Westerdale Event 2023

Our annual visit to Westerdale will take place on Friday October 13th this year, starting from 19:30hrs. The venue will be Westerdale Village Hall finishing no later than 21:45hrs. Dependant on the weather, some kind of indoor presentation may precede observations outside, the usual format, but if conditions are very clear from the start, the emphasis will be on observations only.  It should be an excellent evening with the promise of dark skies and seeing some familiar and friendly faces once again.  Refreshments will be available from inside the village hall, (most welcome if conditions are chilly outside) Members able to assist please contact Mark Dawson.

Fox and Hounds Event

A week later - Saturday October 21st we shall once again be returning to the Fox and Hounds - Ainthorpe - Danby.  After last year's very successful and well attended event, Colin at the F & H will be holding another 'Evening amongst the Stars' event, weather permitting.  WDAS members will be setting up instruments from 7pm for a 7:30pm start in the hotels adjacent beer garden, observing all that the autumn night sky has to offer, including Saturn, Jupiter, and a Quarter Moon.  We shall make sure all the lighting in the stable area and to rear of the hotel is extinguished this year.  The event finishes around 21:30hrs.  It should be a cracking evening with the observing location enjoying excellent viewing aspects that are not exposed.  WDAS members wishing to come along please contact Mark.

Members of the public interested in going along and want more info, please contact 01287 660218 - or visit www.foxandhoundsainthorpe.com

Whitby Youth Hostel Event

Following the successful event in February, (given the conditions during the day and evening forecast) we shall be returning to the Whitby Youth Hostel for a Halloween event on Monday Oct 30th being organised by the Hostel.  Its's another 7pm start time, finishing at 9pm - or thereabouts.  Members of public booking - email whitbyyha.org.uk or call 01947 602 878 to reserve a space.

Members may recall the event in February was postponed from October 2021, and looked as though just an indoor presentation would be possible given the conditions outside on the evening.  Miraculously, skies partially cleared for 30 minutes, and although unable to observe with telescopes in the YH garden, a ‘star walk’ to the Abbey headland was possible, pointing out stars and constellations visible at the time.  Plans are for something similar this time (hopefully without the cloud etc) with a short presentation inside the Youth Hostel, followed by observations and the 'Star Walk'.

We shall have to plan for all eventualities, and assistance will be required on the evening from some society members.  We have been allocated up to 3 car parking spaces at the Hostel, so there’ll be issues with parking tickets this time!  The event is going to be limited to 40 members of the public, and being October half term should be very atmospheric with the Whitby Abbey eerily illuminated ‘Halloween' fashion. Should be an interesting evening! Please contact Mark if you can make it along. 

North York Moors Railway - Stape Outstation Event

Now this looks a very interesting event and will require assistance from WDAS members. After being contacted by Macey Palmer - Learning and Interpretation Officer for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, we shall be hosting a Star Party event for them at their Outstation facility located in Stape. (No, I had no idea there was an outstation either) The event will be on Friday 3rd November starting at 7:30pm running until around 9:15pm.  Stape is situated in a wide valley between Egton and Pickering, around 15 miles away from Whitby - so a similar distance to Westerdale.  Full directions will be given in the November issue for WDAS members and at the October monthly meeting.  Members of the public booking via NYMR will be bused out to Stape from Pickering.  The Outstation boasts good facilities, and there will be refreshments, WC’s etc.  Given the location, I would suggest the site will be very dark - expect a glorious sight of the Milky Way if skies are clear.  We shall need to set off by 6:40pm at latest to arrive at the Outstation for 7:10pm allowing time to set up - whatever form that may take - indoors or out.