Lunar eclipse June 15th 2011 from Barcelona

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Dave Lillis
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Lunar eclipse June 15th 2011 from Barcelona

Post by Dave Lillis » Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:20 pm

Well guys'n gals,
After the recent eclipses I was looking at lunar eclipses for the next few years and the one on June 16th this year is a really good one, in that the moons center passes about 5 minutes of arc from the center of the earths shadow, this mean the moon passes almost perfectly right through the center of the shadow so making for almost as good a lunar eclipse as possible. almost the best in our lifetime.
but as per usual the eclipse is just ending as it rises in Ireland, alot tougher then the lunar eclipse we just had in December.
SO.
I was looking at starrynight and the complete umbra part of the eclipse is visible from Barcelona, and there is a good high hill in Bercelona from which to see it from, so the umbra section of the eclipse starts at moonrise on wedneaday the 15th and we'll have it finishing the penumbra section at 23.45.
So, Im thinking of going there the day before and leaving the next day, depending on available flights and taking in the eclipse there.
what do you think, would you be interested in coming along if we can find suitable flights and hotels?
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. :)

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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:45 pm

lads,
I was looking at flights and theyre very viable, from dublin unfortunately, but hey...
Does anyone know of a cheap hotel somewhere in Barcelona?, personally I'm doing this on a budget so no hilton hotel type suggestions. :)

Im going to announce this in the meeting next month and Im gonna move fast on this, I intend to have flights and hotels booked by end of January.

Obviously, if youre gonna make a weeks holiday out of it, then that would work out well for you. Im doing this from a solar eclipse mentality, get in there, get the eclipse and get out of there, keeping the costs down.
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. :)

Frank Ryan
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Post by Frank Ryan » Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:27 pm

Count me in!
I've used
http://www.lovingbarcelona.com/
to rent apartments there and found them
dirt cheap.

a return Ryanair flight to Gerona,
the bus to & from Barca,
the cab to & from the apartment &
the apartment rent should work out
handy enough if we all chip in.

Frank Ryan
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Post by Frank Ryan » Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:44 pm

Fabra Observatory is THE
place to view this!!
I was there a few years ago,
the views are stunning!
+Ryanair return flights for those days
are only €60!
Check out Fabra here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannonsi ... 9044545822

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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:42 pm

yea, the prices of the flights to Barcelona are very good and ryanair fly directly to the airport at Barcelona forget the ones nearby.
Dont know where that observatory is but if its near that very high hill on the west side of the city, the one with the church on the angled type train running up it, then that is where I had in mind as it has a superb elevated view of the eastern horison, city and med sea.

looking at ryanairs current flight times, the plan as I'd see it would be.

Depart Dublin airport at Tuesday evening
Land in barcelona in the early hours on wednesday morning,
get to hotel asap and get a good sleep.
up at midday latest and be at the observing site by 6pm latest.
Finish up when the eclipse ends around middnight wednesday night
back to hotel,
thursday morning pack up bags, and if time take in a few sights.
get to airport by 5pm thursday.
back home in the early hours of friday


the costs would be the flights, 2 nights hotel and food.
Reasonable enough given what you get, this is the barebones trip, do a week if you like.
The weather prospects for barcelona that time of year are good, but not gauranteed, but alot better then here.

IF the weather hits the fan, there is nothing stopping us leaving Barcelona early on wednesday morning (hire a car) and driving down the spanish coast, they have good motorways over there.
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. :)

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John O'Mahony
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Post by John O'Mahony » Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:10 pm

There is also the airport near Salou which Ryanair use. Its an hour on the train into Barcelona from Salou. There should be lots of accomodation there. Wish I was going.
Barcelona itself can be a bit dodgy. Last conference there one guy had his bags stolen from the hotel and another lady was mugged.
John O'Mahony
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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:02 am

yikes, when I was thinking of barcelona, i was thinking of the very elevated site on that hill, hmm, will have to think more about this,
I was there before, but hey, everyone can have good and bad experiances i guess.
Last edited by Dave Lillis on Thu Jan 06, 2011 10:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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. :)

Frank Ryan
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Post by Frank Ryan » Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:38 am

Dave, I sent you a google placemark also
posted up shots of the hill on the sac
facebook page.
It does have an angled cable tram up to it,
the direction youd be facing is right down
over Barca and the ocean.
As for muggings etc, ya, its known for it
but if there is a group of us and we are not
stupid about things it'll be grand.

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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Thu Jan 06, 2011 10:12 am

yea cool, just saw it, as fab as i remember it.
Right we need to look at hotels now.
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. :)

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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Thu Jan 06, 2011 5:43 pm

another thing we'll have to contend with is tourists and there would be alot of them there up at the very top of the hill by the church if we dont get into the observatory, dont know about the rest of you, but im not spending all my time there been a guide or having queues at the scope, you'd miss the eclipse that way.
Dont get me wrong, but I'm not doing this as outreach.
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. :)

Frank Ryan
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Post by Frank Ryan » Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:10 pm

I hear you.
Remember what happened when we went to the Burren for the
Moon / Venus occultation.
Bloody missed the re appearance over those tourists gabbing on!

I'll try and get us an invite or at the least permission to
use the observing platform.
If there is no joy then we pick a spot that suits us and avoid the crowds
at all costs.

There is also a science center down the hill a small bit that has cool
grounds and nearly the same view over the city.
Plus it's across from the bus & tram stop.

Frank Ryan
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Post by Frank Ryan » Fri Jan 07, 2011 1:32 pm

Well, I've sent them an email..
if I don't hear back within a few days I'll ring the observatory.
I'm tempted to book the flights now as they are a great price.......
what ye reckon....
60 odd quid is feck all...

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Dave Lillis
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Post by Dave Lillis » Fri Jan 07, 2011 2:25 pm

very tempted, but lets hold off untill after the meeting on wednesday, we'll get a good idea about who else might want to come along.
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 » Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:45 pm

Hey Guys.

Not trying to scupper yer plans, but ryanair have a lot of additional add on's. they charge you for every bag and charge for checking in at the airport. Before you know it the cost has gone up to about 150 euro, which isn't bad either. But just to let ye know it will be more than 60euro. I'm in the process of begging my wife to let go of the leach and let me go as Gracie will be 7 months by then.

Cheers Roy :D :D
Roy Stewart.

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Post by Roy Stewart » Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:52 pm

Just looked it up on the ryanair site and its 105euro total for you and 1 bag at 15kilo's or less and 125euro for you and a bad at 20 kilo's..... that's still a great price.

Cheers Roy :D :D :D
Roy Stewart.

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