It's nice to see the general concept of the new Talk. It's actually somewhat like I had hoped for where those of us from diverging projects can touch base. I feel naked without my profile pic and zooite number being shown but that here as in all of Life (hmm) it will all work out. Till then no pic of me in the back garden, next to the birdbath, with the frog statue, with me wearing my Irish Tweed poor boy cap ........in California!! whew.

From Quentin Stanley:-

Near and far, and those at NAM2015. Wherever you are, I hope you are having a wonderful time and that whatever projects you are involved in are going well.

Now is the time to remind you that the 27th Annual RAS Picnic will be celebrated on Sunday 2nd August, 2015. The venue will be Greenwich Park, London, ( Post Code SE10 8XJ) in the view of the Old Royal Observatory and overlooking the National Maritime Museum and Thames. It is a fine venue!

The initial Meeting Point will be at the base of the Wolfe Statue, Greenwich at 12:30 from where will move about 100 yards to the East for of favoured picnic spot. At 1pm, the Greenwich Time Ball can be seen to descend – which we take as the main indicator for the start of the day’s events.

If you arrive late, no worry – just look out for the RAS Pennant which will be flying over our picnic spot.

The après-picnic will include some significantly large water rockets – which are being developed even further this year! Something not to be missed.

Al Fellows, Friends, Family and guests are most welcome to join in this summertime recess from the RAS Discussion Meetings. Please feel free to forward this on to those who may be interested. If in doubt about arrangements, please contact me on q@hpsresearch.com or David Lally - davelally@outlook.com – for further details. All you need to bring are some picnic vitals and something to sit-upon to make your stay comfortable.

I will send out a reminder closer to the date to help remind you of this event.

Best wishes, and I hope to see you on the 2nd August,

Quentin Stanley

An update from Quentin Stanley:-

Dear All,

Yay! It is picnic season again. Yes we have had some rain this week, but the Met Office is showing a dry Sunday with temperatures around 20C. Ideal.

So, get your ground sheets sorted out, your hampers dusted off. Fill those flasks and prepare the fare for this coming Sunday, 2nd August. Meet up by the Wolfe Statue, Old Royal Observatory, Greenwich at 12:30pm The picnic spot will be due East of this, about 50yds away. Don’t worry if you are late, just look out for the RAS pennant fluttering merrily over some happy Fellows.

All Fellows Friends, Family and Guests are welcome. It will be lovely to see you on the day. If you need more information, please feel free to contact me. I can provide you with a mobile number too, so on the day, should you have any problems we can see what can be done to assist.

I have put the details on the RAS Website www.ras.org.uk/picnic and will post any additional news and information as it come in.

Don’t forget the après Picnic, which can be a rather a spectacular display of water rockets on Blackheath nearby where we have (almost) sufficient space for such exploits. So, please stay around for that too.

In recent years we've been joined by members of GalaxyZoo, who are very welcome, and in the International Year of Astronomy, there was a fine display of telescopes -with solar projection obviously! At one of the early (pre-internet) events, on their way to Cambridge for a conference, staff joined us from Siding Springs (what an honour and a surprise)!!

I have been told by one of picnic regulars that some observation gear should be at the picnic this year too. Also, this year without a doubt Philae (who phoned home and then hung up) and Pluto (Gosh! what images with more to come) will be major topics!!

David Lally, my co-host of the event, has kindly provided the following information regarding getting to the picnic:

Use the post code SE10 8XJ, which should approximately locate you at the Old Royal Observatory

(a) By car (use the route planner from theaa.com). In the main you enter the Southern entrance gates of the Park from the Blackheath area and drive up the long Blackheath Ave to the end and park there (as near to the Wolfe Statue as you can). NB: Parking charges apply within Greenwich Park on Sundays.

(b) by public transport: two routes --

(And now on the Tube and local London rail --as well as Oyster-- you can use your UK debit or credit card to pay-but like Oyster, ALWAYS touch in and out each time!)
(1) By Tube and DLR (Docklands Light Railway).
Change at Bank Tube Station (Northern --black-- Line (Bank Branch NOT Charing X Branch) or Central --red-- Line) and get onto the DLR . You may have then to change within the DLR, at Poplar. In the main, get on a DLR with Lewisham (south of the River) as terminus. One can then get off at Greenwich joint DLR-Rail Station (Oyster Card Zone 2) to the DLR. Note that from Greenwich DLR/NR Station one has a usually-packed-with-tourists walk to get to the Old Royal Observatory Picnic site. There are also DLR connections from Rail Station at Stratford and at West Ham. (If unsure google "DLR +map")

(2) By Rail.
A Sunday (usually 1/2 hourly) S/Eastern service leaves Charing X, then Waterloo East Station -right beside Waterloo Main Line (all-Oyster Zone 1) to Greenwich (Z2) - with Maze Hill (MH) Station as the stop Eastbound immediately following Greenwich. Services in the other direction come from Dartford etc.

