'Would you be able to help out?' came the plea from John T at Fylingthorpe. 'They're hosting a couple of ‘star nights’ down at Boggle Hole Youth Hostel and i think we need help'.
‘Sure we can sort something out’, said Mark, 'We’ll see you on Tuesday the 16th for the first event'.
With all the dwarfs busy, just Mark and Keith set out for the mythical ravine; the last homely house before the wilderness of Ravenscar.
Boggle Hole Youth Hostel. Click image for full-sized photo. See gallery for all photos.
Tuesday had remained cloudy all day and with little sign of change the telescopes were left behind. An indoor presentation would be in order. Having parked up at the top of the ravine the intrepid duo set off down the gorge laden with laptop, projector, screen and all the paraphernalia required for the scale solar system demo. The Boggle Hole Youth Hostel was lit wonderfully; an enchantment seemed to fill the vale, perhaps elves were watching from the trees. Alas but no, just a few bemused sheep gazed on.
On reaching the hallowed halls, we were warmly greeted by our hosts Keith and Peta and Andy, who ushered us into the already full to capacity events room. The evening went well, with a slide show and our planetarium program, bringing the night sky indoors. No time even for the scale solar system, that would wait until Thursday.
Events Room at Boggle Hole YH. Click image for full-sized photo. See gallery for all photos.
The forecast looked encouraging for Thursday night and so plans were drawn up to transport at least a couple of smaller scopes down.
A Very Expected Return
Thursday 18th dawned clear and calm and remained that way. One sensed something special lay in store as twilight deepened and the brighter stars emerged. On reaching the car park it looked as though most of the ‘Bay’ area inhabitants were determined to make the most of the fine conditions. Keith and Mark were met by Andy in the YH open back Land Rover, and whilst everyone else beat a hasty retreat down to the hostel, we paused to view the ISS low in the SW, (from the gorge this would have been invisible,- we did tell everyone)
The 'Road' to Boggle Hole YH. Click image for full-sized photo. See gallery for all photos.
With two small scopes and all the other equipment loaded into the Land Rover, we set off down, three of us squeezed in sharing the cab with a 4” tube assembly laid across our laps. (No it wasn’t a very big Land Rover) Wondering just how far we would have to carry the equipment along the narrow paths, the answer soon became apparent, we wouldn’t, as the intrepid Rover bumped across the rocky beach, forded the beck and scrambled up the slope to the hostel; - a rather unique arrival to a star party if ever there was one.
It also soon became apparent that two small scopes would not be enough; (although short of hiring a helicopter or Thunderbird 2 there was little that could be done with regard to this matter) It was heaving, 60. 70, 80, it was hard to guess how many were there. So whilst Keith manned the scopes (scope really) Mark roped in as many as possible to demonstrate the scale solar system. Fortunately there was just enough room available without sending out a search party to ‘hunt for Pluto’ on the Scar.
With a bright moon, obscuring trees and restrictive valley sides pointing out celestial objects was quite testing. Still, we coped and people seemed more than satisfied with events. Jupiter rising over the sea framed by cliff walls certainly prompted fair excitement. As regard showing the jewels of the winter sky, it is perhaps not the most ideal setting, but in every other respect it is quite remarkable ; the amenities, the ambiance at night, we shall certainly return, we just need to work out how to make it work for observing.
As we re-crossed Rio Mill Beck we could just make out John T in the moonlight striding out over the scar taking a short cut back home. I hope he made it back safely... I’m sure i saw a monstrous crab lurking in the shadows.
This event had been planned last year, and coincided with the centre being awarded ‘Dark sky status’ making it three sites in the North York Moors area. Richly deserved it is too, as we consider it the best ‘observer friendly’ venue of the three.
You never know what the weather will throw at you in February, so at least it was comforting that no snow lay on the ground, or that it wasn’t sub zero or blowing a gale, just cloudy, with just a hint of meatballs.
Keith, Lee and Mark made the journey over, prepared for all eventualities, packing the LX 200 as well as Lee’s scope and all the other equipment for the indoor stuff. On arrival, the hole in the clouds, visible as we drove over, started to fill in with just brief glimpses of the gibbous moon. We had already been for warned that BBC Look North were coming along, but as yet hadn’t arrived. The LX would serve as a fine (lottery funded) display scope and if required could be called into action. We set up just in front of the Centre building itself.
