Postponed - DM: Oxford Area, March 28, 2020

Howard_S wrote: I'd not heard of Higgins's Copse until today. If it is where I think it is on the hill besides the A420 going down into Oxford from Swindon. See this OS map here. There doesn't appear to be any access and the view, southwards would be of the suburb of Botley - which is as ordinary as it gets, I'm afraid. I have a pass for Wytham woods just north of Higgins, if it's woodland you want. You'd have to be out by dusk, I'm afraid (it's University land and a SSSI, more at https://www.wytham.ox.ac.uk/). My pass would be good for a half-dozen people. There's a pub in the village of Wytham which might be a meeting place. I'd have thought that for sunset you might want a view westwards, where the sun is going down. In Oxford that would point to South Park, which has views across the spires of Oxford to the sunset over the hills to the west. Photographer's Ephemeris link here. On 6 April 5 years ago we had a nice sunset So a good day on 28/3 should afford similar views. However, as Nandbytes observes nothing is guaranteed with British weather. On the plus side there are several pubs close to South Park that do food, and the coach to London comes through this part of town. The west of Oxford isn't so picturesque. This was taken from North Hinksey, about a kilometre or so from Higgins's Copse Further out, at Boars Hill, there is a great view of Oxford, but it is much more distant. I made this 14 years ago on a point and shoot Olympus, but if you click through to Flickr you'll see it clearer. Finally, I'm not that keen to go all the way out to Bourton on the Water for some night sky, but I am keen to try some astrophotography and would welcome the chance to learn. Just to the north east of Oxford is Otmoor, where there an RSPB reserve. Otmoor is fairly empty and very flat - and not hugely lit. CPRE organised a starcount last year (2020's results are not available yet) - see here for national results, and in the 'night blight' view looks pretty promising.

Wonderful photos Howard. I was thinking to try and capture Oxford in the glow of the sunset (so sun behind us) but failing that, a shot with the sunset in is also attractive and looks like that's a great spot.

On the night time side of things, using the light pollution overlay on Photographers Ephemeris, there's a 'dark spot of' from Bibury in the south, Burford to the SE, Moreton-in-Marsh to the North and Chedworth/Winchcombe/Snowshill to the West. That put Bourton-on-the-water and Stow-on-the-Wold pretty much centre, and Bourton looked quite pleasant. As Anand (nandbytes) said, light pollution is only one component, but I've found it to be a table stake - i.e. little point trying unless it's low. Second is time the moon will set, again this is on our side. So we can worry about the weather on the day, but the best laid plans are plans that are well laid . By stars, I'm meaning milkyway at best and star trails at worse, but both are certainly achievable to a degree, and the latter very much so (Great Eccleston for example is classed as dark Orange by TPE and still this is achievable. Otmoor that you mention would be in the dark orange/yellow area on TPE, so could work - and I'd probably rather be out in a reasonably dark field with company than in a perfectly dark field alone!

Edited by Tricky01 - 05 March 2020 at 14:08

I may well have been to the Netherlands and back by 28/3, though not to any of the current hotspots. If things get bad, as a 60-something-year-old I may well cancel.

Where would I find the light pollution overlay for the PE? I can’t see it on the web version, but I could easily have missed it.

I was in central Oxford today and it seemed less busy than usual, but then again the weather was poor.

Howard_S wrote: Where would I find the light pollution overlay for the PE? I can’t see it on the web version, but I could easily have missed it.

It seems TPE web version doesn't have it, but a quick google brought this up (which actually seems to have a greater resolution)
https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=9&lat=6772100&lon=-162056&layers=B0FFFFFTFFFFFFFF

Totally understand people's reservations regarding corvid19. I've booked the time off with the wife and kids though so will still do something photography based with the day. Happy to do alone or with others though, and truly not fussed on where if others are still interested (and cough free ) closer to the time.

Edited by Tricky01 - 13 March 2020 at 09:51

Good point Simon... I will change the title of the thread to make it clear that the meet is off.

Edit: I've put it down a 'postponed' in the hope that we will get to do something in that neck of the woods before the summer is out...

Howard_S wrote: I look forward to the day when we can remove the word 'postponed' and find a new date. In the meantime, stay safe everyone!

Here, here. We managed to move successfully just before this all kicked off although we are still without a functioning kitchen, worktops and sinks to be fitted this week ..... hopefully! Carpet fitter is currently doing his stuff in the last bedroom and we are still trying to find essentials in the dozens of removal boxes filling the garage. But it is keeping us busy, making our final home just right while we weather the storm, and in the grand scheme of things we are okay.

Feel so sorry for such a wide range of folk in difficulties with job losses, stranded in foreign parts unable to travel or get home.

Stay safe my Dyxum family friends, and stay well and thanks especially to you posting great images still. Not a day goes by without some time here enjoying the threads.

Brian

Absolutely the right decision given the announcement last night - let's look forward to making this postponed meeting something of a celebration when we can all safely remove ourselves from our homes with no risk or stress.

Stay safe and healthy everyone.

Best regards, Neil.

I’m good for that. I’ve been enviously watching the Dutch contingent organise themselves for a meeting in October. Surely we can do something over a similar timescale?