Whitby & District Astronomical Society

The scheduled star party event for Aug 5th was just a minor casualty of the 'summer storm' which battered the UK and caused many events to be cancelled.  Following Whitby Regatta, the next two scheduled events on the 19th and 25th were very similar affairs.  Conditions were fine and settled for each date with stars visible, and yet the telescopes failed to make it out of the car.  Sometimes a fine evening just doesn't cut it when it comes to observing, yes clear sky was present, but not in the right locations.  Yes, stars were visible, but not in sufficient quantity, and those that were showing face did so fleetingly, in, out, in - you get the picture.  The 'face' should have been that of the Moon's on the 25th, but again wrong type of cloud in the wrong area robbed the Moon of any detail or clarity.  Keith and Mark stared up at the sky in hope that banks of wispy and flocculant cloud would just dissipate.  But alas, no. Once again the forecast had proven inaccurate for the late evening period and reluctantly, we stood down.     

The event on the 25th coincided with the final day of Folk week and the first of the Bank Holiday events.  So, it was particularly frustrating to be idle under half decent conditions. Having studied the forecast for the rest of the Bank Holiday period, Keith and Mark made the executive decision to cancel the event on the 27th (Sunday) and instead hold an event on the 26th, when at least several forecasts gave clear skies.  It turned out to be the right call.  Saturday 26th was showery, but any showers faded away leaving almost clear skies.  Mark, with welcome assistance from Brian A, joined Keith on the West Cliff in still conditions. The ad placard had been out since late afternoon, so we hoped to be busy.  Initially, the remaining cloud obscured the Moon and Saturn, looked to be clearing, so we set up in relative confidence that observations would take place.   

Four scopes were employed: the 300mm (12"), 250mm (10") and 20mm (8") dobsonians, and the short focal length 100mm (4") Helios refractor.   People began to show interest and wander over to view the picture poster boards arrayed against the railings.  Stars began to emerge, and Vega and Arcturus were targeted.   Finally, the gibbous Moon let slip its light veil of cloud and although riding low to the south horizon was a draw we needed.   More stars appeared, Beta Cygni (Albireo) seemed a revelation to those present as did Mizar and Alcor in the Plough.  The main observing draw had yet to appear, Saturn, presumably still mired in the departing cloud low to the southeast.  Then suddenly there it was!  The big dobs swung ino action and people eagerly queued to glimpse the ringed wonder, low as it was to the horizon.  The image was quite steady in the eyepiece.  

An extremely large train of humanity appeared, heading toward Cpt Cook's statue, the finish of the Ghost Walk tour they were on.  Mark had a brainwave and wandered over to listen to the last ghostly story, and with permission, jumped in to inform all that Saturn was nigh at hand and all they had to do was wander 25 meters to the array of scopes waiting.  Many did just that and had to be corralled into queues behind the scopes.

By then the Moon was low, hiding amongst the chimney stacks adorning the Royal Hotel, and we had to relocate the Helios scope several times to access a view.  People seemed impressed at the view but were utterly thrilled at the spectacle of Saturn.  Now ensnared, Mark gave a laser point tour of the constellations visible, Keith acquired the Andromeda galaxy, and everyone was happy!  By 22:30hrs matters were winding down, and as we reloaded the cars, we looked for any sign of Jupiter.  None, but as we headed home, there it was – oh well too late now!

The event on the 27th was cancelled, but would have been clouded out!