Fell & Moon Meet, 19/20 January 2024

After several years of mixing evening astronomy with our regular daytime fell activities, the meet seems to have become a fixture! So on the 19th and 20th January 2024, we’ll try again. On the past two years of this meet, despite pretty poor weather, some interesting although rather limited views were seen on either Friday or Saturday evening. We can only hope for a clearish sky.

This will be a meet where during the day you do what you like (walk, climb, or retail therapy). In the evenings, if the weather plays fair (no cloud) then I’ll have a telescope or two out on the flat area in front of Rawhead barn to see views of the Moon and any planets visible … and whatever else I can find! The Moon is well placed and at a nice phase to show lots of craters. If we are lucky we might also get views of banded Jupiter with its moons early in the evening. Uranus is very close to the Moon and should appear as a small blueish dot. The magnificent winter constellation of Orion is also well placed with its famous bright nebula, the sword, to look at.

Come along, enjoy the company, see the sights and have fun. If it’s cloudy, then we can always enjoy the fire or go to the pub! Stargazing with a warm hut close… what’s not to like!

Catering wise, I’m not planning on organising a group meal as if it’s clear, I’ll be outside.

Ian Bradley