Astronomy in South Kintyre

[John S]

Calling all star gazers - I received the following from Alec MacKinnon who is originally from the town, it looks really interesting and if anyone would be interested in getting involved PM me and I'll pass on your details. It is a great opportunity to get Kintyre recognized in another niche market. -

In the middle of January the BBC will have a "Stargazing Live" event, with live TV programs on a couple of evenings and events happening all over the country - basically wherever enough knowledgeable people can get something organised. Last year I was involved in a couple of these events, one in Glasgow and one in Dumfries. I'd really like to get something going in Campbeltown. This would be a combination of talk(s), activities and hopefully night sky viewing, with at least one wee telescope, if the weather cooperates. However I think somebody local would need to be involved, particularly for logistics: identifying a safe, suitable, accessible location; publicity; links to e.g the Grammar, etc. So I wondered if you had any ideas of how to start identifying one or two people?

These events are free, they run on the enthusiasm of the people involved.

I'm sure I don't need to state the benefits of such activities, apart from general broadening minds and cultural enrichment: motivating school pupils to study sciences, nurturing numeracy etc.

Second, the sky in Kintyre is really dark. I have the "light pollution map of the UK" in front of me and most of Kintyre shows up as the darkest level, apart from a wee blob around the town and across the Laggan. Even on the outskirts of the town it is much much easier to enjoy the night sky, and see really interesting objects in it, than it is here in the central belt. Dark skies are rarer and rarer across Europe and this is a potential source of tourism. Maybe you've noticed what's happened in Galloway, where there are demonstrably dark skies (maybe not any better than, say the west coast of Kintyre, though) and also a management plan for their maintenance. Together these merit "Dark Sky Park" status which is now bringing tourists into Galloway.

The Park is a big, special development but we could maybe get a couple of Kintyre locations recognised as "Dark Sky Discovery sites". This would be one more attraction for people to spend some holiday time there. The existing list is at


http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/dsdsites.html

This is a niche market, of course - and the west coast weather is a complication - but it is a real one. I'd be very happy to help, advise, draft, prod people... but I think the main contact should be local. Tourist Office? Forestry? Any thoughts welcome.



Hope you don't mind this rather long email out of the blue, and that you'll find it interesting. Please also pass it on if appropriate.

Best wishes,

Alec MacKinnon

[jingleman]

Great idea. I would think that anywhere in the Laggan would be unsuitable due to light pollution from Campbeltown Stewarton, Drumlemble, and Machrihanish. Also, hills to the north and south would restrict the viewing area.
I would think that a more suitable site could be found up the Gobagrennan Road, or the car park at Ballygroggan Farm or at the top of the access road to Beinn an Tuirc between Bellochantuy and the Lussa Loch. Access may a bit of a problem but not altogether insurmountable.
I used to have a great darksky site in the back garden in Saddell Street. On a clear, cold, moonless night I could see up to fifteen to twenty stars in Orion, the suggestion of cloudiness around the stars of Orion's sword, count the stars of the Pleides, and, on a really good night, the Andomeda Galaxy, all with the naked eye. Take out a pair of binoculars and up to four moons of Jupiter could be resolved and the open clusters in Cassioppae were spectacular when viewed through the bino's.
Unfortunately the planners ruined it all. They allowed a bloody great polis station to be built at the back of Tesco's and install lights that must be visible from the International Space Station. It's like having a full moon in the southern sky every night. I hate to think what the cost of running these lights is. Must be astronomical. (Excuse the pun). Whatever happened to energy saving schemes? Couldn't they have installed energy saving motion controlled lighting? Are the polis so scared of the dark that they need the place bathed in enough light that it turns night into day? Totally destroyed my darksky enclave. Now I can barely see the Pleides never mind count the stars in the nebula! Even the full moon pales into insignificance.

[north beachmore]

This sounds like a great opportunity! Is there anyone else out there..... (in Kintyre) interested in forming a group so we can be up and running by October?

[democat101]

Venus to cross Sun in rare spectacle
The crossing of Venus across the face of the Sun is such a rare and spectacular event that in 1769 Captain James Cook sailed the HMS Endeavour half way around the world to witness it.
But Britons will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the phenomenon, which has happened just three times since the 18th Century, from their own homes this week.
read more here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/scie ... tacle.html

[russanros]

This sounds like a great opportunity! Is there anyone else out there..... (in Kintyre) interested in forming a group so we can be up and running by October?

Interested in principle, it sounds a good idea. We & our visitors have noticed how good the night sky is here compared to conurbation where we used to live, even in the garden in the town. Sometimes walk up to crosshill loch to get away from the streetlights, would imagine there is even more potential from some of the beach or 'interior' areas of the peninsula.

[AlecM]

Hello,

I just caught up with this thread, which John Semple started after I got in touch with him. I missed most of it at the time and I'm really glad to see some folk are interested, and especially talking about setting up a wee group. Is anything coming of this? More and more Astronomy groups are springing up in all sorts of places and it would be great to see one in Kintyre.

I'm not in Campbeltown very often any more, a couple of times a year, but I'd be happy to come down if I could help a budding Astronomy group - even just for a chat. I could bring a telescope. This is both fun and "work" for me: http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/education/ ... mackinnon/

It would be great also if this could help kick things off for Stargazing Live again in 2013. I haven't heard anything definite about dates etc. but I think the first two years have been such a success that something is bound to happen again. Skies in Kintyre are fantastic compared to most of England or central Scotland and we could really make the most of them while this event is happening (at least if the clouds allow!).

Hope some of you press on with this and I'll do anything I can to help.

Best wishes,

Alec MacKinnon

[stargazer]

Hi Alec,

We have indeed managed to set up a wee group in West Kintyre, West Kintyre Stargazers, and have already nominated a site as a Dark Sky Discovery Site. At present we are awaiting a response on this. It is great to hear that you may be able to provide some assistance as this would be invaluable at this early stage. We would also ask anyone else in the area who also has an interest to get in touch.

[stargazer]

West Kintyre Stargazers has a website available with info and links;
www.westkintyrestargazers.weebly.com

Also, you can contact directly at
stargazerargyll@mail.com

Watch the skies!

[AlecM]

super! See you soon.

Alec

[stargazer]

Dark Sky Discovery are building a network of places where people can view the night sky, as Dr Alex said "the skies in Kintyre are fantastic."
If you have a favorite spot in Kintyre why not nominated it here:
http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/

[stargazers]

Did anyone see or take any pictures of last night sky spectacular? Meteorites or space junk?
Why not come along to Kintyre's first astronomy event of 2012 at The Putechan on Sunday 28th October, more details to follow.
www.westkintyrestargazers.weebly.com
westkintyrestargazers@mail.com

[stargazers]

Discover Kintyre's Dark Skies

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!