I am not sure if you are all aware (from my early posts on the main thread) that I have invited all of you for an evening stargazing tour of the cosmos on my large telescope on the North Berwick coast and also a daytime tour around North Berwick attractions (including boat trip to Craigleigh island and Bass Rock in the morning) on Friday, eve of the Edinburgh FMUK CON.
The invite is always open (especially to our lovely Scottish locals) but if you were only coming to the Stargaze session on the coastline (as well as a visit to Berwick Law), I will actually give a go-nogo call on Thursday evening and then a final go-nogo call on Friday afternoon depending on cloud forecast. The current forecast is 24% cloud which is actually decently clear enough skies for a full cosmic tour. However, weather forecasts are never reliable if forecasting for more than several hours in advance. Take it from me as a cricketer and amateur astronomer, regularly using weather apps, making calls on cricket matches and my own astronomy events...weather centres are basically betting shops until on the day itself
If you are coming, (for the day trip or evening stargaze), please please wrap up warm as it will be cold! I will have a supply of hand warmers free for anyone that needs it (very cool products which gives off heat for upto 8 hours). For daytrippers, we will be doing some moderate walking around but we do have the option to catch buses to Tantallon castle or Direleston castles.
If you intended to come by train, I suggest to only b*y your train ticket until Friday itself when I give the go-no go call. If you would like me to notify you by text, let me have your mobile number.
FOr the day trippers joining me (that is always on!), our itinerary will be as follows (times are a loose estimate of course):
9am: Chartered boat trip to Craighleigh Island and Bass Rock (the bulk cost of this chartered boat is on me, you only p*y upto £15 per person, if more than 6 people, cost will be less. Unlike, commercial cruises, private charter is a more personal experience on a smaller boat as our well known local skipper is out to please us and offer flexibility)
11am Tantallon Castle (although, not far, we'll return-bus it to this one...though if you all up for it, its an hour walk)
2pm Dirleston Castle
4pm Leisurely exploration of North Berwick and its coastline
6:30pm Berwick Law
7:30pm: MrGlass's educational tour of the cosmos (Jupiter, Mars, Andromeda, Orion Nebula, doubles stars, comet etc)
9:30-10:30pm: Guests return to Edinburgh.
Please keep my phone number handy: (pm'd)
In case you wondering, the reason I stay in North Berwick instead of Edinburgh is because I take every opportunity of a UK break or business trip to choose a relatively dark location, away from city lights to enjoy the cosmos with my telescope. I have a big one. The telescope that is. You'll be blown away by the views through it :) I could have entertained you guys with my telescope in Edinburgh but the quality of seeing is a higher and rewarding one in darker skies.
Finally, please let me know if you are coming (either to the daytime tour or evening stargaze), so we can arrange convenient meetup point.
Whether you are coming on Friday or not , I am very excited to meet up with all of you on the main day, Saturday, to enjoy the sights of Edinburgh with all of you and our FMUK CON dinner :)
See you all later in the week...back over to Captain Diane :)
