RASC Hamilton [ Special Announcement] Finglewood Observatory

Mon Oct 8 12:32:45 EDT 2012

Hi Andy,

Count me in. Since I work nights, I will not be needing overnight accommodation. Appreciate the offer, though. I finish my last shift on Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. and will get my beauty sleep during the day. I will be driving back that night. Have taken the liberty of providing directions for the Fingal Observatory (see below). I used to make sales calls in the area myself. 

Regards,
Ron Shields

DIRECTIONS TO THE FINGAL DARK SKY SITE OBSERVATORY:

Take the 401 westbound to Union Road or Elgin County Rd. 20 (Exit 164) and go south through Shedden to Fingal. 
Alternately, you can take Highway 4 (Exit 177) south to Talbotville, where you turn right onto Highway 3 and follow it to Shedden, then turn left onto Union Road (Elgin County Rd. 20) to Fingal. 

Turn right at Fingal onto Elgin County Rd. 16, also called Talbot Line and go 3.3 km. west of Fingal to the entrance road of the Fingal Wildlife Management Area, which is on the left (south) side of the road. The Fingal Wildlife Management Area entrance is well marked, also with the reference to the memorial plaque for the R.C.A.F. 4th Bombing and Gunnery School of the Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Program.

MAP OF THE FINGAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA DARK SKY SITE

The Fingal Wildlife Management Area is half-way between Union Road and Iona Road on the south side, immediately under the "16" sign. The triangular road loop is where the old runaways used to be. They observe from the interior of the Fingal Wildlife Management Area.

The entrance road is gated and will be unlocked by one of the senior RASC London Centre members. If you arrive when the gate is still locked, please do not block the entrance with your car. There is ample room in the parking lot to the left of the entrance. When the gate is unlocked, the entrance may also be marked with a small white sign: "RASC Observing". To gain access, remove the pin from the clasp, slowly swing the gate and hang it on the hook provided, and drive through. Return the gate to the closed position to discourage passers-by and replace the pin. 

Small retro-reflective RASC signs have been placed to direct your way to the observing pad. The first sign is located just to the right of the washrooms, and directs you to turn left (east). The second sign is just after the washroom, and directs you to turn right (south). Well down the trail, a third sign directs you to turn left (east) and follow the trail to the pad. 

During WWII, this area was a bustling air force training base, the No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, and the huge concrete pad, on which there is parking and for setting up telescopes, was once Aircraft Hanger No. 6. 

There is lots of room for scopes and parking. There is also a nearby heated warm-up room built by members of the London Centre.

The pad is located at N42d 41.172m, W81d 19.6m (NAD84) for those with GPS receivers. There is a Geocache nearby called Dark Skies. 

The magnetic declination for this location is currently 8 degrees, 41 minutes West of true North, for anyone trying polar align their telescope mount while it is still light.

Here is the link to the Google Maps map of the Fingal Wildlife Management Area and surrounding area.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Fingal+conservation+area,+ON,+Canada&hl=en&sll=42.829653,-81.139183&sspn=0.213262,0.528374&hnear=Fingal+Conservation+Area,+Fingal+Line,+Elgin+County,+Ontario,+Canada&t=m&z=15

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Blanchard" <atacamandy at me.com>
To: <announce at hamiltonrasc.ca>
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2012 9:15 PM
Subject: [RASC Hamilton Special Announcement] Finglewood Observatory

> Great News
> 
> The London RASC has invited our club to the grand opening of their new observatory, on Saturday October 21st 7pm. They will be having a BBQ and if the clouds cooperate observing. Fingle is the London Centre dark site. 
> 
> I have been there several times and the sky is wonderful. There seems to be some interest in putting this road trip together. My cottage is located near London and everyone who wants to attend and avoid the long drive home can stay at my place. 
> 
> If you are interested, please let me know and we will work our the transportation. Everyone is welcome.
> 
> Andy Blanchard
> 905-465-2031H
> 905-847-7777B
> atacamandy at gmail.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Announce mailing list
> Announce at hamiltonrasc.ca
> http://hamiltonrasc.ca/mailman/listinfo/announce_hamiltonrasc.ca
>
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