Skelligs Star Party 2015, August 14th to 16th Ballinskelligs

Cheers Kevin. It's actually not really for me to be honest, given i dont have a tripod based mount- but i am terrified at the thought of walking through the dark knowing that one false step may cost me a fortune

Skellig Star Party Running Order

Please note this is a ticket event, as all tickets have been allocated we cannot accommodate anyone on the day. We are very limited by space in the venue.

Saturday 15th August 2015
Cable O’Leary’s Ballinskelligs Co Kerry

12.00 - Welcome Address - Dave Connolly

12.20 - On the Shoulders of Giants, a History of Our Quest to Understand the Cosmos - Brian McGabhann

13.20 – Lunch (Available in the Bar, Payable locally) and Solar Observing at the back of the venue.

14.30 – The Legacy of Apollo – Nick Howes

15.30 - Dr Kim Ennico Smith – New Horizons Mission to Pluto.

16-30 – Raffle and Closing Address

Hi all,

I've some sky notes to supplement those produced by Neill added to Dropbox. The download link is www.dropbox.com/s/smxsqv0vtgitadc/SSP_2015_sky_notes.pdf?dl=1

The pdf has charts for finding Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, as well as minor planet 21 Lutetia. Also included are all-sky charts for every 2 hours from sun-down to sun-up.

John

Thanks John..

That is excellent, a lot of work and thought
went into that.

Cheers Roy

Tiangong-1 Pass info for the party along with the other info in one post for ease:

13 Aug 3.5 04:28:07 11° SSE 04:28:07 11° SSE 04:28:46 10° SE
14 Aug 3.0 05:01:16 14° S 05:01:56 15° S 05:03:50 10° SE
15 Aug 3.0 05:34:28 10° SW 05:36:16 15° S 05:38:06 10° SSE
16 Aug 3.2 04:35:39 14° SSE 04:35:39 14° SSE 04:36:40 10° SE

ISS

12 Aug -3.2 22:27:01 10° W 22:30:15 58° SSW 22:32:25 19° ESE
13 Aug -0.9 00:03:58 10° W 00:04:59 15° WSW 00:04:59 15° WSW
13 Aug -2.0 23:10:29 10° W 23:13:16 26° SSW 23:13:42 25° SSW
14 Aug -2.5 22:17:12 10° W 22:20:15 38° SSW 22:22:25 16° SE
15 Aug -1.2 23:01:04 10° WSW 23:03:07 16° SW 23:03:45 15° SSW


Iridum Flares

Aug 12, 23:56:27 -0.4 23° 265° (W) 94 km (E) -6.7
Aug 13, 00:05:30 -1.8 19° 267° (W) 61 km (W) -6.5
Aug 13, 02:58:33 -0.1 15° 319° (NW) 75 km (E) -6.2
Aug 13, 03:07:11 0.1 12° 322° (NW) 79 km (W ) -5.9
Aug 13, 04:19:13 -1.6 50° 281° (W) 29 km (E) -8.2

Aug 13, 23:59:37 -4.0 19° 269° (W) 37 km (E) -6.5
Aug 14, 00:08:42 -0.1 16° 270° (W) 119 km (W) -6.3
Aug 14, 03:01:03 -5.8 12° 323° (NW)13 km (E) -5.9
Aug 14, 05:59:14 -4.0 70° 223° (SW) 9 km (W) -8.5

Aug 14, 23:53:37 0.7 20° 270° (W) 158 km (E) -6.5
Aug 14, 23:55:00 -3.7 18° 270° (W) 43 km (E) -6.5
Aug 15, 00:02:45 -6.3 17° 271° (W) 2 km (E) -6.3
Aug 15, 00:11:54 0.4 14° 273° (W) 156 km (W) -6.1
Aug 15, 03:03:33 0.3 9° 326° (NNW) 47 km (W) -5.7
Aug 15, 04:16:09 -2.6 45° 282° (WNW) 21 km (W) -8.0
Aug 15, 05:53:10 -4.7 69° 228° (SW) 8 km (W) -8.5

Aug 15, 23:56:44 -0.2 17° 272° (W)137 km (E) -6.3
Aug 16, 00:05:49 -6.0 15° 274° (W) 20 km (W) -6.2
Aug 16, 00:15:02 0.4 12° 276° (W) 176 km (W) -6.0
Aug 16, 04:10:00 -4.5 43° 284° (WNW) 12 km (W) -8.0
Aug 16, 05:47:07 -0.6 71° 226° (SW) 30 km (E) -8.5

Other Stuff

Uranus rises around 22:55 and lies to the SE of Zeta Piscium (+5.2). Neptune rises around 21:50 and lies to the SW of Lambda Aquarii (+3.7). Pluto sets at around 03:20 and lies between the 2 stars which make up Xi Sagittarii - see the maps in John's guide.

Many thanks Neill for all that info.

I was talking with Brian Harvey before about spotting the Chinese space station and despite our best attempts, we've been defeated by weather or other circumstances preventing a sighting. As mentioned in the pdf, I know of no successful sighting of the station from Ireland.

See you next week.

John.