Clear Skies, Tooting Common

Last minute offer of a stargazing meet on Tooting Common near Tooting Bec; skies forecast fairly clear until 10pm. Anyone up for it?

If noone responds I'll stay home, so do RSVP here or message me to confirm. If you can't come, think of it as a reminder that you ought to be able to see some stars/planets and such tonight until closer to 10pm.

We can meet in the usual pub for this venue - the Rose and Crown, for a little while before heading to the common, or coordinate somewhere if you're happy to/there's only one or two of you (easier if we've met before at other events).

DO dress up warm, it'll be chilly, especially add another layer than what you think you need, if you've not done this before and aren't used to planning for time standing relatively still/sitting in the middle of a big open space under clear skies. Hat/gloves/warm socks worth adding too.

If you can only show up later, again make sure it's happening still, but we'll likely be directly diagonally opposite the pub, but might also consider the cricket court next to the car park on Dr. Johnson Avenue - approx. 10-15 minute walk, if we're all able to. Happy to help you find us - take note of my phone no. (in event location details/"how to find us" short text) or comment here and I will try to notice Meetup comments/messages but SMS text messages might be the best way to reach the host (John), details alongside the location info.

Targets!

People are talking of a planetary procession again like last year, and there are indeed a few out. Jupiter being the brightest. Saturn is hiding for a few months, behind the sun. Besides this lots of other options so am sure we can find several targets to examine and explore.

I (John) will bring my little (but nicely portable) telescope. If you have equipment suitable that you can bring, please do - binoculars count too (I might bring a pair of those too). Don't worry if you don't have anything, we'll share views with you and I can answer many questions beginners often have. Regular torches can ruin our night vision - if you have red-light versions or can filter them (or turn them off as you get nearer), that will make them ok to use while in the group, but you don't need one.

Please update your rsvp and/or comment here or message me if you change your mind about coming, I might message you to check if it looks like only one or two are coming so please be able to check messages closer to the time; it's polite and avoids delaying the rest of us enjoying the stars/planets or wasting our time. If there's no other RSVPs I'll still probably be stargazing a bit from home, so its important to use meetup and let me know or RSVP and allow a bit of time for replies if you want to check on us/where we are. My phone no. (use text messages if you can't get me directly) is listed in the location details how to find us for the event.

Need help transporting anything? I can offer to help you get any equipment onto the common from the roads/parking spaces nearby, perhaps others there too, if you're ok with that.