Join "Baker Street Irregulars" (other group)

Baker Street Irregular Astronomers is a (separate) much larger London group, with good events - only postponed/cancelled under the worst weather.

Typically 20-100 attend - depends on sky clarity. Cloudy days can still have clear nights sometimes; check the forecast!

The Hub cafe (on a mound nearer North side of park) opens specially at 6.30pm in winter, and in summer continues through the day until ~10pm for us. Please use for drinks/snacks so they can afford to stay open.

First time?
If clear skies, its colder than you expect after the sun sets (even in summer); dress warmly for standing still in large open spaces at night. Wear +1 layer more than you think (+2/3 in autumn/winter), & warm socks/footwear (maybe hat/headwear too) for anything except hot summer nights to make the most of the telescopes/people there. Ignore at your peril! Or warm up slowly & chat in the cafe if open, but you'll miss gazing time.

Beware tripod legs & don't stand in front of a scope's view. Ask permission/advice before using someone else's kit. Queue as needed. Don't look directly at the sun. Don't shine bright lights/phone screens around, so we can keep our eyes dark-adapted. Don't touch scopes when using them, just hold your eye next to the eyepiece (which may move, very slowly, if automatically tracking; or quite quickly when made to change targets). Ask/find the owner if view empty/out of focus (or adjust eye position).

Travel

Monkey gate (next to Zoo) is nearest & only gate open for the Hub cafe in winter. Description+map via their site.

Public Transport/Walking

Tube: Baker Street/St. Johns Wood, or Regents Park with a longer walk across the park - only in summer as open later (9pm).
In winter, gates are locked until the meet starts - enter via Monkey gate.
From Baker St. its a fair walk; nearest bus stop: Primrose Hill (274 route, every 10mins).
From Camden direction/towards Baker St: Wells Rise bus stop (also 274).

From Primrose Hill stop: cross zebra-crossing behind you, take path almost-aligned with the crossing, away from the road towards the Outer Circle road; cross Outer Circle to park gate.
In park, keep almost-straight-on into the park. Ignore path heading off almost immediately nearer the fence to the far left; take the left of the other two paths that fork inside the park, walking at right-angles to the road.

Driving?
Do NOT drive into Park (prohibited; risks their permit). Officials will notice (wardens office just down the road and they patrol/can join us).

Parking outside Monkey Gate is allowed - free on the Outer Circle after 6.30pm.

Notes for All

All park gates open til sunset; after sunset only one park gate is open (usually Monkey Gate, near the zoo, to the right of it when looking from outside the park). From the gate (iron, but plain & at chest-height fence level - maybe a custom BSIA lit sign nearby) on the "Outer Circle" road, its ~150m walk to The Hub along a path with a low-lit section further in (knee-height wooden posts with low-level lamps, not always lit).

Arrive when light/leave with a small group from the meet if nervous in the dark, people come and go through the evening.

Only use open gates. Never climb fences, for safety/security/their continued use of the park. If Monkey Gate is accidentally locked by a warden early, check you have the right entrance (rarely, events might switch gates for post-sunset entry/exit), then call/message the BSIA "unofficial force" organisers on Facebook/email/twitter to fix it.

Once there...

See planets (surface detail on some), their moons; and from outside our solar system, stars, nebulae, galaxies and clusters. Many colours (not just white!). We can explain lots - no such thing as a stupid question! Saturn/Jupiter (and its moons) are always highlights when visible.

In good weather, expect many binoculars & scopes outside the cafe; plus owners sharing views (do ask), teaching how to use them/what to expect/which types are best for what, learning from others. Maybe astro-photography too.

When very cloudy, the social aspect makes a (geeky) fun night and chat in the cafe; but maybe only 10-25 enthusiasts, and a few telescopes instead of 20-30ish.

Other meetup.com groups may attend too.

More Info

Group's website: bakerstreetastro.org (& mailing list).
RSVP on Facebook event (via their group, or more directly the events list page).
To check for cancellation in bad weather, message Eric (host) by email at ericemms AT aol DOT com, but short of solid rain it goes ahead (always socialising opportunities inside the cafe).

Meetings are irregular, like ours 😉; chosen by moon/planet/star rising times, celestial events, & Hub availability.

Why Go?

It's large, well-attended, friendly. Occasional competitions/raffles. Companies sometimes attend to demonstrate products. Great way to learn, see/try out equipment. Hang out with amateur astronomers!