Observing
Nights
Contacts:-
Andy Hatfield
.......................................(Observing
Officer) ..................01274 413464 (Mobile 07858 177531)
John Bardsley
....................................(Assistant
Observing Officer) 01274 419142 (Mobile 07796 997631)
Tony West
...........................................(Assistant
Observer) ................01274 683896 (Mobile 07813 240601)
We now observe
from Thackley Football Club (TFC) and this will
be our default observing site for the forseeable future.
Please
Note - occasionally there are football matches held on a Thursday night
- most Thursday night training is usually finished by about 9:15 at the latest,
and more usually about 8.45 however we cannot predict an unscheduled match
- if observing is definitely on and we find that a match is in progress we
will divert to the Boat Club which is now our reserve site. we may also occasionally
observe from Otley Chevin depending on the current events we intend to observe,
or for any public viewing sessions etc, but we will advise if this is to take
place.
Alterations to
the Boat Club site are expected to commence in the near future as part of
the club's ongoing improvement plans, so whilst this work is in progress we
will not be able to observe from there untill work is complete for Health
and Safety reasons.
The 'official'
observing evening is on a Thursday from 7.30pm onward during the winter months,
(8.30 at TFC) and in summertime will depend on sky conditions as the days
get longer, but as a rule we still keep on observing throughout the summer
when possible. The only time we tend not to observe is around the time of
the full Moon because the sky is generally too bright to be able to see many
of the fainter objects, however we still do sometimes observe depending on
what objects are around at the time.
Check the applet below to see the current phase of the Moon - this will give
an indication whether we are likely to be observing if it's clear.
There are a number
of dedicated observers
who are 'under the stars' at every opportunity, so please check the contacts
below if the sky is clear and you want to do some extra observing - it is
likely that someone will be going out!
As most people
are aware the skies around out cities are becoming more light polluted, however
there are still a great many objects which can be observed with either binoculars
or smaller telescopes. Tony West has compiled an extensive list of interesting
objects and he usually has a few things lined up for an evenings viewing depending
on what's around at the time.
We are currently
trying to generate interest in Digital Imaging
using a variety of equipment - Andy Hatfield has a Watec 120N integrating
video camera which can display some deep sky objects directly to a monitor
or laptop screen, and several members are experimenting with their digital
cameras to produce some very good photographs - see the members area for more
examples.
All the photographs
above were taken with amateur equipment on our observing nights - as you can
see there are also phenomena to photograph during the daytime too, as Tony
West's picture of a Parhelia (Sun Dog) shows.
Check the Moon
phases for likely observing sessions
The society &
it's members own a variety of equipment, including various telescopes, solar
telescopes & filters, CCD cameras, video cameras, special filters etc.
Please be aware
that Thackley have now installed a new lockable barrier at the entrance to
the site, and have requested that we make sure this is locked when we leave
- failure to comply with this request will result in loss of observing rights
at TFC, so please ensure the barrier is locked when the last observers leave
site.
Our old site in
the back field is no longer in use, the area having been reclaimed by TFC
and turned into a training ground - there is no access
for vehicles in this field and they MUST NOT be taken in there under
any circumstances.
