At Delamont Country Park, Killyleagh, Co Down
The Council has decided that the Observing Programme can now be brought back into being following the Covid-19 pandemic. We are being very careful to make sure we work within the restrictions currently in place in order to bring some socially distanced observing back into being, however be aware that the safety of our members is paramount.
To this end we will supply some anti-bacterial wipes to ensure that telescope controls and eyepiece surrounds are cleaned between users and of course if you bring your own telescope or binoculars so much the better. Mask-wearing at close-quarters and social distancing are still necessary.
You can of course continue to observe from home and to that end we are producing the IAA/IFAS Sky Guides on our YouTube Channel as well as Neill McKeown’s excellent monthly guide here………
The IAA observing nights are planned with a degree of flexibility to accommodate our variable weather. The first preference night is usually a Friday and will be chosen to coincide with a particular event – eg a meteor shower, first quarter Moon or moonless sky. An update will always be shown on this website to indicate whether the session is going ahead. This is generally updated at 6pm on the Friday or Saturday evening concerned.
The sessions are designed to cater for all levels of capability and beginners of all ages are most welcome.
We will usually have one of the IAA’s 12″ or 16″ telescopes available for viewing of Deep Sky objects and members will bring a range of telescopes suited to viewing different objects. Some times there’s a Barbeque in progress before the sky darkens – bring your own bangers, bacon etc!
Check the Weather Forecast for Delamont Country Park here……
Dates:-
|
|
1st choice |
2nd choice |
| Oct 2021
| Sat 16th
| 29th/30th |
| November
| 5th/6th
| 26th/27th
|
| December
| 3rd/4th
|
|
| January 2022
| 7th/8th
| 28th/29th |
| February
| 4th/5th | 25th/26th
|
| March
| 4th/5th
| 25th/26th
|
| April
| 1st/2nd
| 22nd/23rd
|
Notes:
All dates provisional – subject to amendment, other venues TBC