Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

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Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by marktownley »

For any of you who are in the area, I will be up at Keele observatory on saturday 19th may with my solar scopes for their 50th birthday party;

http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/Observator ... event.html

I will have a 'stall' setup and will be giving out eclipse goggles and sharing views of the sun through my scopes, will also have a laptop setup to show CaK views.

Would love to see as many of you as possible there, and would be even better if you have a scope you can bring along too.

Let me know if you can make it :)


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May

Post by Montana »

You know I would if I could :(

Alexandra


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mark

well switzerland is in the area of england isnt it :)

Do you know about the charge for a 150/3000 surplus baggage on british airways flights :lol:


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May

Post by marktownley »

Tee hee hee. I'm hoping to get the lunt wedge in their 12" frac http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/Observator ... mmary.html could be quite interesting...


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May

Post by marktownley »

Just a reminder to anybody who fancies coming along, this is happening this saturday coming:

http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/Observator ... event.html

This will be my biggest solar outreach event to date, with well over 300 attendees confirmed so far. I have a 'table' setup in the entrance to the lecture hall for Professor Allan Champmans http://www.gresham.ac.uk/professors-and ... an-chapman lecture on The Victorian Transits of Venus, 1874 and 1882. Everyone attending the lecture will be receiving a complementary pair of Charlie Bates solar glasses.

After the lecture it's a race upto the observatory to get the scopes setup (weather permitting!) where again will have a table with solar glasses available for all who want a pair. Shall have computer setup so people can get a CaK view of the sun... If it rains there is still space to setup and exhibit the kit inside the observatory buildings... It's gonna be a busy day!

I have a gut feeling (ssshhh!) this could be generating some media attention, so a case of watch this space ;) Either way my pal from work is coming along with me and will be taking lots of pics of the whole day as I think i'm gonna be busy at the scopes!

Come along if you can, it will be great!

Mark :)


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May

Post by vidman »

Your activity at these events is outstanding. Makes me wish the "Chunnel" from the US to England was finished. :)


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May

Post by solarchat »

Oh Yeah!!


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May

Post by Merlin66 »

Sounds like you'll have your hands full!!
Wish you luck and success..


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May

Post by marktownley »

Cheers guys! It will be fun, i'm looking forward to it :)


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by marktownley »

OK Peeps, yesterday was said sun party - one slight problem - it was cloudy (as you might expect!), however this is how to still run a successful solar outreach even without the sun...

Event kicked off with a series of lectures to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Keele University Observatory - culminating in the keynote speaker professor Allan Chapman on Transits of Venus. I was 'on the door' to the lecture hall giving out CBSAP solar glasses out to all 300 attendees reminding them of the transit on the 6th june. My pal took these pics as the lecture theatre was filling up...


DSCF3522 by Mark Townley, on Flickr


DSCF3521 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

So many people were gobsmacked that I was 'giving them away for free' as here in the UK these glasses retail for ~£3-£5 a pair - rip off Britain!

Anyway, the lecture hall filled up fast, and as looked around there were solar glasses all over the place...


DSCF3525 by Mark Townley, on Flickr


DSCF3532 by Mark Townley, on Flickr


DSCF3528 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

One of the lectures was on local astro-archaeology, and how sunset / sunrise positions have changed over the last several thousand years since these stone circles / standing stones were put in place. This slide amused me, as certainly in the UK a 'gentlemans magazine' has a completely different connotation to what is intended on the slide...


DSCF3533 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Then it was time for Professor Chapman to take to the stage...

http://youtu.be/WF8-b3LKB4I

He made reference to use of solar glasses for the transit, and when a rude gentleman in the audience heckled him to dim the lights, Professor Chapman retorted that he would rather not as prefered to speak in the light, and that people would not be able to see him with their solar glasses if the lights were off - this bought a roar of laughter from the audience...

Then we raced back to the observatory to get setup for the visitors we were expecting...

Here I am with my pal Steve who took pretty much all the pics - he's also a convert to solar observing ;)


DSCF3547 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

There was a chance of rain so setup inside the observatory complex...


DSCF3548 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Then the people started arriving, a good couple of hundred...


DSCF3549 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Solar glasses were there for all and were going like hot cakes...


DSCF3550 by Mark Townley, on Flickr


DSCF3551 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Lots of people were interested in the setup, the transit, eclipses, flares etc...


DSCF3552 by Mark Townley, on Flickr


DSCF3553 by Mark Townley, on Flickr


DSCF3554 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Then I heard Jacco Van Loon, the guy who had organised the day - head honcho in charge of the whole observatory complex, was going to come and have a chat with me as Keele are looking to buy a solar scope. Jacco proceeded to pull up the Lunt website to show me the scope (the 152) and saw the CBSAP logo on the Lunt homepage - then he had one of those moments - clocked the CBSAP stickers on my scopes and the logo on the glasses - Eureka!!!


