Thanks to the Island’s very own rocket scientist, Dr Lucy Rogers, for this report from the IOW Star Party that took place a couple of weeks ago. Ed
The dark skies over the Isle of Wight drew over 85 astronomers from across the UK to the third Isle of Wight Star Party.
The event, held at Brighstone Holiday Centre from Thursday 11th to Monday 15th March, proved very successful as the skies cleared, at least in part, for all four nights.
The Island is popular with astronomers. As there is so little light pollution, especially on the south of the Island, objects such as the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye. Sadly this is no longer possible from many areas of the UK.
“Relative to other sites in the UK, the Island’s skies are up with the best in terms of darkness and lead the rest in the number of clear nights” said Dr Lucy Rogers, Vectis Astronomical Society chairman, and one of the organisers of the event.
“I hope we can preserve our dark skies, with sensible lighting schemes that shine light where it is needed and wanted, and prevent it from spilling upwards into the night’s sky.” she added.
Accessible to all
Astronomy is one of the remaining sciences where amateurs can still conduct useful work.
One attendee, John Slinn, managed to take photos through his telescope of Comet Siding Springs, which, he discovered after processing, showed the comet breaking up before it was imaged by larger, professional telescopes. Mr Slinn’s photos have been published by Astronomy Now magazine and by the Faulkes Telescope Project.
Daytime activities were also arranged, including visits to the Island’s Observatory in Watery Lane, Newchurch and to two private observatories on the Friday afternoon, trade stands and a show and tell on the Saturday and a slightly off topic Fossil Hunt, run by the Dinosaur Farm Museum on Sunday afternoon.
“The IOW Star Party is becoming a regular event, based around the new moon in March. This means it’s on before the main tourist season, which is great for the Holiday Centre and other local accommodation providers and businesses, and there is a good chance of clear skies when we still have plenty of hours of darkness.”
For more information about the Isle of Wight Star Party, see their Website or email [email protected].
Next year’s event will take place from 3rd – 7th March 2011.
For more details about Vectis Astronomical Society, see their Website
Click on images to see larger version – images © Lucy Rogers
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Click on images to see larger version – images © SJ Griffiths
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