2014-01-11 - Astronomical Observatory Stargazing ride

Start 2pm, The statue outside the observatory, overlooking the docklands

So a few of you will know I dabble with some telescopes for a day job, so I thought it would be cool to combine a bike ride with the chance to show off the telescopes I can get access to.

The actual date is still provisional pending staffing at the University of London Observatory in Mill Hill, and there might be a small charge to cover costs, £30 in total or so.

The deal would be to start at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and head through central all the way North to Mill Hill and the beautiful surroundings of the Watford bypass. A relatively short 20-30 miles at a sociable pace.

Once we're there we will have a tour of the 5 telescopes on site and weather depending some observing of a planet or some such.

From there it's 10 miles back to central or the train on Capital Connect goes to St Pancras.

As it's a small site total numbers would be limited to 20 or so maximum and I'd need numbers up front...

Route to follow and if you're lucky a spoke card.

Some pics from the ULO website: http://www.ulo.ucl.ac.uk/webimage/

Route:
Here

List!

1. Hairnetnic
   
   

**EDIT:
**-The observatory has polished wooden floors and therefore NO CLEATS/BITS POKING OUT on your shoes, so bring a pair of flip flops or be prepared for walking around in your socks.
-Secondly, 20 is the maximum so if you can't make it please remove yourself from the list so someone else can take your place.
-Thirdly, the cost is more than I estimated, it is likely to be £5 per head, I'll try to negotiate it down.

wow - nice idea!

IN!! Used to go past that observatory on the way to School.

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   

IN!! Used to go past that observatory on the way to School.

It's setting is a bit bizarre these days...

A flit past Royal Astro Society could be a go-er...

And/or Isaac Newtons house?

It's setting is a bit bizarre these days...

Yeah, that always puzzled me. I guess the location made sense in the 20's. Saying that however, I'd have imagined a major rethink would have been in order after the A road was built.
Damn, I actually grew up near enough exactly 1mile from it!

Yeah, that always puzzled me. I guess the location made sense in the 20's. Saying that however, I'd have imagined a major rethink would have been in order after the A road was built.
Damn, I actually grew up near enough exactly 1mile from it!

By the time the main road was built almost all front line research had moved offshore. Northern Europe is a bad spot altogether, main road or not!

It is a teaching facility today but still capable of some impressive data, they've found an exoplanet for example...

yes please in

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   

By the time the main road was built almost all front line research had moved offshore. Northern Europe is a bad spot altogether, main road or not!

It is a teaching facility today but still capable of some impressive data, they've found an exoplanet for example...

Amazing! Despite all the pollution.
Prepare for a lot of oncoming questions and amazed gesticulation come setting foot anywhere near any form optical device!

Please count me in for this! Just earlier today I was reading up about the Paul-Baker design and Roderick Willstrop's prototype three mirror telescope, prompted by a visit to Kettle's Yard where there was an exhibition including prints from negatives he took with it. Will add my name to the list when I get to a grown up internet connection.

^done. Sounds great, I'm up for this too.

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   

Thanks blue fleet! Even if it's cloudy, it would be so cool to gawp at a giant double Grubb refractor! Or to see a C14 slewing on a Paramount!

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   

Thanks blue fleet! Even if it's cloudy, it would be so cool to gawp at a giant double Grubb refractor! Or to see a C14 slewing on a Paramount!

Is that something to do with snail racing and a paralympic event?...which confirms I know nothing about any of this. But I've been known to stare blankly into space which is a start I guess.

I know nothing about astronomy, but I would be an enthusiastic learner. I remember talking to you about your PHD briefly on a ride to dedham a year or two ago...

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   

You did it!
Awesome
in

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   ∞. skygazer
   

Is that something to do with snail racing and a paralympic event?...which confirms I know nothing about any of this. But I've been known to stare blankly into space which is a start I guess.

The Grubb is a huge beast, effectively two Victorian telescopes bolted together, one with a lens 18" across, the other 24" across. And a C14 is a modern compound telescope, the big brother of what I use (occasionally) and beloved of planetary observers.

The grubb is is known as the Radcliffe. It's an absolute beauty that was a class leader in it's day.

The c14s are less impressive but give you a lot more observing for the the same effort and essentially the same size science wise

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   ∞. skygazer
   8 Messier 606
   

The Grubb is a huge beast, effectively two Victorian telescopes bolted together, one with a lens 18" across, the other 24" across. And a C14 is a modern compound telescope, the big brother of what I use (occasionally) and beloved of planetary observers.

cool, lets hope its not cloudy.

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   ∞. skygazer
   8 Messier 606
   
8. Mattsplanb
   

Sounds ace.

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   ∞. skygazer
   8 Messier 606
   
8. Mattsplanb
   
9. Samuelson
   

Great idea Nick, Just up the road from where I used to live (only a few miles away now) and I've always wanted to have a look inside

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   ∞. skygazer
   8 Messier 606
   
8. Mattsplanb
   
9. Samuelson
   
10. conker
    

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   ∞. skygazer
   9 Messier 606
   
8. Mattsplanb
   
9. Samuelson
   
10. conker
    
11. mars
    

1. Hairnetnic
   
2. Chak
   
3. shinkuu kiss
   
4. Ludd
   
5. blue fleet
   
6. sky-browse.
   
7. t.o. infinity and beyond
   ∞. skygazer
   9 Messier 606
   
8. Mattsplanb
   
9. Samuelson
   
10. conker
    
11. mars
    
12. HairyChris
    
    

I spent some of my childhood staring through a telescope courtesy of the Portsmouth Astronomical Society.