For 2015: Please avoid London Bridge Rail Station as major works are causing disruption.

Although Greenwich is not far, it is the slightly further of the two Stations near to the Picnic site-and is to the North West of the site (look on/scroll over on the Google map).

Slightly nearer, and to the North East of the site, is Maze Hill (but note it is in Oyster Zone 3). Again-look on the map. Maze Hill also has fewer tourists going through it.

One can, if an Eastbound train is coming into Greenwich Rail, switch over from DLR to Rail and go one stop Eastwards.

If alighting at Maze Hill from Central London, cross over the bridge to the Westbound (toward London) platform, go past the (usually closed on Sundays) ticket office and leave through the small exit gate (remember, if using Oyster or debit/credit card, to touch/zap out). Turn immediately right up the hill and you'll see the "Maze Hill" sign at the top. There look left and you'll see the Park railings with the North-East entrance gate.
Enter the Park and then turn immediately right. You'll pass --both on the left-- the fenced-off children's playground and then the boating lake. Just past the lake, and just past the large sundial/gnomon, you'll see on your left, a path, tree-lined on both sides.
Enter the path and don't veer left or right therefrom. Up hill and down dale, you'll emerge from under trees and ahead right in front of you, high up on the Hill, is the RGO! A steep path is on your left-take it and ahead of you, you'll see the RAS pennant.

Welcome to the Picnic!

Again, it would be lovely to know if you are coming, bringing friends, etc., So, please drop me a line so that I can keep a look-out for you.

I hope to see many of you soon!
Q.

Further update -

Dear All,

Yes, good weather is on its way, just in time for the Annual RAS Picnic. So, there is still time to get those hampers dusted off and sandwiches prepared. Meet at the Wolfe Statue, by the Old Royal Observatory Greenwich at 12:30pm. Our Picnic spot is nearby, just to the East. Details can be found on www.ras.org.uk/picnic

One thing to be aware of is that there will be a lot of cyclists going through London on Sunday and heading into Surrey. It is worth checking any alterations you may need to do to your route. Please check https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/ride-london for further information.

Don’t forget, there will be some “bubbles” to be had at the beginning of events and the Après-Picnic will have a new departure in the way of water rockets. Possibly something you have never seen before. All will be revealed on the day.

If you are able to attend, but haven’t let me know yet, please do so, so that I can keep a look-out for you.

Good wishes to you all for a wonderful summer.
Have fun in all you do,
Q

Every year the Royal Astronomical Society has a picnic in Greenwich Park (London). - this year it is on Sunday 6th August 2017, meeting by the Wolfe Statue (near to the old Royal Observatory) at 12-30pm.
I understand testing of water rockets will be carried out.
Everybody is invited to attend.
Past photos can be seen here - http://jcfwebsite.co.uk/Astronomy_Matters/RAS_Picnics/RAS_Picnics_Index.html

It is Picnic Time!

Yup, I sure don’t know what happens to the beginning of the year, but in February when we set the date, this weekend was a long way off, well it has now arrived!

As ever, each and everyone is welcome to come along this Sunday. Meet up near the Wolfe Statue, outside the Old Royal Observatory, London at 12:30, so we have time to book our space on the Hills of Greenwich Park and to see the time ball fall at 1pm BST.
If you arrive late, don’t panic, just look out for the RAS Pennant flying due east of the Royal Observatory, surrounded by Astronomers. Those who arrive early will be rewarded with a glass of Bubbly, as has been the tradition, supplied by Dr Guy Morgan and myself.

We have the added bonus that this year we have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/682576445271085/ which has been organised by Ben Fernando, and to whom I am very grateful.

My brother and I have been working hard on taking the water rockets to the next level. It is now getting somewhat more serious, and there are still many plans I have, and I’ll see what can be achieved in the few days left, but all is looking good so far.

More details will be posted on www.ras.org.uk/picnic as well as https://www.facebook.com/events/682576445271085/ so, please refer to these for further travel details and information.

If you need assistance, or my mobile number so that you have a point of contact en route, please let me know.
As ever I am always grateful to Dave Lally – davelally@outlook.com - who is co-organiser of this event too, and also to the many other familiar and new faces who help make this a special day.

Best wishes and may the rockets get to high pressure,
Q.