Discover Kintyre's Dark Skies

[stargazers]

West Kintyre Stargazers are holding their launch event at The Putechan Hotel on Sunday 28th October 2012. This event will begin at 5pm with an introductory talk and presentation from Dr Alec MacKinnon, an astrophysicist from Glasgow University. Following this at around 6.30pm there will be an outdoor night sky observation session. All are welcome, so find that telescope, dust it down, bring it along and have some fun while you learn!
For more information on this free event, how to book places and how to join West Kintyre Stargazers, go to:

www.westkintyrestargazers.weebly.com

You do not need to own a telescope to enjoy the night sky, binoculars and the naked eye will allow you to see enough to appreciate the wonder of the night sky in Kintyre.
Hope to see you there!

[stargazer]

Our next presentation is on the 25th November, 5pm at The Putechan when Dr Alec MacKinnon will talk about The Sun.
To book your place for this event please go to:
http://westkintyrestargazers.weebly.com/
On Sunday December 16th Chris O'Kane will give a talk on "The Pharaoh, the Stars and a God called Horakhti"
more information on this event can be found at:
http://westkintyrestargazers.weebly.com/

[AlecM]

looking forward to this evening. It's a really dreich day here in Glasgow but the Met Office are predicting clear skies for Kintyre this evening. If you're planning to come along, wrap up warm. Bring telescope or binoculars if you have them - I will bring only one telescope and there were a lot of people last time.

Alec

[stargazer]

WEST KINTYRE STARGAZERS XMAS EVENT SUNDAY 16TH DECEMBER 2012, THE PUTECHAN 5PM
West Kintyre Stargazers present Chris O'Kane talking about astronomy and its links to ancient Egyptian culture, architecture and civilization in 'The Pharaoh, the Stars and a God called Horakhti'. This event will be accompanied by a festive buffet and mulled wine. To book your place, visit
www.westkintyrestargazers.weebly.com
We look forward to seeing you there..

[stargazer]

As part of BBC Stargazing Live 2013 we will be holding our own stargazing event at The Putechan on Sunday 13th January. This event will be a free, extended event with talks from astronomy professionals, kids activities, indoor virtual stargazing and outdoor night sky observation.
All welcome
http://www.westkintyrestargazers.weebly.com

[stargazer]

Duncan Lunan will give a presentation on The Stones, The Stars and Professor Thom from 5pm at The Putechan on Sunday 10th February. All welcome. Hot Buffet available. To book your place please go to:
http://www.westkintyrestargazers.weebly.com

[stargazer]

An interesting comment made on the For Argyll website, worthy of repeating here:
http://forargyll.com/2013/02/the-stones ... ssor-thom/

Ken MacColl says:
February 7, 2013 at 11:37 am
Genuinely sorry to miss this talk but Putechan Lodge is a long haul from Oban!
Professor Sandy Thom is the grandfather of my sister-in-law and was a genuine polymath-with wideranging interests and considerable expertise in engineering, mathematics, astronomy, sailing and almost any other field that attracted his interest.He was truly “a living example of the power of a flexible mind and a versatile disposition.”
During the war he worked on the aereodynamics of fighter aircraft.
Only after retiring from the Professorial Chair of Engineering Science at Oxford did he devote his undivided attention to one of his many other interests, the locatin and distribution of megalithic monuments across the west coast of Scotland and further afield.He worked closely with Marion Campbell in Mid Argyll. He is considered to be the father of archaeoastronomy.
If you are able, go to the talk and enjoy.
Then support the campaign to safeguard the Sighthill Stone Circle.

[stargazer]

West Kintyre Stargazers are holding an event on Sunday 10th March at The Putechan from 5pm. The guest speaker at the event will be Alison Craigon of Strathclyde University. Alison will give a talk and presentation on the subject of Star Formation.
There will be a hot buffet supper after the talk. Please visit www.westkintyrestargazers.org to book your place.

[Delphinus_Dreams]

Keep an eye out for Comet PanSTARRS I will be!

[stargazer]

Keep an eye out for Comet PanSTARRS I will be!

Yes, we will be looking out for Comet Panstarrs. Here on the west coast of Kintyre is the ideal viewing location throughout the month of March. The comet should be visible on the western horizon just after sunset, reaching perihelion, the closest point of its orbit to the Sun, on 10th March 2013.
More information available here: http://star.arm.ac.uk/press/2013/panstarrs.html

Here's hoping for clear skies........

[Delphinus_Dreams]

Fingers crossed!
Not looking to promising at the moment though, hope the wind blows the cloud away!

[stargazer]

Comet Panstarrs should be visible with the naked eye but please:
WAIT UNTIL AFTER SUNSET & NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN WITH YOUR TELESCOPE.

[Delphinus_Dreams]

It's snowing now, not a patch of clear sky

Why is it a sure thing it will be cloudy whenever there is a celestial event I want to see?

I'm off to try the power of optimism

[Bonnie Lass]

will be looking out for it - visible in the night sky till when ?

[Ship called Dignity]

It's snowing now, not a patch of clear sky

That's the wonders of Kintyre DD - was snowing pretty heavy this afternoon until we got to the hill at Ronachan then it was glorious sunshine and blue skies! Must have been the north of Kintyre you are referring to as pretty clear here just now.

http://www.visitkintyre.info/webcam/index.htm