Whitby & District Astronomical Society

  The most direct route to this event at the Outstation was via Egton Bridge and along the Wheeldale Road (approx. 35 minutes from Whitby).  Following a 'tip off' from sources who used the Stape-Wheeldale Rd daily, Mark was made aware flooding had become a serious issue on it, the ford at Wheeldale Gill being a metre deep.  With that way impassable, our alternative route; the A169 route via Pickering, would mean a longer journey time.  News reached Mark on the Thursday (the event was the following evening - Nov 3rd) that roads around Pickering train station were also flooded, our alternative route to Stape! 

The situation looked in the balance, and with the forecast at that time not particularly suited for observation on the Friday evening, thought was given to postponing.  At very least an indoor presentation looked very much on the cards.  Friday morning, and Mark received some encouraging news from Macey Palmer; Learning and Interpretation Officer for North Yorkshire Moors Railway, that the flooding in Pickering had subsided.  Furthermore, that evening’s forecast was considerably more optimistic.  The event would go ahead!

Such events do require assistance from WDAS members, and Brian Allen and Paul Wood were keen to do just that, calling at Mark's to help load the equipment into the vehicles, before picking up Keith and John. Departing Whitby by 6:10pm, we aimed to be at the Outstation for 7pm or thereabouts, although it was a guess.  The journey over to Pickering was quicker than expected and good time was made.  En-route to Stape via Newton on Rawcliffe it became apparent how much rain had fallen, roads still partly awash in places.

Stape is situated in a wide valley between Egton and Pickering, around 16 miles away from Whitby. With no street lighting, the road was dark, and Mark with Keith in the lead car almost drove by the Outstation, before identifying it.  Parking up in the Outstation carpark, we had a quick scout around. Macey came out to greet us, show us where we would be sited, and the indoor facilities. The Outstation used to be an old School and was renovated and adapted to a Residential Community Engagement and Volunteer Development Centre in 2021. Facilities were impressive.  Given the location, expectations of dark skies were high. They were, better still, they were mostly clear with minimal light pollution in the area.

Members of the public had booked via NYMR and those not accessing the site in their own car did so via minibus, bused out from Pickering. Thirty had initially booked, and it was pleasing to note only a small handful had not made it along. People were arriving all the time as we pitched the telescopes in the adjacent field to the Outstation.  Mark disappeared inside to grapple with the IT equipment; eventually, with assistance from Keith, Paul, and others, overcoming connectivity teething issues to the apparently 'not so smart', smart TV.

Following introductions, a short presentation sufficed - whetting people’s appetites, before departing outside into the chilly air under clear skies.  The starry canopy overhead was breathtaking with fainter constellations normally veiled by light pollution, easily traceable. Better still, the Milky Way arched majestically overhead.  Fomalhaut - the most southerly 1st mag star visible from the UK, sparkled just above the S horizon.  Saturn could be seen to be residing in the lower reaches of Aquarius, whilst Jupiter shone like a beacon in the east, flanked by the glorious Pleiades star cluster.  

A laser pointer tour of the sky was carried out as people dipped in and out of looking through the eyepieces. Jupiter and Saturn were top of the list, one that included the Andromeda Galaxy, easily visible to the naked eye, appearing bright and spectacular through the eyepiece. M33 (the Triangulum Pinwheel galaxy) could be clearly seen.  The Ring and Dumbbell nebula looked exquisite, M13 not so however, nor M92 nor M15... High cloud had appeared and started to eat up most of the sky overhead. Time for a warm-up, refreshments...and a presentation Mark had prepared earlier!

Tea supped, and presentation almost over, word came in skies were clearing.  We departed outside again.  Skies had cleared, the waning Qtr Moon shone low in the east, Castor and Pollux in Gemini had clambered over the horizon, Betelgeuse in Orion likewise.  Our main issue now was dew, misting optics and eyepieces, it was a constant battle keeping them clear. The temperature was 6 degrees and without a whisper of breeze and damp ground it was perhaps inevitable. The time had ticked well beyond the intended 9:30pm finishing time, people still engrossed in observing as much as possible, but eventually we called a halt and started packing away.

Macey was delighted with how the evening had panned out - as too was everyone who had attended. Tentative plans made, farewells bid, we departed home - again an uneventful journey apart from the odd mist pocket. It had been a most memorable evening, and quite unforeseen given how things looked barely 24 hours before. Weather!!! 

Apologies, we only managed a few images unfortunately, it was that busy!  Another time.