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Mike Williamson
Having never been to Hardraw before, I was originally not too sure about going as I was warned the accommodation was quote *basic* unquote. It was, but it was fine, and I thought no more about it very soon after arriving. A backyard astronomer of only five months standing and a member for only three, I observe with binoculars at the moment and I can honestly say the following:
1. I learned more about practical observing in those two five-hour sessions under Hardraw's dark skies than I had learned in all the time since taking my first serious steps into astronomy in the New Year.
2. Having the opportunity to look at, carry about, help set up and try out many different types and makes of telescope over the weekend started the process of refining my opinion on what my first telescope will be. I could have made an expensive mistake left to my own devices. My original choice of a large GOTO catadioptric could have resulted in me not popping out for a quick pre-bedtime session and not learning the ground rules of finding my way around the sky. Many thanks to those who were happy to share their eyepiece views!
3. Everybody, bar none, in the Society seemed willing and eager to offer advice and encouragement. What more could a newbie ask for?
4. I learned that cold well-soaked oatmeal really does not appeal to me
at all. (OK, you can edit that one out, Andrew ...)
I could go on. I had a great time, so much so that I suggested we go later in the year to catch the autumn skies. I urge any Society member with or without a telescope to go.
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Megan Argo
Despite the cloudy weather on Friday and Saturday, we had two stunningly clear nights and saw an amazing number of deep sky objects and great views of some solar system objects too.
Friday night was not looking good. At sunset however, the clouds evaporated and the stars began to appear. Venus was prominent above the hills to the West, with Saturn not too far away, and Jupiter following on behind.
During the course of the night we watched the movement of the moons of Jupiter, and comet NEAT Q4 move past a field star towards the cluster M44. We also saw a pass of the ISS which I attempted to photograph.
When it started to get light, it also began to get cloudy again. The last of us went indoors at around 4-am. The next morning we ate a huge breakfast with eggs, sausages (cooked by Alan), toast, cereal (and a few even tried oats soaked overnight by Peter).
Eventually, Malc, Mike, Mark and I went for a walk up Great Shunner Fell. It was cloudy, but not particularly cold, and there were great views over towards Ingleborough. When we got back, Malc measured the distance on the map - 9.5 miles.
On Saturday evening, as the sky got darker, the clouds became fewer. The weather held and we were treated to another spectacular night's observing. We saw two more ISS passes, along with many other smaller satellites, and even a tumbler!
We watched an occultation of Io, observed comet NEAT passing very close to M44 (thanks to Stan who let me put my camera on the back of his LX200, and Andrew who let me use his mount, so I could try imaging it!), a whole host of deep sky objects (Mike even managed to locate M81/82 through binoculars!), Andrew found NGC 7000 (although I'm not sure I believe him!) and also the Veil supernova remnant through his 80-mm, and we saw the Great Rift running through Cygnus.
By 4-am it was beginning to get light once again (and I think the scotch had finally run out) so those of us left packed up and went indoors. You'd think that after two nights of this, everyone would be happy just to grab a few hours sleep. Well, astronomers, as I'm sure you're aware, are not normal people - the two Andrew's decided instead to have a game of table tennis! Madness!
Later on Sunday we got up and packed everything away. All the telescopes just about went back into Andrew's car - there wasn't a lot of room what with the 8-inch and the various tripods! Then everyone obligingly posed for a group photo before making their way home to get some much-needed sleep!
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Hardraw weekend of stargazing by Phil Sheil
Peter Molinari and myself set off on Friday night and found ourselves heading out towards Hardraw on a lovely stretch of A-road. The countryside being very scenic and certainly free of the city pollution. We arrived around 8.15p.m. The weather was gorgeous - bright blue skies!
We were equipped to stargaze within 30 mins. I took along a 3" Newtonian reflector which was purchased from an Ebay auction for £50.00, which included a 12.5mm, 25mm and a tiny 4mm lens and a 2x Barlow lens. The reflector has a 700mm focal length and a 3" mirror at one end to gather light from distant stars.
Having only just become an observer over the last 12 months or so, I found that experimentation of various eyepieces is a starting point when observing any astronomical object. A balance is required to gain resolution at the expense of magnification.
For £50.00, my reflector is a marvellous way to get started in observing. A cheap reflector of this sort, if looked after and maintained, is a great piece of kit for the observer.
I was amazed at the advancement of refractors and the views of 'space' and the Milky way. Andrew's 80mm aperture of his refractor picked out great star formations, revealing many of the the 100000000000 stars in our Milky Way.
So there we all were - about 20 of us watching space with necks craned upwards ...
Jupiter was a lovely sight through both refractors and reflectors; the two main stripes quite visible. I have found Jupiter equally as bright and more resolvable next to a half moon which seems strange as the Moon often washes out the sky of stars.
We went on to see many great sights during the Friday night including comet NEAT and a beautiful view into Coma Berenices - a beautiful constellation full of many types of star and galaxy. The view through a pair of 12x50 binoculars was outstanding, and provided they are held still, a panoramic and beautiful view of the heavens is within easy reach.
Many thanks for a great weekend.
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 July and August updates ... The bright twilight nights are slowly giving way to darker skies and the prospect of revealing a little-known nightly sight. Away from the towns and cities, the Milky Way will soon be glimpsed meandering through the constellation of Cygnus. This river of stars was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians ... Nowadays, especially when we approach the end of Summer, it's astronomers that turn their gaze skyward and praise the sight of a myriad of stars arching high above them. The following sections have been updated: This month's night sky and observations.
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Header images courtesy of the Hubble Heritage Project