Astronomical Dreams & Schemes: Ideas for further meet-ups!

[quarkspin]

By accident I found a good site in October with a big house that wasn't too expensive to rent for a week. They are out there if we want to look.

Or I know  guy really well who has (many) acres in Cornwall who wouldn't mind at all but it is not serviced apart from an old house. One will keep minds open That at least would not cost anything.

Q

[Alice]

Haven't tried marshmallows yet (I know, I've lead a sheltered life, but I'm hoping that'll be changed soon) but its really nice and comforting, if you want, I'll bring my Battledress for added amusement value

It would be a bit difficult with the telescope though... we'd have to be careful not to ruin peoples' night vision.

And yes, the Zookeepers deserve a break, how cruel of us to give them so much work to be getting on with 

Well, let's be fair, they've asked for it by creating such a great site . . .

Quarkspin - that sounds very cool . . . I reckon there must be fairly isolated places, the main thing is a lack of streetlights but a garden (and somewhere to park cars and telescopes) . . .

[aether]

There is a place in Wales that I've been Battling, I was kicking myself because I forgot to bring my binoculars.

There is one big problem, and thats the lack of any real proper shelter, there's a barn, but thats about it, so it may well not be so good

[quarkspin]

[.

Quarkspin - that sounds very cool . . . I reckon there must be fairly isolated places, the main thing is a lack of streetlights but a garden (and somewhere to park cars and telescopes) . . .
[/quote]

All ok so far, Near Jacobstow. A bit remote I guess but dark at night as far as i know..
Q

[garrett_cw]

And I like the idea of the fire - we mustn't forget the marshmallows! 

If you're going to the trouble of toasting marshmallows you ought to make smores.
 

[Karma]

Another idea: maybe some of the zookeepers could be persuaded to give a talk on a galactic subject? In terms of arranging it, I guess it could be done quite easily and without hassling our stressed out keepers more than necessary - maybe it would be possible to borrow a lecture room in Oxford, which is where they seem to be based anyway?

[Alice]

I do hope so. Mind you, they'd probably delegate half the lecturing to us! (I have some basic materials; I give Galaxy Zoo talks to schoolchildren when I get the chance . . .)

I reckon you folks (not me) should perhaps get together and contact them about that. And bring all your friends.

[aether]

Just a stray thought, could we arrange a visit to the telescope that performed the SDSS?

[garrett_cw]

Just a stray thought, could we arrange a visit to the telescope that performed the SDSS?

I think I could arrange to make it to this. It is in New Mexico, USA. 

edit:it's only about 1400mi. for me.

[pluk]

So much catching-up to do, so little time...

Now, I have a fairly radical idea, that is probably going just a bit too far - but the idea hit me about 5 minutes onto my train journey home, and my mind has been buzzing with it ever since . . .

I think we should do a little residential practical astronomy course - run entirely by and for ourselves. That is to say - I think we should jointly rent a holiday cottage or something like that for a few days, somewhere dark, and everyone who owns astronomical equipment (telescopes, binoculars, star charts, cool cameras, anything!) should bring it along and teach the rest of us to use it, or just give some cool demos. Maybe you don't own any and you don't know any practical astronomy - I sure don't, so I would love to get a chance at using it, imagine how exciting it would be . . . and I hope those showing/teaching would enjoy it, too, and get something out of it for themselves . . .

It sounds crazy, I know. It would require not so much as tapping into, as ruthlessly exploiting, the vast reservoirs of niceness and kindness I saw in all of you on Saturday evening! It would be a good idea to share transport and so on. We should all bring some of our favourite books, films, games . . . all the astronomy (or not!) things we've been meaning to see, and that everyone else wants to see and has never got round to, we can do together. Those who like cooking, like me, can take care of that.

...

What does everyone think?

I love the cottage idea Alice (camping I'm not too sure of )). I won't be of much use in the astronomy-teaching department but I'd love to assist you with your cooking.

I Like Geoff's suggestion too,

And I Like Fluffy's

In fact I haven't seen anything I don't like (biltong included )

[Alice]

That's great Pluk! I don't know why, but actually, you look like a good cook . . .

I'm glad you folks don't think the idea is crazy. In fact, if ALL of us were able to teach practical astronomy, there would be less point in us meeting up to learn it hahaha. I'll make sure those who come along with equipment and take trouble to show the rest of us how to use it to find Saturn and so on get lots of muffins.

[aether]

Any suggestions on possible dates? For that and the picnic

[Alice]

Well somewhere about in my very long first post I mentioned that during the Perseids meteor shower would be cool for the cottage idea in my opinion. That's early/mid August. Both American and English schools are broken up then, I think? (Somebody else mentioned another meteor shower but I don't know when it is . . .)

I think Geoff's planetarium idea should take place maybe over Easter - I'd like to have another meet-up before the summer; why wait?

[Half65]

Just a stray thought, could we arrange a visit to the telescope that performed the SDSS?

I think I could arrange to make it to this. It is in New Mexico, USA. 

edit:it's only about 1400mi. for me.

Great idea
Only 30000mi. (approximatly) for me.   

[aether]

Well somewhere about in my very long first post I mentioned that during the Perseids meteor shower would be cool for the cottage idea in my opinion. That's early/mid August. Both American and English schools are broken up then, I think? (Somebody else mentioned another meteor shower but I don't know when it is . . .)

I think Geoff's planetarium idea should take place maybe over Easter - I'd like to have another meet-up before the summer; why wait?

Here Here

Both of those are doable for me, as long as I can have suitable warning to book time off work.

As for distance for me to New Mexico... I know its a long way, but a trip I'd love to make