Whitby & District Astronomical Society

Hallelujah, finally clear skies (well almost) coincided with an event held at Whitby Youth Hostel. Just the fourth time of asking.  Planned at quite short notice after the last event at the hostel in February, this event had also been fully booked up.   

Confident skies would at least be sufficiently clear for observing, and with Mercury, Jupiter, and comet 12P/Pons-Brooks present in the west sky, assistance with telescopes would be necessary, Brian, Keith, Lee, and Richard all able to do so.  

Accessibility and logistics proved complicated, with ongoing work at the Abbey visitors centre preventing any vehicular traffic parking or even unloading in the hostel car park.  A plan was formulated to overcome this, with observations taking place from the area in front of the visitor centre, leaving just the IT, and other paraphernalia required for indoor presentation to be carted to the hostel from the drive area.  Mark and Lee were first to arrive shortly after 7pm, Richard and Brian following a little later after picking up Keith.

Whilst Mark sought out Glynnis and the large group attending down in the cafe, Keith and Co sorted out the Cholmley room.  By 7:30pm this was ready, however, our plan was to first congregate out in the cafe garden to see if we could spot Mercury, and perhaps even the comet.

There was however a slight issue, a cloud bank covering much of the west sky above the horizon and although Jupiter was clearly visible, Mercury was not!  People emerged from the cafe and were informed of the plan, Mark pointing out a few objects in the sky, playing for time. Mercury then appeared from behind the cloud, highlighted by the laser pen, people thrilled to have spotted it.  It was yet a little too light to attempt to view the comet, so we returned to the Cholmley room for a short overview on the winter night sky. 

Not wanting to spend too much time indoors, we soon returned outdoors to start observing, unloading the cars, setting up the scopes and surveying the sky.  Patchy, high cloud was present in the west, and Jupiter was reduced in brightness, good enough to observe though. Queues formed behind the scopes, 10" dobsonian, 6" dobsonian and Lee's 6" reflector. Binoculars were also on hand.  Mark then spotted comet 12P in binoculars, and all the scopes were turned towards it, a fuzzy blob for everyone to admire. 

Attention turned to the Orion nebula, which although slipping down into more unstable air above the WSW horizon still looked impressive enough.  More spring constellations were pointed out, before Jupiter was again targeted.  By 9pm it was finally time to return to the Hostel for tea, coffee, and cake, and whilst these were being consumed Mark gave one more presentation before wrapping up proceedings.  It had been a very successful event, with all those attending impressed with what they had observed and learnt along the way. 

Thanks again to Glynnis and staff at the WYH and Brian, Keith, Lee, and Richard. Hopefully, by the time of the next WYH event during Halloween week in the autumn, all scaffolding will have long since been removed and access will be easier.