viewings
The ethos of Long Itch Astro is to try and encourage persons to look up and see the wonders of the night sky.
To this end, I do encourage viewing opportunities. I can cater for large groups, family groups, couples or individuals.
Large Groups
This can be schools, scouts or similar groups. This involves coming to your establishment for the purposes of viewing.
A contribution towards travelling expenses is expected.
Family Groups, Couples and Individuals
Family Groups, couples and individuals can also be catered for at my home address in Long Itchington.
Arrangements
If you wish to arrange a viewing please send a request via our viewing request form.
I will then make contact with you to arrange a suitable date.
This will normally take place between October and April, generally from when the clocks go back to when they go forward the following year.
The reason for this is that during April it may be 10pm before it is dark enough to set up and do some viewing, whereas it can be dark as early as 5pm during the winter months.
It takes me about 30 minutes to set up and align my equipment ready for viewing.
The winter tends to be better too, as colder conditions can provide better viewing conditions, so wrap up warm!
Obviously it is not possible to plan ahead for the weather and a decision will be made on the day as to whether or not viewing will take place due to inclement weather, or too much cloud cover.
Photographic Opportunities
If you have a Canon or Nikon DSLR there may be an opportunity for you to take Images through the telescope, so please bring your DSLR with you if this is something that appeals to you.
Failing this an SHDC card will suffice.
There will also two other telescopes in use to which you can connect your mobile phone or tablet via wi-fi.
On the Day
I will contact you on the day of viewing between 5pm and 6pm to advise you whether or not we will be viewing that evening.
As a guide generally need at least 75% cloud free sky to align the telescope and we want to see as much as we possible can during your evening session.
If the decision is taken to cancel the viewing that evening, we will try and arrange another suitable date.
What you are likely to see:
- Moon - its craters and other features
- Jupiter - the two belts, its 4 main moons and hopefully the famous Red Spot
- Saturn - its rings and possibly the Cassini division (the gap between the rings)
- Andromeda Galaxy - the closest galaxy to earth at a mere 2.5 million light years away
- The Orion Nebula - spectacular with just a 24 second exposure on DSLR's
- Open Clusters - like the Pleidaes
- Stars - Various ones, including Betelgeuse which is changing and could explode at any time, see the different colours due to their temperature
- Globular Clusters - some containing up to 500,000 stars
- Deep Sky Nebula