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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 10:00:36 GMT
Hey guys, So i recently just discovered this news article about the Isle of Coll www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-25300740Now this is the second official 'Dark Sky site' in Scotland. The First being Galloway Forrest. Considering just how small Scotland is... the fact that we have 2 official Dark sky locations is pretty impressive! There is only a handful of these in the entire world! And Galloway didnt 'just' make it into the list...it went right to the top end of the list for the very best skies in the world with a Gold status! England has a couple too apparently... Northumberland getting granted dark sky status on the same day as Isle of Coll. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-25260186That makes 3 sites within about 100 miles of me that has apparently the best skies in the world. I think i really need to pull my finger out...and make the effort to visit at least one of these places. Galloway is max 1 hour 20mins away from me. Would be wrong not to take advantage of it! Its a good thing they dont include 'clear skies' in the criteria to get the award... otherwise we wouldnt have any haha
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 10:09:34 GMT
Heres a link to the dudes that grant the status of the official Dark Sky's around the world www.darksky.org
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 10:20:17 GMT
Heres a link to the dudes that grant the status of the official Dark Sky's around the world www.darksky.orgOkay I'm thinking a weekend's astro camp is pending.... Bagsy Northumberland! Do they have internet, we'd have to broadcast!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 10:34:34 GMT
Haha that would be cool! I have no idea what kinda facilities any of them have man. Power supply is prob the biggest issue im thinking. I would be surprised if they have internet. But you never know Can you imagine all of us lined up with our video rigs running... they would lose their dark sky status instantly lol
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 11:18:08 GMT
So i just gave the Scottish dark sky observatory in Galloway a call to find out more about the place.
I gotta say everything sounds great!
Think you get to look through the big scope in the dome. You can hire a C14 scope for £50 an hour. You can bring your own scope too obviously. £4 to use their viewing platform. They have caravan slots with power hookups £20 per night to stay and £25 for the power. They said they have never had anyone do video astronomy there but they would be happy to allow it. AND they do have WIFI lol
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 11:23:53 GMT
So i just gave the Scottish dark sky observatory in Galloway a call to find out more about the place. I gotta say everything sounds great! Think you get to look through the big scope in the dome. You can hire a C14 scope for £50 an hour. You can bring your own scope too obviously. £4 to use their viewing platform. They have caravan slots with power hookups £20 per night to stay and £25 for the power. They said they have never had anyone do video astronomy there but they would be happy to allow it. AND they do have WIFI lol I'm all over this it sounds perfect! Okay let's see if anyone else is up for it but I say lets bring them VA.......
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 12:02:40 GMT
I'm all over this it sounds perfect! Okay let's see if anyone else is up for it but I say lets bring them VA....... It really does sound great! Could always try and sweet talk them into letting us use a camera in the big dome scope lol But yeh im defo up for it! It sounds like it ticks all the boxes. The only problem is getting the weather for it!!!
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Post by Dragon Man on Feb 4, 2014 12:45:32 GMT
That's great!
I've looked into getting our Club site or the whole town recognised as a dark sky site but their criteria is really strict, and very intensive. It can also end up costing a lot of money. You have to purchase the exact model of Sky Quality Meter that they say to use, you have to hire a Sky Quality examiner, you have to bribe, beg or pay council to change streetlights, you have to pay for the Dark Sky Representative to come and check your progress and again for him to come and finalise your completion of all requirements.
I put it to our Committee and they all agreed that it is waayyyy overboard with the requirements, and as a club we can't afford their demands to be certified.
No wonder there are hardly any around the world. Pity.
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Post by johnno on Feb 4, 2014 17:11:27 GMT
You would of thought Cairngorms and Trossachs national park would be dark enough, going up to Colls is a trek and half, especially this time of year jumping on a ferry I bet the waters around there are a bit choppy.
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Post by davy on Feb 4, 2014 19:10:54 GMT
Maybe uncle john can jump in he was saying a starcamp up our way this month sometime..
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scopemobile
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Post by scopemobile on Feb 4, 2014 23:34:15 GMT
uncle john here. the star party i noticed was on sgl under star party ,page 1 , 9 down. the campsite they use is- drumroamin.co.uk/. they say its open all year, £14 a night with electric hook up. there is a video of sept's star party. it looks like mainly astro photography, what it needs on site is video astronomers. the site is near wigton , the book capital of scotland. i was thinking of having a trip down some weekend to look at the site. by the way, there is a smaller campervan than mine on e bay just now .2 days to go . - devon sahara. devon conversions professional conversion.
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Post by johnno on Feb 5, 2014 0:40:47 GMT
Hmmm, them astro photo people can be a bit bitchy, they would put you in a corner somewhere so your monitor /laptop doesn't upset their night vision.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 0:53:29 GMT
Hmmm, them astro photo people can be a bit bitchy, they would put you in a corner somewhere so your monitor /laptop doesn't upset their night vision. "Nobody puts baby in the corner!" (Patrick Swayze 1987) I would not be too worried I'd probably have my monitor in the caravan anyway while the bitches freeze their nads off The attraction for me with this sort of thing is the dark site, socialising and the prospect of learning some new tricks!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 9:54:46 GMT
Hmmm, them astro photo people can be a bit bitchy, they would put you in a corner somewhere so your monitor /laptop doesn't upset their night vision. Ive never been to anything like it but... i have heard they can be like that... go mental at people lighting a smoke lol
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 9:58:27 GMT
uncle john here. the star party i noticed was on sgl under star party ,page 1 , 9 down. the campsite they use is- drumroamin.co.uk/. they say its open all year, £14 a night with electric hook up. there is a video of sept's star party. it looks like mainly astro photography, what it needs on site is video astronomers. the site is near wigton , the book capital of scotland. i was thinking of having a trip down some weekend to look at the site. by the way, there is a smaller campervan than mine on e bay just now .2 days to go . - devon sahara. devon conversions professional conversion. Had a wee check man and it does sounds not too bad
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Post by johnno on Feb 5, 2014 10:03:24 GMT
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Post by johnno on Feb 5, 2014 10:20:05 GMT
and I've just sold my caravan 4 months back, don't fancy sleeping in a tent and it will be to cold in the car, am I a wimp
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 11:38:48 GMT
Short answer Johnno. .....YES.
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Post by johnno on Feb 5, 2014 11:43:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 11:59:41 GMT
Hahaha yes you are John! But to be honest i think most of us are! We are all so used to star gazing from the warmth Not a cold, wet, poorly constructed tent that leaks on your face all night... Camping is fun...but not in scotland! Had a quick check and can hire a campervan thing for about 200 for the weekend. Sounds like a good investment to me
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