new observing sites, south of Limerick city

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Dave Lillis
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new observing sites, south of Limerick city

Post by Dave Lillis » Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:26 am

Guys'n Gals,
I think we've all come to realize that the Burren site tends to be cloudier then other parts of north Munster, we can all remember looking from Boher and seeing cloud on the horizon over the Burren.
So we need more options south of the city that isn't surrounded by trees, someone's back garden and is easily accessible. Having the dolman carpark as our only main observing site is not good enough really.

So I've put up this thread for people to add suggestions, sites to investigate and visit.
Peoples back gardens are not suitable in the long term, cos lets face it, car noise, noise from people talking and the whirl of telescope motors at all hours of the night is eventually going to piss them off and I just don't like having to ask anyone to use their back garden, unless its literally a 2 acre field half a mile from the house....

So, if you know of any high lying areas with a good horizon, a site by a lake or anywhere with a solid surface and a good horizon, then jot them down here.
Dave L. on facebook, See my images in flickr
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me, but what a way to go. :)

Roy Stewart
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Post by Roy Stewart » Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:02 am

I got a couple of places I'd like
to investigate in the cratloe area
also there is 1 other in Sixmile Bridge
that I would like to check out..
I'll keep ye posted.

Cheers Roy :D :D
Roy Stewart.

Roy Stewart
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Post by Roy Stewart » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:52 pm

Hey Guys

I just got off the phone with the manager
of the Golden Vale Mart in Sixmile bridge
about using their grounds as an observing site
for the club..
He said he'll bring it up at the next committee meeting
which is next week and he'll get back to me with an answer..

I think the place is ideal for observing, it has huge area
for parking the cars and setting up all our scopes..
So fingers crossed.. :evil: :evil:


Cheers Roy :D :D
Last edited by Roy Stewart on Sun Sep 23, 2012 5:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Roy Stewart.

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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:45 pm

That's great stuff, is the place in six mile bridge or outside, if it's in the town then it isn't much use with light pollution. We also need to check out tountine mountain on a clear night to either eliminate it or select it as a site. I know it's windy up there but if we can get into a wind shadow of the buildings, it might just work out
Dave L. on facebook, See my images in flickr
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me, but what a way to go. :)

Roy Stewart
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Post by Roy Stewart » Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:05 pm

Its a good bit outside the
main street in Sixmile Bridge..
But ya, we need to try Killaloe again...
Its meant to be clear tomorrow nite
if ye want we can try Tountine and
see what its like... I'm mad for a bit of
observing after the weekend disappointment..

Cheers Roy :D :D
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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:06 pm

yea its a good idea, but the timing is all wrong for me, had a very long night at work last night and am wrecked, so I'll have to think about it for a while.
Dave L. on facebook, See my images in flickr
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me, but what a way to go. :)

Roy Stewart
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Post by Roy Stewart » Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:15 pm

Totally understand, I had a long
night with the little one last night,
But give me a shout if u're up for checkin
out Tountinna I'll hit it with you...
I also took a few pic's of the possible site
in Sixmile Bridge.. I'll post them up here when I
get the chance..

Cheers Roy :D :D
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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Wed Sep 19, 2012 1:25 pm

well, just to let everyone else know whats happening,

Tom, Roy, Darren and myself headed up to the top of Tountinne mountain last night to have a look.
The conditions at ground level were typical of an observing night, not too windy.
When we got to the summit, it was fairly windy and cooler then ground level, we found that the buildings did provide good wind shelter but there is no way of getting a big scope in there, so the summit is not viable as an observing site unless there is no wind, tbh it would be a special occasions site only.
However, there is a dirt track a 100 yards down the road (little height difference) that is abit more sheltered with a good general horizon, with keeper hill due south, so it is worth trying out some clear night. There is some wind there but no more then in the burren.
It is however not a site you could use with temperatures below zero as the road up there would be impossible with any ice or frost.

This hill is considerably higher then I thought, the summit is at 457 meters which is about 1500feet, about 1.5 times the height of woodcock hill and maybe twice the height at cratloe hill

see http://mountainviews.ie/summit/596/

We must try keeper hill, its summit is at 2277feet, the highest mountain for miles around, obviously we wouldn't be observing at the summit, but there must be locations on the hill we could try out.
Dave L. on facebook, See my images in flickr
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me, but what a way to go. :)

Roy Stewart
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Post by Roy Stewart » Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:46 pm

Hey Guys...

I might have a new site for
observing, its ballyneety golf club
On road to kilmallock...
I was speaking with the club
Pro Donal McSweeney and he
said he cant see there being a problem...
He said we could use the carpark..
They have a meeting with the administrators
about buying the club and they'll know by
this time next month.
Another possible observing site heading south..

Cheers Roy :D :D
Roy Stewart.

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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:57 pm

well, if thats as good as I think it might be, then that's a major problem solved regarding a southern site. we need somewhere, away from the estuary and coast and is south of limerick, time will tell if this is the site we've been looking for.....

Also, I've updated the observing section of the website with our 2 current sites.
http://www.shannonsideastronomyclub.com ... ssions.htm
Dave L. on facebook, See my images in flickr
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me, but what a way to go. :)

Simon Kenny
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Post by Simon Kenny » Sun Sep 23, 2012 1:11 pm

The Burren is a great site - when it's clear. A comment made by a local at the Burren Star Party about 3 years still rings in my ears " sure it's always foggy up there"
I agree with the comments already made by Dave. A site which is good, easily accessable and not too far from the city would, I think, be an advantage especially if we are to attract new members - with the Burren and Tountinna for serious/special occasions.

Simon

Frank Ryan
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Post by Frank Ryan » Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:22 pm

Roy Stewart wrote:Hey Guys...

I might have a new site for
observing, its ballyneety golf club
On road to kilmallock...
I was speaking with the club
Pro Donal McSweeney and he
said he cant see there being a problem...
He said we could use the carpark..
They have a meeting with the administrators
about buying the club and they'll know by
this time next month.
Another possible observing site heading south..

Cheers Roy :D :D
Roy, I would say that the housing estate to the North, East & South East of the golf club would rule out observing there. We need to find a place that has as little local light pollution as possible. :wink:

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