Tripod, levelled, scope hoisted out and placed on top we were cooking.
Keith: Where’s the spreader plate (bolts scope to stand)
Mark: it’s in the car...err..somewhere; i could have sworn I put it in, looks like it’s turned into a large misshapen car jack. ****’s!
Mark: tell you what, we’ll use the bungee cord for the dew shield and fit that round the fork base and tripod head.
Keith: Then just to make sure, lets gaffer tape round the joint. The plan worked, as long as the scope wasn’t used in GOTO mode, cue more cloud prayers.
Mark to Keith: better put an eyepiece in, there’re bound to want a picture of someone looking through it. I’ll get the eyepiece case out. Opens case to reveal a ....JIGSAW!! What! (if you’ve seen the Fawlty Towers episode in which he looks for the Duck in the large gateaux – you get the picture)
Mark: Hang about... I didn’t bring the silver case with the eyepieces in anyway, there’re in the black case with the LX controller leads. They were, crises averted.
Lee calmly set his scope up with no fuss or bother.
Whilst Keith and Lee manned the scopes in readiness, Mark legged it upstairs to prepare for his presentation. Sixty people had booked to come along to the ‘star night’ and after witnessing ‘keystone astronomers’ in action as they filed by, god only knows what carnage they were expecting upstairs. Luckily, Look North had still not arrived.
The presentations actually played out very well, the only interruption being the arrival of the Look North reporter, Phillip. After a brief tour of the night sky using the Starry Night program, and a presentation on the solar system, it was time to demonstrate the scale solar system outside. However before this, it was interview an ‘astronomer boffin’ time. Mark would have to suffice. Lights, Camera, Action... more light. ‘Geordie Mark’ squinted into the dazzling, blinding light, a metre from his face and answered the questions.
The scale solar system demonstration went down a storm with the assembled crowd. The planet ‘light spheres’ held aloft by the eager volunteers, strung out into the distance. Phillip from Look North also entered into the spirit of the occasion, apparently imitating Voyager 2, getting a gravity assist from ‘Jupiter’ and wandering off into the recesses of the outer solar system, interviewing each planet as he sped by. Somewhere en route he must have morphed into the New Horizons probe as I’m sure he paid Pluto a visit. At least that’s what it looked like from our vantage point; the planets of the inner solar system, huddled around the Sun.
"Very pleased to have been awarded Dark Sky Status."
Rita, Jupiter, Mark and Keith on BBC Look North.
The whole charade was then played out again for all those who missed the initial launch, although Phillip must have drifted off to planet 9 as we never saw him again.
Proceedings finally drew to a close, with a short presentation in the events room. The ‘supernova element debris segment’ seemed to create quite a stir, especially when the poor woman who volunteered her gold wedding ring promptly dropped it on the floor – cue much scrabbling around. But it all added to the fun of the occasion, one which was much enjoyed by everyone. Just a shame it was too cloudy for observations. Prayers answered; maybe there is a god after all!
We have a couple of ‘Star nights planned in March.
- The first is on the 2nd March, the night after our society meeting. This is for Fylingdales Primary School at Fylingthorpe at 18:30pm. If it is clear we shall take some scopes over (members assistance please) otherwise it will an indoor presentation with a scale solar system demo.
Then on the 29th (although this is yet to be confirmed) we shall be hosting an event at Whitby Youth Hostel for a visiting Schools group from Middlesbrough. Not sure on exact time, but i expect it to be around 18:30-19:00h. Again, the usual format will be adopted.
We still not have resolved the venue issue with regard to the Paul Money lecture. The powers that be at the Museum obviously are not interested in local groups using the facility, given the price hike and other stipulations We are hoping to locate a venue in Town, but may have to look further afield depending on hire cost and capacity etc. It does though look we will have to postpone Paul until later in the year.
Anyone wishing to attempt a UK Messier marathon (for full details see here)
the optimum dates this year are 11 and 12th March, or April 1st & 2nd.
Events
Observe the night sky with us at the Bruce Observatory, Whitby School - formally Caedmon College - Normanby campus ).
Observing Nights are held weather permitting: check for a relatively clear sky before leaving home. If in doubt, Mark can be reached on tel 01947 605516.
Please note the college drive gate is now operated via a electronic key code - so anyone wishing to attend must be at the car park at the top of the drive by 19:00hrs - unless an arrival time has been arranged with Mark/Keith after 19:00hrs.