DSCF3555 by Mark Townley, on Flickr


DSCF3556 by Mark Townley, on Flickr


DSCF3557 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

As we carried on with our conversation great plans were born: Jacco told me they wanted to get the Lunt 152 to take it for outreach purposes in the surrounding local towns - as he put it, lots of people visit the observatory, but these are people who are interested in the first place - Jacco wants to target those who aren't aware... So, needless to say i'll be joining him to bolster the scope count. They do solar observing up there every saturday (weather permitting!) so I think may well be up there a bit more often - I'm also going to do some talks for them on solar astronomy, imaging and image processing...

I was also approached by several UK astro societies with a view to doing talks / presentations / outreach for them. I gave away ~50 pairs of goggles each to Kings Lynn Astronomical Society and Leicester Astronomical Society as they have transit of venus sessions organised, and also gave away another 50 pairs to a local school who were running an event...

So, 600 pairs of glasses later myself and Jacco were happy chappies at how the day had gone and had developed an action plan for further solar outreach!


DSCF3558 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

As it got dark, myself and steve packed up and headed off to the pub for a well earned beer, leaving the night sky guys hanging around wondering if the clouds would clear (they didn't!).

Hope you like!

Mark :)


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by iwatkins »

Excellent report Mark :)

Real shame the clouds didn't part for you but doesn't sound like it was a wasted day. Especially love the photo of everyone in the lecture theatre with their glasses on ;)

Cheers

Ian


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by solarchat »

Mark,
You are the best and you really "get it".

Thank you so much for representing the project so well. Love the stickers on your scopes...!


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by marktownley »

Thanks Ian & Stephen! :)

All this wouldn't be possible without you Stephen! ;)


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by PEterW »

Should be an award for the largest number of glasses given out! If Keele get a 150mm... might spark an aperture "war".

Great report,even without the sun showing!

Cheers

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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by marktownley »

Thanks Peter! :) Drop me an email with your address and when the next box of glasses arrives from stephen (they're in transit currently) i'll get you some and the lanyard in the post - sorry forgot all about it...


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by Montana »

You are a big star Mark :) :)

I can only see one photo (they must be all very big and sat here for 10 minutes too) but it looks like a fabulous day. What a pity the Sun didn't show but then it never does in the UK :(

I look forward to seeing more :)

Alexandra


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by marktownley »

Thanks alexandra :) You might have better luck looking at them via flickr...


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by Andy Devey »

Hi Mark Excellent report on an excellent job. Keele was the place my late cousin Tina Devey was a post graduate, it was there I took my first Ha look at the sun and was totally hooked

Regards

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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by PEterW »

I've meant to put together a Solar observing talk for local societies.... never got round to it. Seeing I now have better kit and with this new book that Alexandra mentions.... no excuse! I believe Nick Howes has done one and I once went to a very good talk by Kev Smith (one time Daystar agent) that was chock full of amazing shots (well for 2004ish they were).

Cheers

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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by Bill E. »

Mark,
You and Stephen are two people who I have the highest respect for. I consider you both a mentor. :bow:


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by stets »

... nicely documented. You and the crowd seem to be having a fine time.


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by marktownley »

Thanks everyone, was a lot of fun to do :)


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by Derek Klepp »

Mark top effort.Some people were born to educate cheers.


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by vidman »

Mark you are the "bees Knees" when it comes to education and our hobby.

Does this look reminiscent of one of your pics?




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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by Montana »

Nice to finally see the pictures :thumbsup:

Alexandra


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by brianb11213 »

Super job ... looks like fun ... pity about the lack of sun, it was obviously shy that day, it's made up for it since!


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by Northern Cross »

Excellant day, spoke to you and ony just realised it was you from the images. Well done fine promotiom of your chosen field. 10/10


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by marktownley »

Just as a bit of an update on this, Keele have produced their annual report - a nice feature on the CBSAP outreach event on page 11.

Also, I believe they now have a Lunt 152... me thinks a return visit is in order... International Sun Day? :whistle:

Attached files KOP4.pdf (13.9 MB)


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mark


an informal inspection is a must ;-)


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by solarchat »

nice job Mark!


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by MapleRidge »

Great overview of the days events...well done, and nice to see a great turnout :bow:

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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by Montana »

That's fabulous :hamster: pity about the amount of crime though :(

Alexandra


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by pshivak »

We're glad you got hooked Andy! :)


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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by pshivak »

Me thinks a return visit there would be an excellent idea for International SUN-day Mark! ;)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/InternationalSUNday/



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Re: Keele Observatory Sun Party Saturday 19th May -REPORT & PHOTOS!!!

Post by marktownley »

Me thinks a return visit there would be an excellent idea for International SUN-day Mark! ;)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/InternationalSUNday/



indeed ;)


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