Camp at Kelling Heath - 23rd to 26th April Print E-mail

Nine of us went to The Kelling Heath Spring Star Party which was a very well planned event organised by the Norwich Astronomical Society.  It is a very dark site and they went to great lengths to reduce light pollution.

One of the first things we noticed was the information tent where you could find weather forecasts, a people finder map, moon rise and set times, ISS flybys, Iridium flare co-ordinates, lecture ticket sales, and information on traders.  There was also the opportunity to buy and sell kit if you so desired. Everyone was very friendly and helpful and we had the opportunity to talk to other imagers and observers.  Sue and I recognised Ken from the Loughton Astronomical Society who had joined us on the Paris trip.

ImageThere were two lectures on Saturday afternoon.  One was entitled Fun with CCDs by Steve Chambers and the other Galaxy Clusters for Every Man by Owen Brazell.

The camp site itself is very easy to find and the facilities are positively luxurious with electrical hook-ups and a shower block with plenty of hot water. It even has under floor heating which is brilliant for warming cold feet if you take your shoes off first.

There is a large shop, a restaurant, and a well stocked pub with free half hour internet if you buy a drink.  For the energetic there is a fitness centre, swimming pool, a bike hire place and a fishing lake.

90% of the pitches had very very good visibility, with low trees and were a good size with electrical hook-ups for laptops etc..

The weather was sunny but windy when Rose, Doug & Sid, Sue & Roy, Ian & Delphine arrived during Thursday.  In the evening the conditions were hazy but good enough for observing, though not perfect for imaging.  It was bitterly cold but Sid came to our rescue by lending us an electrical lead with the correct socket so that we could use our electric kettle and toaster – bliss!  Rose also supplied endless warming cups of tea.

ImageBy the time Mark and Robert arrived on Friday afternoon the wind had dropped and the conditions had improved with an excellent sky.    Just after sunset we could see Mercury with the naked eye at its maximum elongation.  Easily seen in my 4” refractor.

Robert and Mark stayed up all Friday night until about 4.30 a.m.  Mark to image M101.  On Saturday night the conditions were even better so he imaged M51 whirlpool.  Robert imaged Markarian’s Chain, Gamma Cygni nebulosity, Gulf of Mexico, M81, M82 and 5 globular clusters.

The camping field was littered with some very large telescopes.  The Norwich AS has several members who have built their own massive 16 to 20” dobsonians.  Much to our delight on the Saturday night they invited us to come and have a look at M51 and the Leo triplet – very impressive.

If you can tear yourself away from astronomical discussions there is plenty to do during the day as well.  At nearby Weybourne there is a working military museum, the Muckleburgh Collection, where you can have an exciting coastal ride in a Gamma Goat for £2.50 or even a tank drive if you have £100 to spare.

The campsite itself is very attractive and a very short walk through the gorse took us to a steam and diesel railway with lovely views towards the sea. Sue, Roy, Ian and I watched the steam train passing through while Rose, Doug and & Sid went to investigate the bird sanctuary and Sheringham market.

The Autumn Equinox Star Party is from 14th to 25th September 2009 with the main day being Saturday 19th and will be  run by the Loughton Astronomical Society. At the time of writing this one is fully booked but there is always the  possibility of cancellations. The next Spring Star Party is from Thursday 15th to Monday 19th April 2010.

A big thank you from us all to Carole who organised the trip but unfortunately couldn’t join us due to an injury to her shoulder.
 
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Future Events

Society Dinner - 10th February

A Society Dinner is being arranged for Friday 10th February at the Blacksmith's Arms at Cudham, meeting at 7:30pm for an 8:00pm meal. If you have booked a place, please see the menu below, and then contact Ian to inform him of your choice.

Here's the menu:

 

STARTERS

  • Tian of Avocado & Prawns topped with Smoked Salmon served with Salad Leaves & Marie Rose Sauce
  • Wild Boar Pate en Croute, served with Caramelised Onions & Toasted Granary Bread
  • Baked Goats Cheese with Salad Leaves & Sweet Tomato & Chilli Chutney
  • Mushroom Soup finished with Tarragon & Cream

MAIN

  • Chicken Supreme with Mushroom & White Wine Sauce served with Seasonal Vegetables & New Potatoes
  • Roast of Finest Scottish Beef served with Fresh Vegetables, Roast Potatoes & Yorkshire Pudding, finished with Wild Mushroom, Port & Red Wine Gravy
  • Slow Roast Belly of Pork stuffed with Sage, Onion & Sausagemeat, served with Vegetables & Mashed Potatoes
  • PPan Fried Fillet of Salmon with Dauphinois Potatoes, Leeks, Wilted Spinach & Hollandaise Sauce
  • Linguine with Wild Mushrooms & Roast Vegetables served in a Cream & Cheese Sauce

DESSERT

Wide choice of desserts available from our Blackboard

Address:

The Blacksmith's Arms

Cudham Lane South
Cudham

Kent TN14 7QB (click for a map)
Tel: 01959 572678
 
Special Events
From time to time we arrange outings and other special events like these:

Deep Sky Camps

These are held at various locations. Usually we use commercial camp sites, and each visitor will be expected to pay the camp site operator for their own pitch. We'll usually try to arrange for our pitches to be in a group, so you'll need to mention you're one of the astronomers when you book.

Occasionally the Society books a site for its exclusive use, and on these occasions we'll expect all attendees (anyone visiting the site) to contribute to the cost, even if they're not actually camping on site.

Outings

In recent years we have visited places like the Greenwich Observatory, The radio telescopes and historic instruments at Cambridge, and the Herschel museum in Bath.

Open Days

These have usually co-incided with relatively predictable astronomical phenomena like meteor showers, and have included observing, short lectures and demonstrations. The most recent one was in August 2003 for the National Astronomy Week.

Public Lectures & Exhibitions

A recent one of our our exhibitions was our 21st Anniversary Celebration entitled Universe Day, held at St Olave's School in Orpington in 2001 - more than 300 people turned up to see all the latest in local astronomy.

Every two or three years we hold in memory of one of our founder members and chairmen, the Kenneth Budd Memorial Lecture. So far we have held three well attended meetings. The first Kenneth Budd Memorial Lecture, in November 1998 was given by Prof. Sir Antony Hewish, who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work on pulsars. His lecture was titled "Thirty Years of Pulsar Astronomy", and the second, in October 2000, when Ewen A. Whitaker FRAS gave a lecture titled "Fifty Years with Lunar Maps".

Please always try check the forum for details of the arrangements before the event.