"Do the pointy thing" was the saying that I will remember most from my stargazing night with a group of American and Canadian travel journalists. I was out on a cool and cloudy night with them at Knockinaam Lodge over at Portpatick. With the sea in front of us and the hotel behind it was an ideal setting. The lights in the hotel grounds had been turned off specially and apart from fishing boat close to shore with an annoying bright white light it was dark. As we were waiting for the moon to set and for it to get really dark we enjoyed looking at first the moon then the planets using the astronomy binoculars. Jupiter and its moons made a wow moment for everyone then the redness of Mars and Saturn looking lumpy with its rings.
My laser pointer impressed the self appointed 'Junior' Dark Sky Rangers enabling us to pick out particular stars as they appeared from behind the clouds. Everyone was really enthusiastic and, with the US/UK time difference, wide awake when the clouds disappeared totally and the stars came out to play. With a predominance of Leo's, one of whom had the same birthday as me, it was great when the constellation of Leo made its appearance above Jupiter.
All in all a great night out and as I left at 2.30am everyone was still wide awake and settling down to a late night cheese board and whisky tasting. To add to their walls of certificates that they have accumulated on their trips around the world everything from Salsa dancing to wine tasting I am now working on some 'Junior' Dark Sky Ranger certificates to give everyone to commemorate their stargazing night. We also have a special Dark Sky Ranger salute, which we can use to measure the distance between stars...... each clenched fist measuring 10 degrees so from the end of the big dipper (America) or plough (British) to the North star, Polaris is 3 hands.
My laser pointer impressed the self appointed 'Junior' Dark Sky Rangers enabling us to pick out particular stars as they appeared from behind the clouds. Everyone was really enthusiastic and, with the US/UK time difference, wide awake when the clouds disappeared totally and the stars came out to play. With a predominance of Leo's, one of whom had the same birthday as me, it was great when the constellation of Leo made its appearance above Jupiter.
All in all a great night out and as I left at 2.30am everyone was still wide awake and settling down to a late night cheese board and whisky tasting. To add to their walls of certificates that they have accumulated on their trips around the world everything from Salsa dancing to wine tasting I am now working on some 'Junior' Dark Sky Ranger certificates to give everyone to commemorate their stargazing night. We also have a special Dark Sky Ranger salute, which we can use to measure the distance between stars...... each clenched fist measuring 10 degrees so from the end of the big dipper (America) or plough (British) to the North star, Polaris is 3 hands.
Junior, Dark Sky Rangers with Dark Sky Ranger salute
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