Blackheath Stargazing
THIS EVENT IS CONFIRMED TO GO AHEAD AS PLANNED
We are running a Blackheath “Stargazing” session on Friday 15 February from 7pm until around 10pm.
The plan is to meet on Blackheath, just north of Talbot Place, which is a right turn off Goffers Road as you head towards Shooters Hill Road. Talbot Place is a cul-de-sac, where free parking is available from 6.30pm. A map of the site can be found here.
No booking is needed, and all are welcome. There will be some telescopes available, but attendees are encouraged to bring along their own telescopes and binoculars to present us with more viewing opportunities. There should be plenty of experts on hand to help with telescopes, and to point out objects in the night sky for inexperienced observers.
We will send a go/no-go message via Twitter, e-mail and text message (for subscribers), after checking the weather conditions and forecast on the evening of the event.
Our viewing targets for the evening will include the following:
- International Space Station pass (Friday evening) 19:05 to 19:09
- The Moon (30% illuminated waxing crescent Moon) in the south-west / west
- Jupiter, high in the south / south-west
- Orion Nebula, directly south
- Asteroid 2012 DA14 (Friday evening only). Though very faint, we hope to see the close pass of this asteroid as it crosses the ‘tail’ of Ursa Major in the north-east at around 21:30 to 22:00.
Blackheath is quite exposed, so please remember to wrap up warm. Although there is some street lighting on Blackheath, the area we have chosen for viewing is relatively dark and you are therefore advised to bring a torch (red light, if possible).
If you have any questions about the Blackheath Stargazing Session, then please contact us.
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