Observing Sites

We use several sites, each of which has slightly different arrangements and objectives

Blackheath — Future Hare & Billet dates for your diaries: TBA

The Society meets once a month at the Hare and Billet Pub, both as a social gathering and to discuss future activities. If the weather is clear, we then view the Moon, planets and other bright objects from the nearby Heath. Blackheath is easy for most members to get to, but does have significant light pollution.

Non-members and potential members are most welcome to attend these gatherings. They are usually on the third Monday of each month. Details can be found on the Home Page. If you do not know anyone in the Society it is advisable to contact us in advance so we can identify ourselves. No need to book. Contact Dave or Pat for questions, directions, etc.

Romney — Please contact Pat Wainwright to request a date

We are privileged to have regular use of a well-equipped observatory belonging to one of our members situated on Romney Marsh. Here we enjoy much darker skies and good seeing conditions, as well as a permanently mounted 14” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Excellent views of nebulae, as well as faint objects such as the outer planets, have been seen over the last few years and the visits to Romney have become the mainstay of our observing activities. It is necessary to confirm your attendance at Romney in advance.

Hazelwood — Next dates : TBA

We have use of a private site at Hazelwood near Orpington by prior arrangement with the owner. This site is much darker than Blackheath and is relatively easy for members and guests to reach from S.E. London but does still suffer from a degree of light pollution. Being a private site we do not post maps or directions on the web. Please contact the relevant coordinator (see above) for directions & car sharing.

Cudham — Next dates : TBA

Cudham is near Biggin Hill in Kent. The recreation ground at Cudham is good for spur-of-the-moment events, being a public space with loads of parking. Very successful meetings were held at Cudham and Hazelwood to observe the last two oppositions of Mars.

Viewing with the 28-inch Great Equatorial at the Royal Observatory Greenwich

We hold sessions for Flamsteed members, weather permitting only, starting after the ‘Evenings with the Stars’ public viewing events. Sessions are planned for :

The Moon & Winter stars — 2007 Nov 19 & 20; Dec 17 & 18

Destination Mars — 2008 Jan 14, 15, 16, 22 & 29; Feb 12,

Mar 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15

We will be issuing weather status via e-mail, on this website, and via a contact phone number to be confirmed.

To contact us about observing please e-mail

observing <at> flamsteed.info (please replace <at> with @ sign)

About our observing activities

Volunteers from the Society arrange field meetings at which members can view or photograph astronomical objects using their own telescopes or those belonging to the society or ROG. These are held outside the confines of the Royal Observatory and also with the 28-inch Great Equatorial refractor in the Observatory .

All members and guests are most welcome to come along on observing evenings — no separate subscriptions are raised for attendance, though for meetings at Romney we need to know who is coming, so there is a very informal booking system. Some of the members act as coordinators for the various observing events on an opportunity basis, and their names are shown in the Observing Programme.

Observing Reports

Romney

from Nick Vermeulen

5 Planets in view & Comet Machholz

Dec 27, 2004

from Anthony Stokes

Blackheath 2004

Cudham 2004